Love Your Life(57)

Oh shit. How did they get onto that? Now she’ll say she can’t believe I’m dating someone who’s into golf and make that a big thing. I should have told Matt not to refer to the golf. I could have said, really casually, “By the way, let’s never mention that you play golf.”

Then I catch myself. No. Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t want to lie to my friends. Obviously. But it’s quite annoying, them being so forensic and knowing so much about me.

    As I finish the wraps and stand up, shaking my legs out, Nell’s voice travels through the air: “No, Ava never mentioned any art.”

“She described your flat,” chimes in Sarika. “It sounds wonderful. But she never mentioned the art.”

“For real?” Matt replies, sounding astonished. “Well, I’m quite a serious collector. One artist in particular. He’s a genius. I have his pieces everywhere.”

“Which artist?” demands Nell, and Matt says, “Arlo Halsan.”

Instantly, Nell and Sarika whip out their phones. I just know they’re going to google Arlo Halsan, and I feel a sudden dread. Why did they have to bring up art?

“Ava!” says Nell chidingly as she sees me standing up. “You never told us about Matt’s art collection! Is it amazing?”

“Oh! Yes!” I force myself to sound enthused as I walk over. “It’s incredible.”

“Which is your favorite piece, Ava?” Matt turns to me eagerly. “I’ve never even asked you.”

I stare at him, frozen.

“It’s…hard to decide,” I say at last. “They’re all so…”

“Oh my God,” says Sarika, blinking in shock as her phone loads with images of the hairless wolf and disturbing sculptures of eyeless faces. “Wow.” She looks up at me, her mouth twitching, and I stare desperately back at her. “?‘Incredible’ is the word.”

“Jesus!” Nell recoils from her phone as the same images appear. “Very…” She searches for a word. “Distinctive.”

“Search ‘Raven Three,’?” suggests Matt eagerly. “I have that piece in my hall. I got it at auction. Cost a lot, but…wait till you see it.”

    There’s silence as Sarika and Nell both google it, then Sarika makes a muffled, exploding noise, which she hastily turns into a cough. Nell gazes at the screen, apparently speechless, then looks up and says in heartfelt tones, “I don’t even know how to respond.”

“I know, right?” says Matt, his eyes lit with enthusiasm.

“Are those human teeth inside that beak?” Sarika is peering at the image, looking freaked out.

“What do you think of it, Ava?” says Nell brightly, and I silently curse her.

“Well.” I rub my nose, playing for time. “I love art. So.”

Sarika gives another suppressed snort and Nell bites her lip. Then she seems to have an idea.

“Hey, Matt, I was going to bring crisps for the kids, but I forgot. Would you mind getting some? There’s a kiosk by the gates.”

“Sure,” says Matt easily, batting away the fiver she offers him. “Back in a moment.”

He saunters off, and the others watch him before swiveling to me.

“Golf?” says Sarika in a hysterical undertone. “Golf? Does Matt know your views on golf, Ava?”

“He clearly has no idea about your taste in art,” says Nell with a gurgle of laughter. “Or are you saying you like this freaky stuff?”

“Stop it,” I say crossly. “It’s irrelevant.”

“Don’t you think you need to be a little bit honest with him?” Sarika looks suddenly earnest. And I know she means well, but I’m not in the mood for a lecture about relationships.

    “No!” I say. “I mean, I am!” I give a huge yawn before I can stop myself, and Nell peers at me.

“Ava, sweets, you look a bit shit, if you don’t mind me saying so. Are you coming down with something?”

“No.” I hesitate. “It’s just…”

“What?” demands Nell.

“I can’t sleep at Matt’s place,” I admit. “His bedroom’s freezing. And his bed is like a plank of wood.”

“Have you told him his bed is like a plank of wood?” queries Nell.

“Yes. But he says it’s really comfortable and he has no idea what I’m talking about.” As I look at my friends, I can feel my veneer slipping a little. “Look, Matt and I are compatible. We really are. But there are just a few tiny areas where we need to find a middle ground.”

“Oh, Ava.” Sarika wraps her arms around me, laughing. “You’re a love. I’m sure you’ll make it work, but not if you float around in denial.”

“If his art collection is the worst thing, it’s not so bad.” Nell shrugs.

They’re both being so nice and supportive, I feel a sudden urge to confide in them fully.

“It’s not the worst thing,” I confess. “The worst thing is I met his parents and they hate me.”

(I can’t admit the worst thing is I keep googling his ex-girlfriend. That does not sound cool.)

“How can they hate you already?” Sarika looks astounded, so I tell her and Nell about the book and Genevieve’s face being ripped in two, and they both burst into fresh hysterics.