India looked over her shoulder as she steered her car onto the M1, trying to ignore the jiggle of Gina’s leg beside her. She kept intermittently doing it, then stopping, aware of herself, then starting again when she forgot. India didn’t want to ask what was on her mind. It had, after all, been quite some week. On the dashboard, the satnav had a red flashing light focused on the road ahead. That was never good.
“Traffic ahead on the M1 in around three miles,” said the woman’s alluring automated voice.
“Is it wrong to be attracted to your satnav?” India asked, foot on the accelerator. She was going to take these three miles at speed while she could. “She sounds like she’d be cool to go on a night out with. Like she’d be a good kisser. What do you think?”
That broke through whatever thoughts were clouding Gina’s brain. She gave India a laugh. “It’s probably only an issue if you attempt to mount the dashboard. Then I’d be worried.”
India grinned. “It’s purely a voice thing, I promise you.”
To her left, green fields stretched out to the distance. To her right, the incoming lane yawned with cars and lorries. They sat in pillowy silence for a few minutes before Gina spoke.
“What time are you meeting Eunice in the morning?” Gina had a hand on her knee to keep it still.
“Eleven o’clock at her house. I offered to take her out, but she insisted on hosting.” India glanced in her rear-view mirror as the traffic ahead ground to a halt.
“I’d take the offer of going out, but I know my parents would be the same. They’d want to show you hospitality, not the other way around.”
India nodded. They hadn’t discussed Gina’s family plans this weekend yet. Now was as good a time as any. “Are you seeing your family while we’re there?”
Gina turned her head, then nodded. “It’s why I was asking about tomorrow. I’m not going to tell them I’m coming until tonight though, maybe not even then. I don’t want a fuss, or a round-up of every relative under the sun for a huge dinner. I just want to drop in. Just a small chat with a cup of tea and some samosas. Maybe some biscuits, too.”
“If you tell them, it’ll be a big deal?”
She sighed. “Maybe if I visited more often, it wouldn’t be. My sister and I normally go together, so it’s a bigger deal then, too. But no fuss suits me. Plus, I want to ask them if they might consider investing in my business when I buy Bernie out.” Gina began jiggling her leg again. “I know they have the money: they invested in my brother’s side business. It’s just, they might not want to give their money to set up a gay business.”
“Hot London Properties is not a gay business. It’s a profitable, smart, well-run business.” India couldn’t imagine a parent using that as an excuse, but she knew she was lucky.
Gina smiled. “Thank you.”
“I mean it. Plus, you’re still their daughter.”
Gina snorted. “In name, yes.” She shook her head. “My dad might be willing. My mum, not so much. She’ll have some excuse. ‘It’s not the right time, Nagina’.”
“Nagina? That’s your full name?”
Gina nodded. “It got shortened to Gina at school. Plus, if you pronounce Nagina wrong, it means ‘conniving bitch’. I learned early on that Gina works better.” She shut up for a few minutes, before leaning forward. “Do you mind if we have some music?”
“Go ahead.”
Gina pressed the button and Radio 2 lit up.
India’s stomach clenched. Why was it set to Radio 2? Then she remembered. Her dad had borrowed her car yesterday while his was in for a service. She checked the car clock, then remembered it was Saturday. Andi was a weekday DJ. She wouldn’t be on now. If this was the station Gina wanted, India could cope.
“That was Laura Marling with her haunting new track,” Andi said.
India flinched in her seat, as every hair on her body stood on end. Heartburn roared in her chest. What the fuck? Andi should be tucked up in bed with her fiancée, not talking at them in the car.
“This is Andi Patten sitting in for Ramona on a Saturday.”
Gina turned her head right as the words sank into her brain. “Is that…?” she asked, pointing her index finger at the radio.
“Uh-huh.” India sucked in a breath. “My ex.”
