Players, Bumps and Cocktail Sausages (Silence #3)(49)

“Hmm,” he murmured. “I can’t decide between the long day at work today or the blonde in the pub that turned me down last week.”

“Wow, those are your only problems!” Holly said, rolling her eyes at her brother.

“Oh and what’s your biggest problem right now, Hol? Shall I wear my pink pyjamas tonight or my blue ones,” Brad replied in the worst imitation of a woman’s voice ever.

She turned back and stared out of the window.

Brad poked her arm. “Are you on or something? You’ve been moody all day.”

“Just fuck off, Brad!” she hissed.

Whoa.

“Ugh, definitely on,” he said and retreated back. Holly muttered the word pig under her breath.

What the hell was going on?

Right now sitting in the seat beside Cole while his lips were attached to my sister’s was more appealing. Whatever was wrong with Holly was seriously going piss all over the fun tonight.

We arrived at the club, and as there was no queue – not a good sign – so we were ushered straight inside.

“We’re leaving if it’s dead,” I said as we walked up the stairs. I was determined not to let anything ruin the night.

“Ladies, sit down and gentlemen, to the bar!” Brad exclaimed reaching above his head and pointing to the bar.

Holly frowned and headed towards the seating area that was too quiet for this to be a good night.

“Is she okay?” Oakley whispered to me.

“How should I know?” Though I was starting to think I had something to do with her bad mood. Was it about yesterday? We’d agreed that sex between us was casual, she seemed happy with that and had instigated one time herself. I was shit scared that she had changed her mind and things between us would get awkward. I liked Holly, but I was nowhere near the relationship place right now.

She rolled her eyes and followed Holly to an empty table in the corner of the seating area. I helped Brad and Cole carry over the drinks. We must have at least four each.

Brad put the tray of ten shots down “First, we do shots. Two each, one after the other.”

Holly shook her head. “I don’t want one, Brad.”

“I’ve bought you one now! Drink it, you’re not driving.” He sat down and pushed two shots towards her.

Hell if she didn’t do it, I would. If I wasn’t getting laid, I was getting smashed.

She pursed her lips. “I don’t want it.”

“Don’t make her,” Oakley said, looking at Holly with an expression I knew very well – suspicion.

I downed my shot and then almost spit it out. Fuck, Holly’s pregnant! I choked on nothing and stared at her.

“She’s being a baby. It’s just a couple shots!” Brad exclaimed.

“Oh for fuck sake, Brad, I can’t!”

Holly didn’t shout often. Brad sat back, eyes wide. The air got thicker, and I struggled to breathe. My baby or Harry’s?

Not again.

“Oh Jesus, don’t tell me you’re knocked up? Are you kidding me, Holly! You’re only twenty-years old! Fuck it, I’m gonna kill Harry!”

“Can you please shut up, people are looking,” she hissed.

“Where does he live? Near the church, right?”

“Stop it!”

Not my baby. I should’ve been relieved, but I couldn’t help feeling sick at the thought of her having another man’s baby.

“What number, Holly? Never mind, I’ll see his car.” Brad stood up.

“It’s not Harry’s!” she blurted out.

Fuck!

I fisted my hands on my knees. Holly didn’t look at me. My world shifted again. Just when I was starting to get back on my feet, this happened. I was desperate to know if that was true or if she just said it to get Brad to sit the hell back down. I’d never felt like getting shitfaced so much before.

“What?” Brad said, dropping himself back on the chair. “Well who the fuck is it then?” He looked appalled. I wanted to punch him for the way he looked at her. She wasn’t a slut.

Holly stood up, avoiding eye contact with everyone. “I need to go.”

I stood automatically, needing to talk to her. “I’ll make sure you get home.”

Oakley had her accusing face again. She looked between me and Holly. “Are you sure? I can take her.”

I shrugged. “It’s fine. You talk some sense into this one,” I said, slapping Brad on the back. “You’re better at lectures and advice than I am.”

“Right,” my sister, who blatantly knew the baby was mine, replied.

Brad said nothing as Holly and I left. He just stared at his drink with a clenched jaw. Oakley also said nothing, and I knew she was waiting for us to get out of the way before she launched into how he shouldn’t have spoken to Holly like that. As if he wouldn’t be regretting it already.

“He’ll cool down,” I said as I opened the exit door for her.

She smiled weakly and nodded.



Neither of us said a word the whole way home. I gave the taxi my address, and she said didn’t ask me to turn around and take her to her parents’. We needed to have this conversation.

I got out and Holly followed closely behind, chewing the inside of her cheek nervously. I tried to look calm but inside my heart was racing. The palms of my hands were damp, and I almost dropped the keys as I unlocked the door.