Page 39 of Sun, Sea and Spotted Squid

He put on his shorts. Suddenly being naked with Wolfgang had lost its appeal.

Wolfgang wouldn’t meet his gaze as he struggled to get his running suit on.

“Don’t start,” he said, softly. “You know it isn’t as easy as that.”

Sam grabbed Wolfgang’s trainers and socks and marched over to the door. He swung it open and threw them onto the landing.

“I can make it really easy for you.”

Wolfgang grabbed him by the arm. “Keep your voice down.”

Unfortunately, Sam’s rage proved difficult to control. It had been bubbling away for days.

“Don’t you want the truth to come out? Why are you worried what they think? You’ve made absolutely no effort to get to know anyone.”

Wolfgang stormed past him and onto the landing. Pushing his feet into his trainers and grabbing his socks.

He whirled round.

“Are you referring to those people you love so much?” he snarled. “More like people you don’t have a good word to say about. What was it? Paul the pathetic man ruled by his girlfriend? Astrid the selfish tart? Or Maria, her lapdog? Yes, you’ve made such an effort to form friendships.”

Sam scowled at him. How they have been so connected mere minutes ago? Now all he wanted to do was slap the man standing before him.

“Just fuck off back to your lie.”

He slammed the door and paced the room like a man possessed.

How dare he come here and make out he’d missed me?

There were plenty of apps for him to satisfy his urges. Why did he have to mess with feelings?

Too angry for tears, he needed a drink. He had wine in the fridge so he stomped down the steps and pushed open the door.

His housemates were sat around the table. And all of them were glaring in his direction.

Oh shit.

FOURTEEN

Predictably, Astrid got to her feet first. She stalked over to Sam and raised her hand.

“Don’t you fucking dare,” he spat.

Maria leapt off her seat and grabbed Astrid. “Don’t, Astrid. Please.”

Astrid wrestled out of Maria’s grip. She slammed her hand down on the table, making everyone jump.

“I don’t know what kind of lovers’ tiff you had up there. How lovely for us all to hear how you really feel.”

Maria bundled Astrid onto her empty chair. Astrid was not for consoling and burst into hysterical sobs. Her impressive performance seemed to have the others gripped. Sam noticed not a single tear had left her eyes yet.

He needed to get out of this situation of Wolfgang’s making, who’d run home to Mummy. He turned toward the stairs.

“Not so fast,” Genevieve said.

Here we go.

“Fine,” he said. “I can understand how you’re all upset by what you overheard. But let’s face it, I only spoke the truth.”