Gallery Whispers

72

'Alex, Mitch Laidlaw gave you a raise last week, you had confirmation this afternoon that you've bought a flat, you're getting plenty of jollies from your toyboy — even if he is a bit of a dweeb — and we're off on holiday the day after tomorrow: so why the hell is your face tripping you?'

'He is not a dweeb,' she shot back at her friend and temporary landlady. 'He has the body of a young Greek god, I'll have you know.'

'Well he'll have to give it back sooner or later. He's my cousin, I can say what I like about him. Anyway, he's a minor issue. Think of all the fun you're going to have in Marbella, now that you're free and more or less single. Lighten up, girl. Brighten up.'

She glowered at Gina. 'I don't feel very bright, okay. I'm still pissed off at Andy, okay. He sat there on that bloody bar stool the other night and came right out with it. "I can't share you, Alex. Even with you," she mimicked. He hasn't been listening to a bloody word I've said.'

'Sure he's been listening,' Gina countered. 'He's just having a hard time understanding it, that's all. So would I in his shoes. One minute you and he are a perfect menage a deux, the next you're kicking over the traces and asserting your right to fuck anything in long trousers if you so choose.'

'I didn't assert any such thing.'A brief smile flickered across Alex's face. 'Well, maybe I did. That wasn't in my mind when I moved out, but when your cocky — and I use the word advisedly — young cousin came on to me, a whole lot of things fell into place. I felt like someone again.

'I thought that I was succeeding in improving my relationship with Andy. After a difficult beginning, he seemed to be accepting my independence, but then on Tuesday, he started behaving like a possessive old fart all over again.'

'Then switch on the Xpelair, my dear,' said Gina, 'and blow him away; break off your engagement.'

'But I don't want to do that. He's my old fart… don't grin like that, you know what I mean… it's the possessive bit that gets to me.

I want to marry him, but in my own good time.'

'Then give him back his ring and tell him to offer it to you again in five years or so.'

'I can't do that. If I break it off it'll be the end of it; I have to stay engaged to him.'

'If you do, are you going to tell him about'

Alex's look cut her off short. It would have done her father proud.

'Are you kidding?'

'But don't you think you owe it to him?'

'No, I do not. It's my body, Gina. He has no ownership rights, none at all. Now let's drop the subject. I'm sorry; I'll cheer up I promise.'

She grinned. 'As of now, in fact. Come on, we've got no gentlemen callers tonight, either of us. Let's us girlies go an have a bevvy.'