Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

There’s silence. I can feel my cheeks growing redder and redder.

“You know what, Suze,” I admit sheepishly at last. “I think it kind of might have been… my fault.”

“Your fault?” She raises her head and stares at me. “How come?”

“I gave him the jumper. And the hairstyle.” I flinch at her expression. “But I mean, I had no idea it would lead to… to this! All I did was give him a look!”

“Well, you’ve got a lot to answer for!” cries Suze. “I’ve been so stressed. I just keep thinking, I must be a complete pervert.”

“Why?” I say, my eyes brightening. “What does he get you to do?”

“No, silly! Because we’re cousins. Well, distant cousins, but still…”

“Ooh.” I pull a face — then realize that isn’t exactly tactful. “But I mean, it’s not against the law or anything, is it?”

“Oh God, Bex!” wails Suze. “That really makes me feel better.”

She picks up her mug and mine, takes them over to the sink, and starts to run the tap.

“I just can’t believe you’re having a relationship with Tarquin!” I say.

“We’re not having a relationship!” squeals Suze, as though I’ve scalded her. “That’s the point. Last night was the very last time. We’re both completely agreed. It’ll never happen again. Never. And you mustn’t tell anyone.”

“I won’t.”

“No, I’m serious, Bex. You mustn’t tell anyone. No one!”

“I won’t! I promise! In fact—” I say, having a sudden idea. “I’ve got something for you.”

I hurry into the hall, open one of my suitcases, and scrabble for the Kate’s Paperie carrier bag. I pluck a card from the pile, scribble “To Suze, love Bex” inside, and return to the kitchen, sealing the envelope.

“Is this for me?” says Suze in surprise. “What is it?”

“Open it!”

She tears it open, looks at the picture of a zipped-up pair of lips, and reads aloud the printed message:

Roomie — your secret’s safe with me.

“Wow!” she says, wide-eyed. “That’s so cool! Did you buy it especially? But I mean…” She frowns. “How did you know I’d have a secret?”

“Er… just a hunch,” I say. “You know. Sixth sense.”

“You know, Bex, that reminds me,” says Suze, flipping the envelope back and forth in her fingers. “You got quite a lot of post while you were away.”

“Oh right.”

In the astonishment of hearing about Suze and Tarquin, I’d kind of forgotten about everything else. But now the hysteria which has been lifting my spirits starts to evaporate. As Suze brings over a pile of unfriendly-looking envelopes, my stomach gives a nasty flip, and I suddenly wish I’d never come home. At least while I was away, I didn’t have to know about any of this.

“Right,” I say, trying to sound nonchalant and on top of things. I leaf through the letters without really looking at them — then put them down. “I’ll look at them later. When I can give them my full attention.”

“Bex…” Suze pulls a face. “I think you’d better open this one now.” She reaches for the pile and pulls out a brown envelope with the word SUMMONS on the front.

I stare at it, feeling mortified. A summons. It was true. I’ve been summonsed. I take the envelope from Suze, unable to meet her eye, and rip it open with trembling fingers. I scan the letter without saying anything, feeling a growing coldness at the base of my spine. I can’t quite believe people would actually take me to court. I mean, court is for criminals. Like drug dealers and murderers. Not for people who just miss a couple of bills.

I stuff the letter back into its envelope and put it on the counter, breathing hard.

“Bex… what are you going to do?” says Suze, biting her lip. “You can’t just ignore that one.”

“I won’t. I’ll pay them.”

“But can you afford to pay them?”

“I’ll have to.”

There’s silence, apart from the drip-drip of the cold-water tap into the sink. I look up, to see Suze’s face contorted with worry.

“Bex — let me give you some money. Or Tarkie will. He can easily afford it.”

“No!” I say, more sharply than I’d intended. “No, I don’t want any help. I’ll just…” I rub my face. “I’ll go and see the guy at the bank. Today. Right now.”