The Bad Girls' Club (26 page)

If I ran down to the shop, Daniel might turn up and I
’d miss him. Not that he was going to turn up. I had to accept that. Maybe it wasn’t convenient for him or maybe he was with another woman or he was just sick of me. I racked my brain for details of what I’d done wrong. I’d asked him what time he was coming over tonight. Stupid. That sounded needy. Guys hate that. I had to stop being needy.

I
’d go to the shop. Then if Daniel turned up, I wouldn’t be here. That would be the opposite of needy.

Anyway, I could keep an eye out for his car. All I had to do was run in the shop and buy a block of chocolate – I could eat it to the same place Jack
’s had been at and put it in the fridge and he’d never know I’d eaten any. Then the calories didn’t count.

I threw a cardigan over my dress – no way was I going to the milk bar looking all hootchie-mama – and swapped my high heels for a pair of flats, praying Daniel wouldn
’t turn up while I looked like this.

I ran into the shop and grabbed the chocolate but then thought maybe some Pringles would be good too. I didn
’t need Pringles. But they’d be awfully nice. A little treat. I needed something in life to look forward to since Daniel was obviously over me. Maybe some ice-cream? I couldn’t decide. Damn, damn, damn. Daniel would turn up then leave again while I still debating ice-cream and Pringles. I didn’t have time to be making decisions. I grabbed the lot – three tubes of Pringles, a tub of Cookies and Cream ice-cream and a couple of blocks of chocolate – I felt more like Roast Almond than Fruit and Nut but I needed Fruit and Nut for Jack. I’d only have a little a bit then save the rest for later. I would be good for me – I could prove my steely willpower to myself.

As I walked down the aisle, I grabbed a Polly Waffle. And a Cherry Ripe. And a Mars Bar. No harm in stocking up.

I plonked it on the counter and smiled at the girl. Holy shit, she was tiny, I didn’t know how she fit all her internal organs in. I looked down at the food and grabbed the ice-cream. I put it back in the freezer and got some Diet Coke instead.

The girl smiled at me.

‘Feeling hungry?’

I rolled my eyes.
‘My friends are such pigs. And I’m always the sucker that goes to the shop for them.’ I sighed, putting the Diet Coke to one side. ‘I’ll pay for that separately.’

I walked out, banging the door behind me. I wouldn
’t look. I wouldn’t check for his car. If I could count to five slowly, without checking, it would prove I wasn’t needy. And if I wasn’t needy, he’d love me more.

One.

He’d be waiting and I’d take off down the street into his arms kissing him hard and silencing his explanation for being late.

Two.

Well, maybe stopping to stash my bootie somewhere. Maybe even chuck it in the wheelie bin.

Three.

There was no car. He wasn’t there and I was needy and it was no wonder he didn’t want me. I grabbed the Cherry Ripe out of the bag and ripped it open, stuffing my mouth.

Maybe he
’d called. I should have taken my phone to the shop with me. I was a fool.

I ran into the house, the TV still blaring, and dived for my phone praying it said
‘Missed call – Derek’. It just had to. But the screen said nothing.

I bet he
’d seen my fat arse when I bent over last night. My naked fat arse. I had a huge pimple on it. He was so disgusted, he’d never come back. I bet he couldn’t get out of here fast enough. Why would he want to see me anyway? What did I have to offer him? I stuffed a handful of Pringles into my mouth.

I tried calling him again. The phone rang out. I imagined him, looking at the display then tossing his phone into the bottom of his training bag. Hell, he didn
’t even need look at his phone. I was the only one with that number. All he had to do was toss it in the bin and I’d be tossed aside as easily. He was probably at the pub with his mates. He probably had some skinny blonde chick sitting on his knee, his hand up her skirt.

I grabbed the Roast Almond. Chocolate wouldn
’t leave me for a skinny blonde chick. Chocolate hated skinny blonde chicks. It melted in my mouth and made me feel all warm inside.