They both reached over to change the station at the same time, but not before Andi said, “This next one is going out to a very special person in my life. Someone who means the world to me. Someone who, if she’s listening, I hope she knows it.” The first bars of the same tune that had played in the toilets at the Sea Containers when she’d run into Andi floated into the car, slamming into India as if she’d just hit a wall.
“Jesus Christ,” India muttered, the enormity of what Andi had just said reaching her brain. What the hell was she playing at saying stuff like that? Unless she had the same song for her fiancée? India shook her head. That is precisely something Andi would do. Have the same song for every girlfriend so she could keep track.
Gina hit the scanner button, and Magic FM came up on the dial. Old-school Take That seeped into the car. They were on much safer ground.
“Was that dedicated to you?” Gina’s eyebrows couldn’t get much closer together.
“It sounded like it, but who knows? Andi likes to stir. I’m just glad to be shot of her.” India shivered. Andi had sent her a couple more texts, too, asking to meet up. After ignoring her hadn’t worked, India had replied with a firm no. She had no idea what Andi was playing at.
India pulled on the handbrake as the traffic stopped again. “How did things go with Bernie yesterday?”
Gina leaned back into her headrest. “About as well as I’d imagined. She’s stubborn and doesn’t like to be told what to do. I hope she sees sense.”
“If you need to run anything else by me, just let me know.”
“I will. Thanks for helping me the other day.”
India smiled. “It’s what friends do, right?” She paused. “While I think about it, my friend Eden has a friend who’s looking for work in property if you need help. Shall I see if she’s still looking?”
Gina nodded. “Sure, pass her details on. I’m still a bit at sixes and sevens with it all, but I will need someone eventually.”
“Of course, no rush. Tell you what, shall we make a pact for this weekend: no more talk about our exes or business?” The traffic eased forward, the flashing roadwork signs disappearing. India put her foot on the accelerator as the traffic lanes opened up.
“I’m in,” Gina replied, perking up. “How about we talk about the fact that your flat paperwork should be through this month, which means you’ll have the keys in June, in time to be in for London Pride. If you weren’t in the parade, you could almost smell it from your rooftop.”
India snorted. “What does Pride smell like?”
“Rainbows and unicorns, of course.” Gina paused. “Are you going to throw a moving-in party?”
“Definitely. And you’re invited. Guest of honour.” India gave her a grin, and their gazes locked. India couldn’t pull her eyes away, and the car slid sideways. Her heart picked up speed as something passed between them. It was only when she refocused, and the car slid onto the hard shoulder, vibrating as the wheels hit the rougher road, that she remembered she was driving. She needed to get them to Birmingham in one piece. Not stare into Gina’s eyes like a lovestruck puppy.
India hauled the wheel right, centred the car and gripped the wheel.
They were okay. Nobody was hurt. Just her emotions were getting a workout in this car today.
India’s phone beeped in the phone tray.
They both looked down at it.
It beeped again.
She glanced at Gina, then back at the road. “I meant to put it on silent, otherwise it drives me mad. Can you put it on silent? It’s probably my dad, or my brother posting me baby memes.”
“Sure.” Gina picked up the phone, then paused, shaking her head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to see, but it’s from Andi. The shorter message is on your screen.”
India’s heart sank. “For fuck’s sake.” Andi was texting while she was on air? She’d never done that when they were together.
“Are you back in touch?”
“We’re not. At least, I’m not.” India’s tone was clear. “But Andi hears what Andi wants. Right now, she wants to get in contact with me, and she’s using any means possible. I’m sure a lot of my friends heard what she said on the radio. The Daily Mail will probably pick it over, too, and dig out a photo of the pair of us in happier times if it’s a slow news day.” She blew out a raspberry. “Modern celebrity ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
“You should block her.”
“I’ve thought about it, but it seems a bit much?”
Gina gave her a look. “It depends if she’s getting too much, doesn’t it?”
She had a point. India slammed the steering wheel with her palm. “Anyway, we said no more talk of exes. When we eventually get to Birmingham, we’ll check in to the hotel, have a lovely dinner and relax. Deal?”