‘Oi, you two? Have your feet stopped working?’ Tristan yelled. He’d stopped up ahead. Ginny was standing beside him with her hands on her hips, her face squinting up at the sun.
‘Coming,’ Paul called to them, giving Tristan a little wave. ‘Come on,’ he said to Cat. His voice was gentle now, and that just annoyed Cat more. He thought she was still on his side. But he was very wrong about that. They started walking, Cat keeping her distance from Paul but trying not to make it look too obvious to the others.
‘This isn’t over, Paul,’ she said, under her breath. ‘I am sick and tired of liars. I’m fed up with people thinking that they can get one over on me, somehow. Like I’m this soft touch, just because I like to do things properly and I don’t like to fight.’ She sighed. She was wasting her breath. ‘I think you’re right about the altitude and the heat, though.’ She picked up the pace and Paul carried on beside her. They were close to the others now. ‘At least I don’t feel sick anymore.’
Ginny overheard. ‘Oh . . . you felt sick? And dizzy? And you switched to water last night while we all carried on with the shots? Wonder what on earth could be wrong with you, Kitty-Cat.’ She looked pointedly at Cat’s stomach, smirked. Then turned away and carried on walking.
Tristan raised an eyebrow at her, but said nothing. She hoped he hadn’t picked up on Ginny’s insinuation. Paul gave her a brief glance then turned away. She thought he looked uncomfortable, and it made her feel uneasy. She was thirty-two years old. Would it be the worst thing if she was pregnant? They’d always said they didn’t want children, but that had been a few years ago, and now everything had changed. She laid a hand on her flat belly, wondering what might be going on deep inside.
Would a pregnancy ruin her plans? Maybe. Maybe not. She glanced around at the others. It was too soon to tell.
Fifteen
He took his time following them up the mountain. He knew exactly where they were going. He had to walk slowly to keep a safe distance behind them. He didn’t want them hearing him. He was enjoying himself too much for this to end.
He wondered what would happen if she spotted him. Recognised him. Would she raise the alarm? Or would she carry on walking, hoping for the best. Hoping that there wasn’t really someone tracking them along the trail.
They should walk faster. They’d run out of daylight before they made it to the end, and how would they manage to follow the trail then?
Maybe he should change his plans a little. Maybe he should walk out on the track, like them. Make them aware of his presence. Offer to guide them back down. He was getting frustrated, only catching glimpses of them through the trees. He wanted to see more of the blonde. The confident blonde. Not the whiny, skinny, moaning one.
But no. That wouldn’t work. He had to stay hidden.
For now.
He pushed his way through the trees, staying away from the track. Walking carefully, trying to make as little noise as possible. He stopped for a moment, listening. There were other sounds. Animal sounds. There could be anything out here in the woods.
He smiled at the thought.
Conjured up the blonde’s face.
He couldn’t wait to see her again.
Sixteen
SATURDAY, EARLY EVENING
Ginny was fed up talking to Tristan. She regretted going too far with Cat, but she had just been trying to liven things up. They’d been out all day on this bloody mountain in the baking heat, and apart from some pretty scenery and an average lunch, Ginny had been bored stiff. Surely they all knew this was not her idea of fun? Was it any surprise she’d had to make her own?
She sighed.
Cat had caught up and was looking a bit hot and sweaty. And stressed. Was there something up with her and Paul? The Perfect Couple? What a scoop that would be. Cat had been ominously quiet when Ginny had made her little hint at pregnancy. Too close to the truth?
Christ, Ginny, have a word! She couldn’t help herself.
‘Sorry about earlier, Cat. I’m just bored . . .’ she said when Cat arrived by her side. They were still on the meadow, but, from what Tristan had told her, the next part was going to be harder. Those silvery rocks from before were about to make a reappearance as a tricky, slippery set of steps, he’d said. But this was the bit with the amazing views. Almost like walking up the Grand Canyon, he’d said. She remained unconvinced so far. She was still hoping they’d make it back in time for the hot tub.
Cat still hadn’t said a word. ‘Cat?’ Jesus, was she going to ignore her for the rest of the trip now? She looked at her sister, who, in turn, had her gaze fixed over on the thicket of trees that joined the meadow to the steep side of the mountain. ‘What is it?’