The Pringles were finished. I opened the other tube. Pringles were my friends too. My crunchy friends. I didn
’t need anyone else. I had my crunchy friends and my melty friends. I licked the salty melted chocolate off my fingers.

The front door slammed. Daniel. I jumped up, hiding the chocolate wrappers under the cushion. I stashed the Pringles under the coffee table and wiped my face with the back of my hand.

It was Jack.

He stared at me.
‘What’s up?’

‘
Nothing.’

‘
Right? Where’s lover boy? And why is your face covered in chocolate? These are not good signs, honey.’

I grabbed the Pringles, stuffing another handful in my mouth.

‘Surely things aren’t that bad?’

‘
They are. They really are.’

‘
Bad enough that you are stuffing yourself with Pringles?’

‘
Pringles are my friends. They are my only friends now. Pringles are good, they don’t leave me; they don’t let me down.’ I picked up the tube and wiggled it and put on a funny voice. ‘We love you, Imogen. We’re always here for you.’

Jack sat down beside me.
‘Pringles aren’t your friends, Imogen.’ He picked up the two empty tubes from the floor. ‘Especially when you eat three tubes of them.’

‘
Well, I didn’t eat tiramisu at work today. And it was a really yummy-looking one too. Surely I get some kudos for that.’ I rubbed my belly – the fabric of my slinky dress stretched tight now and, in a couple of places, it was stained with chocolate – but I didn’t rub too hard because even the slightest pressure hurt.

‘
Maybe you should have had a slice. Instead of all this.’

‘
Maybe. But it’s too late now. Do we have any Tim Tams?’ I wanted to vomit, I wanted to stop eating, but more than anything, I wanted more sugar.

Jack put his arm around me.
‘What’s happening with the man?’

‘
I don’t know. Your guess is as good as mine.’

‘
I guess that’s one of the hazards of married men. Their time isn’t their own.’

I pulled away from him.
‘Yeah or he’s found someone else or realised that I’m a big fat arse.’

‘
Sweetie, you deserve better than this.’ He shook his head. I wanted to hit him. I was so damn sick of people telling me I deserved more. What the hell did they think I deserved? Daniel was gorgeous. He was everything I wanted. He was the man in my dream kitchen, in my dream home. He was the man that made me feel like I was worth giving a shit about. Well, except for tonight.

‘
I don’t deserve better. I deserve exactly this.’

Jack looked at me for a moment.

‘Are you sure? I’ve heard that before. You think you want Daniel. You think he’s going to solve all your problems. But it’s not him you want – it’s some dream Daniel you’ve built in your head. Did you want the Pringles and the chocolate? It’s the same thing, honey.’

‘
Shut up, Jack. Yes, I did. I did want the Pringles and I did want the chocolate and I do want Daniel. I want the dream house and the dream kitchen and him chopping vegetables and the wrestling.’ I stood up. ‘But I sure as hell don’t want you playing Dr. Phil.’

Jack shook his head.
‘What do you think is going to happen?’

‘
Huh?’

‘
Where’s your “relationship” going?’ He even did air quotes when he said relationship, the bastard. ‘You have two options here, honey. Behind door one, he leaves his precious wife for you. That would be totally fine and dandy except for that small matter of her being your boss. And what do you get? A man who started screwing around on his wife weeks after he gets married? How long until he does the same thing to you? Of course, there’s door two. You’re his dirty little secret on the side. Even then, there’s no guarantee you won’t get caught. Oh, and remember that promotion you were all excited about? All it takes is one of Daisy’s friends to drive past –’

‘
Poppy!’

Jack frowned at me. He hated to have his sermons interrupted.

‘Her name’s Poppy.’

‘
Poppy, Daisy, whatever. You see what I’m saying don’t you, sweetie? He’s just like Nick. The wrapping’s much fancier but underneath he’s rotten.’

