Bye Bye Baby

13

That evening, I was at the kitchen table with Holly, topping up her glass of expensive French white. We were having a late dinner, which I'd cooked. When I say 'cooked', the truth is I'd stuck two packets of pre-prepared chicken tikka in the oven and boiled some extra rice. Tasted pretty good, anyway. The boys had eaten earlier with their friends and were out playing football.

Holly and I had the house to ourselves for a while.

I'd just finished telling her about Bruce Wilson and his crazy mum. About Dutton. About how he'd made me feel. I'd hoped Holly might be sympathetic.

But she just gave me a blank stare. Hazel eyes. Caramel skin, which the boys had inherited from her. My family all tanned. I burned.

She took a sip of her wine, licked her lips.

I was sticking with beer. Wine and curry didn't work for me.

Holly said, "Is Erica going to lose her job?"

The reason I hadn't worked a case with Erica for a while was because we had some history between us. Me, Erica and Holly, that is. The three of us had slept together. First time was when Holly suggested a threesome one drunken night, and Erica said okay, it'd be a giggle. No need to ask what I said. But I can't say I'd enjoyed it much. It wasn't much fun being ignored.

Those two were right into it, though.

Second time, they slept together without me. Didn't ask or let me know.

I don't think Holly would have said anything about it if she hadn't got drunk and angry one night. She gave me more details than I needed. I'd never said anything to Erica but I could tell that she knew I knew. Holly must have told her.

Sex had never been the same between me and Holly since. In fact, these days we hardly slept together. And when we did, half the time she fell asleep part-way through. The other half of the time, I did.

"You like to go to bed with her again?" I said.

"Oh, for crying out loud." She leaned her head back, her eyes squeezed shut.

"I'm only asking."

Her head snapped forward, eyes open, shining. "Why won't you shut up about it?"

"I don't know," I said. I didn't.

"Just let it rest," Holly said. "I've said sorry till I'm hoarse. What more do you want from me?"

I reached across the table and took hold of her hand.

"Would you like to sleep with her again?" I asked. "Answer me."

"Would you?" She pulled her hand away.

Allan Guthrie

Bye Bye Baby