The Stranger You Know Read Online Free PDF

of them were looking at me, waiting for an explanation. Liv and Joanne were too good at interrogations for me to hope they’d drop it. ‘I just don’t go for older men.’
    ‘Everyone says you’ve slept with him already.’ Three drinks down, Christine had gone far beyond the point where she was capable of being discreet. I’d known about the gossip, but it was irritating to hear it parroted back to me as if saying it would make it true.
    ‘Never. And I never will. Make sure that gets around the squad room when you’re passing on things you know about the team.’ There had been an edge to my voice, but I was still surprised to see Christine’s face crumple. ‘Oh, shit.’
    ‘Sorry …’ Two perfect tears slid down her cheeks.
    Liv drew Christine’s glass away from her. ‘That’s quite enough gin for you, dear.’
    ‘I didn’t mean to say anything wrong,’ she wailed, hunting through her bag for a tissue. Even when she was crying she looked adorable, a fact that wasn’t lost on the guys at the bar. Ben Dornton won the race to our table and handed Christine a paper napkin.
    ‘What are they doing to you, Christine? Why do you want to go out drinking with these miserable cows?’ He scowled at the three of us. ‘Fuck me, it’s proper bubble, bubble, toil and trouble over here. Is it Halloween or something?’
    ‘Not for days,’ I said.
    He seemed genuinely cross. ‘Well, you lot are all set for costumes.’
    I looked around, noticing that Liv, Jo and I were all in black suits. Christine was wearing a purple cardigan with a butterfly embroidered on the shoulder. Spot the difference . I had been too harsh, I knew.
    ‘I didn’t mean to upset you, Christine.’
    ‘Don’t worry, I always cry when I’m drunk,’ floated out from behind the napkin.
    ‘Come and have a drink with us,’ Dornton suggested. ‘We’ll look after you.’
    ‘It’s a girls’ night out, though.’ Christine emerged, looking tragic, as if that was an insurmountable obstacle. The very phrase made me wince.
    ‘I wouldn’t say that. Colleagues’ night out.’
    ‘Well, that includes us. We’re your colleagues too.’ Ben gave a little laugh, shooting for casual. It occurred to me that he was trying hard. I glanced up and saw the expression on his face as he stared at Christine: pure yearning. Over at the bar, Dave Kemp was watching us, turning his beer bottle around and around as he brooded. And the brooding wasn’t aimed at me. Kemp I didn’t know at all, but he was cute if you liked blue eyes, fair hair and a boyish manner. Dornton was all close-cropped hair and attitude, older than Kemp and usually cynical about everything. I’d never seen him look quite so vulnerable before and I hope Christine had the sense not to play them off against one another because I wasn’t at all sure Dornton would cope. It reminded me of Rob, all of a sudden, and how he had looked at me before we got together – knowing what he wanted, not at all sure he was going to get it – and all of a sudden I missed him like mad.
    ‘Okay, then.’ I stood up. ‘I need to get going. We can carry on another time.’
    ‘Oh, what?’ Liv began, and Joanne grabbed her knee.
    ‘She’s right. We should get going too.’ She caught my eye and gave me a wink and I knew she’d seen the same thing I had on Dornton’s face. ‘Down in one, Maeve.’
    It was such a bad idea to knock back my drink, but I didn’t even consider leaving it; I did as I’d been told. Slightly high from the gin burning in my stomach, I turned to Dornton under cover of pulling on my jacket and murmured, ‘I’m trusting you to look after Christine. Make sure she doesn’t get too drunk, and make sure she gets home all right.’
    He looked wounded. ‘You know I will.’
    ‘I think you will, but I’m still making it your job. She needs looking after.’ I poked him in the chest. ‘And no taking advantage.’
    ‘As if I would.’
    ‘Make sure you don’t.’ I gave Dave Kemp