‘
There is no promotion. And Poppy’s a fucking bitch who deserves to be cheated on. So what if I get caught? So what if I lose my job? Why don’t you just butt the fuck out of my life?’ I pelted the empty Pringles container at his head. 

As I stormed out of the room, he called after me,
‘You’ve got to make the choice, Imogen. Are you going to spend the rest of your life sitting on the couch eating snack foods and waiting for some no-good loser? You think you’re doing all this to get back at someone but you’re only hurting yourself.’

Typical Jack. He always said things like that. To make me feel guilty. But I didn
’t. I didn’t feel one bit guilty. Just mad and annoyed and pissed off that I’d left the rest of the Pringles in the lounge. He should just go and write a self-help book and leave me alone. Hopefully he’d go to bed soon and I could sneak and get them.

What was so wrong with snack foods anyway? What
’s wrong with taking what I could get? 

He knocked on my door.

‘Fuck off.’

The door opened.

‘You want me to leave?’

‘
Daniel.’ I jumped up throwing my arms around him.

‘
Sorry, babes. Poppy picked me up after training. I had to pretend I’d left my wallet at the club rooms to get out at all. So we have to rush.’

I jumped back.
‘She’s on to us, isn’t she? Oh God, Daniel. This is not good.’

He grabbed at me and pushed me back onto the bed.

‘No, no. Of course she isn’t.’

‘
Why didn’t you message me?’ I tried to get out of his grip. We needed to talk about this.

‘
I didn’t think. Sorry, babes.’ His hand tightened around my boob. ‘Anyway, no time to chat.’

‘
That’s fine,’ I said. It wasn’t fine. I’d said it in that way where he was supposed to know it wasn’t fine and ask me what was wrong. He didn’t ask me what was wrong though, he just unzipped his pants.

‘
I knew you’d be cool about it.’ He pushed my head down to his lap.

‘
Jack went out tonight too,’ I said. ‘We could’ve done it.’

‘
Shit, babes. I’m sorry. I guess we’ll just have to settle for a blow job.’

I realised that never once had the dream Daniel popped in for a quick blow job. And never once had the real Daniel said he cared about me.

I waited on the verandah of Popp
y’
s new house, hoping I was
n’
t the first to arrive.
I’
d tried not to be punctual but I never seemed to know how late fashionably late was. Hopefully someone else would be there. I just knew Poppy would go ballistic when she found out I had no food with me but I did
n’
t intend on being her caterer for the rest of my life. It was such a lovely day too, sunny with a breeze flowing through the jasmine. Pity it was going to suck.

‘
Juliette, come in.’ Poppy answered the door, all smiles, in a flouncy red dress and towering high heels. ‘Check it out. Isn’t it great? Just look at these Baltic floorboards and the fretted woodwork.’

I had to be the first one here for her to be so gushy. I followed her inside, trying to keep up as she pointed out the features. At least she was too wrapped up in the house to worry about food.

‘This is the master bedroom,’ she said, leading me into the front room. It had a big bay window. I’d always wanted a room with a bay window where I could curl up with a book and this one had those cute little diamond lead-light panels.

‘
It was originally the lounge room but it’s the biggest room in the house so I thought we’d use it as our bedroom.’

She opened double glass door into the next room.

‘And this,’ she said, waving her arms around, ‘was the dining room but it’s awfully dingy so I’m going to convert it into a walk in wardrobe and en suite.’

I looked at the lovely room with the old tiled fireplace and mantelpiece with a huge mirror above it. Surely she wouldn
’t rip that out? The rest of the room was empty except for one of Poppy’s sofas. She stepped through another door into the hallway.

‘
Across the hall is the spare bedroom.’

She pushed one of the doors open with a loud creak.

‘Damn, I meant to get Dad to come over and fix that. Not much in here anyway.’

‘
It looks nice –’

‘
Keep up, Juliette.’ Poppy swanned down the hallway opening the door to another room then closing it again. Well, more like slamming it. The room was filled with junk.

