A Glimmer of Hope (The Avalon Chronicles #1)(4)

“So, it’s almost that time of year,” Chloe said.

Layla smiled. “Is that why you want me to come out? I’m fine.”

“You say that, but I really do think you hide yourself away in books a little too often. You did it at this time last year, and the year before, so I’m sensing a pattern. I worry about you.”

“Thank you.” Layla meant it too. “But I’m okay. My mom dying four years ago was an awful thing, one in a long line of awful things that have happened. I miss my mom every single day, but I’ve learned to cope with her not being here.”

Layla’s mom and her new husband had been driving on a country lane when their car had skidded off the road and hit a tree. Some people had told Layla at the time that the fact they’d both died instantly on impact was a good thing. Layla wasn’t really sure how any kind of dying was a good thing, and distanced herself from everyone who’d tried to pay her their respects. She’d wanted time to herself to grieve, not to have to deal with how everyone else was feeling. In hindsight, she felt sorry for being so selfish, as if the grief was hers and hers alone, but at the time she’d been sixteen, and the constant pity everyone had shown her had been overwhelming.

“You sure?” Chloe didn’t sound as convinced as Layla had.

“I really am. I just like to spend time alone because I can throw myself into my work and not sit and feel sorry for myself.”

“So, going out drinking would achieve that too, yes?”

Layla smiled. “Yes, I guess so.”

“Excellent. I have a bottle of vodka at home with our names on it.”

As it turned out, Chloe wasn’t exaggerating. Once they’d both returned to her two-bedroom apartment overlooking the Itchen Village marina—only a few minutes’ walk from the coffee shop Chloe owned—Chloe had gone into her freezer and produced a bottle of Russian vodka. She’d proceeded to write her and Layla’s names on it in big letters with a black Sharpie pen, before passing it, and two shot glasses, to Layla.

Layla poured out two shots, passing one to Chloe, and both women raised them in a toast. “Let’s have some fun,” Chloe said, and knocked back the vodka in one go.

“Let’s try to remember how to get home,” Layla countered, before drinking her own shot, as Chloe laughed.



Chloe had chosen her outfit of black jeans and white top that showed off her midriff almost the second she’d walked into her room. By the time Chloe had finished in the shower, Layla had picked out a pair of dark blue jeans and a black off-the-shoulder top. Both wore black, strappy high heels and, just like Chloe had said, both of them were ready and out of the door by ten o’clock.

Layla was surprised to discover that even though Chloe hadn’t called for a taxi, one was waiting for them outside of Chloe’s apartment.

“You planned this all along?” Layla asked as they both climbed into the back of the car.

“I was planning on going out anyway,” Chloe pointed out. “You give me too much credit.”

The taxi took them through the city of Southampton to the Green Rooms nightclub, a sizeable venue that on Friday nights played a mixture of seventies and eighties classic rock. Layla had been with Chloe several times in the past—mostly because it played music that was even slightly tolerable.

Layla paid the taxi driver and the pair entered the club to the sounds of Van Halen’s “Jump,” which was exactly what the dozens of people on the large dance floor in front of them were doing. They weaved around the enthusiastic crowd and walked over to the bar, where Chloe ordered two bottles of beer and two shots of vodka.

Chloe passed one of the vodka shots to Layla. “To fun and frivolity.”

“To not having a hangover tomorrow.”

They downed the shots in unison and picked up their beer. “What is this stuff?” Layla asked after having a swig and reading the bottle. “Lurcher. This beer is called Lurcher. Why would someone name their beer after a dog?”

Chloe shrugged. “All I know is, it doesn’t taste like watered-down cat urine.”

Layla paused, the top of the bottle touching her open lips. “Thanks for that image.”

Chloe raised her bottle.

“Hey, you two, good to see you here.”

Layla turned around and smiled as Harry Gao, a smile on his face, stood beside them. Layla hugged her friend tightly; she hadn’t seen him for a few weeks. Harry was just as prone to throwing himself into his work as Layla. “You were told to meet me here, weren’t you?” she whispered.

Harry looked slightly confused. “Chloe said she’d already arranged for you to come out tonight.” Knowledge dawned on him. “You had no idea.”

“Not even slightly, but I’m glad I came. How are you?”

Harry did a sort of half shrug, half nod that Layla knew meant he could be better. “Turns out having a degree in marine biology doesn’t really do a lot for the job market. I know, shocking, isn’t it? So, since I last saw you two weeks ago, I’ve decided to train to become a teacher.”

“You mean, at school level?”

He looked aghast. “Oh, heavens no. I do not want to deal with a bunch of hormone-crazed teenagers. I’m going to get my PhD and become a lecturer. Essentially, I’m going to stay in education for as long as possible. It’s like a security blanket.”