Birds of a Feather

‘What happened with Jack?’ Rosa asked. ‘Why has he gone back to London?’

‘Did Penelope really threaten to fire you?’ Jonny added. ‘I can’t believe it. Not after all those events.’

‘What the fuck were you doing gracing the front page of the Daily fucking Mirror?’ Gavin finished, his pint hovering close to his lips.

Abby leant down to stroke Raffle’s head, looking at the expectant faces of her friends, thinking how ironic it was that she’d become the subject of the gossip they loved to share, and wondered if she could bear to go through it with them. But her truth was better than someone else’s speculation or lies – she had come to appreciate that much – and these people who cared about her, who had stood up for her, deserved honesty.

She told them everything, stopping short of the intimate details of her time with Jack and the extent of her feelings for him, though she was sure they could see how wretched she felt.

‘So, Eddie Markham’s a total fucking snake, then,’ Gavin said, returning from the bar with fresh drinks. ‘Did you report him to the police?’

Abby shook her head. ‘He didn’t have a chance to do anything other than grab me, thanks to Raffle. And the photo made it look like it was consensual.’

Jonny drummed his fingers on the table. ‘The photo-editing software they have nowadays, they can do almost anything.’

‘It’s sick behaviour,’ Octavia said. ‘And you’ve lost your darling Jack because of it.’

‘Please don’t be sympathetic,’ Abby whispered. ‘I don’t know if I can take it.’

Gavin slung his arm around Abby’s shoulders. He smelt of sweat after a day working in the heat of the reserve. ‘You’ll be all right,’ he said. ‘Get pissed, chuck things about, usual break-up stuff. And show Penelope how wrong she is – I can’t believe she said that you hadn’t been working hard enough! What a load of bollocks.’

‘Complete and utter bollocks,’ Stephan added vehemently.

Abby smiled. ‘Thank you – all of you. And I’m sorry if I’ve been distant, or I’ve done anything to deserve Penelope’s accusations. I got … sidetracked. I knew it wasn’t a good idea, but I still did it.’ She rubbed her forehead. The beer was already having an effect, and she fought the urge to lay her head on the table and have a quick nap.

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