‘
I think we can give that room a miss. Next door is the bathroom’

I followed her into a room, all gleaming steel and marble. It would be hell to clean but then I guess Poppy would get in a housekeeper. I couldn
’t imagine her scrubbing all this once the thrill wore off.

‘
Well, that’s the front of the house. Now the entertainment area is at the back. I’m not sure if we’re going to keep it all white. It’s a bit stark, don’t you think? Vogue Living says gelato colours are in at the moment but I don’t know if I could handle gelato… although pistachio might work.’

Sun streamed into the huge kitchen/sunroom through the glass doors leading out to the decking. Poppy pointed out all the features. The kitchen appliances with names I was supposed to know, the huge oven – I wasn
’t sure what use an industrial oven would be to Poppy – the taps, the marble from somewhere special used for the kitchen bench tops.

The rest of the room was the furniture from her old place. The floral couches looked out of place amongst all this sleekness.

‘I think I need to buy new sofas,’ she said. ‘I just haven’t had time to go shopping. I guess you and Craig will be getting married soon. I’ll sell you my old stuff if you like.’

‘
I’m not marrying Craig.’

Poppy ignored that to demonstrate the hydraulic lift doors for the overhead cupboards.

The long wooden table had been set up with wine glasses but no food. Obviously. Because I was expected to supply that.

Poppy walked through the room and opened the French doors.

‘And this is our alfresco area.’

I
’d have called it a backyard, but then what do I know?

‘
You have a pool?’

Beyond the deck, the pool stretched out with a row of palm trees behind it. The water, sparkling in the sunlight, looked so tempting.

‘Yes, Dad wants us to get it taken out because he reckons they are dangerous when you have kids. Like I’m going to be ruining my body to have babies any time soon. We’d have had a pool party today but it’s been a bit cold for that, don’t you think.’

I didn
’t think it was that cold but Poppy loved the hot weather. She didn’t think it was really warm unless it was over 30 degrees.

Beside the pool was an area with sun lounges and a big, fancy barbecue. I could see some tools sitting on the barbie but no one around. I realised I hadn
’t seen Daniel anywhere.

Poppy walked back into the kitchen and opened the huge stainless steel fridge. She waved a bottle of champagne at me.

‘Want a drink?’

I nodded my head and sat on a stool at the kitchen bench.

‘We’ll have nibblies in here to start. Daniel wants to have a barbecue but I’m not one hundred per cent sure how he’ll go. I have no idea if he’s ever barbecued before. He’s just popped out to get heat beads. Still the whole barbecue thing has been keeping him busy. Kept him from screwing around for a while.’

I gasped.

‘What’s up, Juliette? Think I didn’t know about that? And I know Mum would have been talking. I’ve got it all sorted, believe me.’ Poppy leaned over the bench. ‘God, you look so guilty. Anyone would think you were the one shagging him.’

I tried to smile. As soon as I got out of Poppy
’s view, I’d text Imogen. She needed to be warned.

‘
Come on. I know it’s not you.’ Poppy laughed. ‘Hardly. Although you have tarted yourself lately. I’m sure it’s Caitlin. She thinks she can fool me. Well, we’ll see about that.’

Thank goodness she didn
’t suspect Imogen. Or maybe Daniel was fooling around with Caitlin too. Who’d know?

And that was almost a compliment from Poppy.
What a surprise. I’d been determined not to wear anything Beth had made me buy so I’d put on the red plaid skirt and top that she’d hated. I didn’t care if she, or anyone else, thought it was too gothic. I liked it.

‘
So, do you have to unpack the car?’

I sighed. This is what I came for – Juliette
’s big declaration of independence. The moment I showed Poppy she couldn’t push me around any more.

‘
Huh?’ I said. Not a good start but I really hate confrontation.

‘
The food? Where is it?’

‘
What food?’

‘
The nibblies?’

‘
What nibblies?’

Poppy frowned.
‘You didn’t bring anything?’

