Divided Souls Read Online Free PDF

like that question was so loaded it could sink the launch. ‘I’m fine,’ she said stiffly.
    ‘Really? I hope so, Cassie, I honestly do.’ He swept a lock of hair out of his face. Following it with her eyes, Cassie was irritated at realising she found the mannerism attractive. ‘Because while we’re talking fault,’ he continued, ‘I suppose I’ve got a lot to feel guilty about myself.’
    Cassie took a deep breath. He was leading, but now was as good a time as any. ‘True. But listen – I’ve been meaning to say thanks for that as well, Richard,’ she muttered quickly. ‘For last term? You telling me where to find Jake that night, at the Puppet Theatre? I’d never have thought of that. If it hadn’t been for you, he probably would have been dead before we even got to him.’
    ‘Yeah, well there are many things I regret in life.’ He winked.
    ‘Seriously. For all we’ve said about him, I am grateful. And of course, so’s Isabella.’
    ‘Even though you two nearly got killed yourselves?’
    ‘But we didn’t. That was a good thing you did, Richard.’ And more than Ranjit bloody Singh managed, she thought bitterly.
    ‘I owed you that much, didn’t I?’ He made a rueful face.
    She laughed dryly. ‘Yeah. I guess.’
    Very lightly, he touched her arm, then dropped his hand. ‘And look, Cassie, I know I was a pain last term, asking you to forgive me all the time, but I promise not to give you a hard time any more. OK? I’ll leave you alone now. On my honour.’
    ‘Richard, that’s not—’
    ‘Yeah, I know. My honour’s not worth that much.’
    Not what I was trying to say, she thought, smiling with a touch of regret. But he was already grinning and striding towards the boat where Isabella was waving from the stern.
    Inferior , Estelle’s voice injected. Inferior stuff, my dear. He won’t get us anywhere .
    Ignoring her, Cassie jumped down into the launch after Richard. As he began chatting easily with the young boatman, exchanging opinions about some dreary football match, Cassie went to Isabella’s side.
    ‘God, Cassie, did I overreact? I’ve just got to stop thinking about him,’ Isabella announced fiercely, eyes on the horizon as the sea breeze tangled her mahogany hair.
    Cassie hesitated. ‘Well yeah, I think you might be right. Though I understand, babe. I really do.’
    Isabella paused, and then spoke again. ‘And you need to do the same, you know.’
    ‘Huh?’
    ‘Maybe I’m wrong, Cassie. But somewhere deep down, aren’t you still thinking about Ranjit?’ Isabella watched her with concern.
    ‘No.’
    Cassie’s cheekbones reddened as Isabella raised an eyebrow.
    ‘OK. Well I hope not. Seriously,’ Isabella said, winding her fingers into Cassie’s and squeezed them. ‘Because that would just be a fine thing, wouldn’t it? Staying in one of the most exciting cities on earth, and both of us pining for a pair of deadbeats who don’t even deserve us? No. Tell you what, Cassie, I promise I’m going to try and snap out of it. I’m going to be like you. Single and ready to tingle.’
    Cassie burst into laughter. ‘Mingle!’
    Isabella grinned. ‘Deliberate mistake.’
    ‘Freudian slip, more like!’ Cassie found herself giggling with her roommate. ‘Deadbeats who don’t deserve us, eh? So Richard’s got to you!’
    ‘I think he’s getting to you, too.’ Isabella gave her one of her lethal rib-nudges.
    Cassie gasped and laughed. ‘As if!’
    ‘Whatever you say, Cassie Bell. Still, perhaps you should let him …’ Isabella turned haughtily away, but a small smirk was playing on her lips.
    Cassie frowned at the island as it drew closer. She hadn’t been thinking about Richard, and she sure as hell hadn’t been thinking about Ranjit. Hadn’t . Except to be angry, no, furious at him. Other than that, she couldn’t bear to think about the boy. Mustn’t. She couldn’t deal with thoughts of his betrayal, his cowardice; not right now.
    A small chuckle interrupted her