I shrugged.
‘You didn’t ask me to make food and I’ve had a really busy week.’

‘
But you always bring food. You made nothing? Not even those yummy rice balls?’

I shook my head.
‘I’ve been busy.’

‘
If you didn’t want to do it, you could have just told me. I’d have organised caterers or something.’ She harrumphed.

‘
How could I tell you when you hadn’t even asked? You just assumed.’

She leaned across the kitchen bench.

‘Juliette, we’ve been friends a long time. And really I’ve done a lot for you.’

I raised my eyebrow but let that pass.

‘What am I supposed to do? I can’t just let everyone go hungry.’ Poppy sniffed a little and pouted.

‘
You could go to the supermarket like other people do.’

Poppy laughed.
‘What? Pop a few bags of chips on the table? That’s classy.’

I crossed my arms and waited for the next outburst but she turned her back and picked up the phone.

‘Imogen, it’s Poppy. I have an emergency. Call me. Stat.’

She sighed then tried again. Imogen wasn
’t answering. I figured I might as well leave. I’d made my point.

As I left the room, she called out to me.

‘So, how was your threesome, Juliette?’

I stopped dead.

‘What?’

‘
I had lunch with Beth this week. Did you
really
think she’d keep her mouth shut?’

My stomach lurched and my throat went dry. I felt like I was going to throw up. Beth had told her? Beth? I grabbed the back of the couch to steady myself. I could picture it, her and Beth laughing about daggy little Juliette and her sexual adventures over a Caesar salad and Chardonnay. Even if Beth and I weren
’t exactly best buds at the moment, I thought she was my friend. And the club – that was sacrosanct.

‘
What’s the matter, Juliette? You’ve gone all quiet. Beth said –’

‘
Did Beth tell you about her kiss with that chick? Did she bother to mention that?’

I put my hand over my mouth before I said any more. I
’d sunk to Beth’s level. I walked out of the room.

‘
What do you mean?’ Poppy called after me. ‘Has Beth turned lezzo? Get back here, Juliette.’

Before she could follow me, a car pulled into the driveway. Probably Daniel back with the heat beads.

I stood in the hallway, wondering what to do next, as Poppy wailed into the phone.

‘
Daddy, it’s an emergency. Everyone is being so mean to me…’

I
’d sneak out before anyone got here and run away from Poppy and her stupid friends. Far away from all those questioningly looks. And far away from Beth.

At the front door, I paused.

Fuck running away. Why should I run away? Beth was the one in the wrong and I had a few things to say to her. I wondered what else she’d told Poppy. About the Bad Girls’ Club? No, that would implicate her too. And she didn’t know anything about Imogen and Daniel.

A car door slammed. Other guests had arrived. I ran into the former dining room as Poppy stomped through the house. I
’d be safe in there for a while.

Poppy squealed hellos in the hallway. More people arrived, with Poppy ranting in the middle of them all. She loved a drama. I
’d be the most evil, selfish person in the world, according to Poppy.

I prayed she didn
’t want to show them through the house. The last thing I needed was a whole posse of Poppy minions bursting in on me.

More voices but I couldn
’t hear Beth yet.

Then the dining room door opened. I looked up, expecting it to be one of Poppy
’s friends. It was Imogen.

‘
Oops,’ she said. ‘Sorry.’

She stood in the doorway for a moment as though she wanted to say something. I sat up and looked back at her, neither of us speaking. She
’d lost weight but didn’t look healthy, not like the old shiny Imogen. And, my God, she was wearing the exactly the same flouncy, red wrap-around dress as Poppy. It looked so much better on Imogen. Even this new thinner Imogen had the curves to fill it out.

She turned to leave.

‘Wait…’

She turned back and smiled hesitantly.

‘Yeah?’

‘
Can we talk a minute? Imogen, I’m sorry about… everything. And Beth… bloody Beth.’ My voice quivered and a lump rose in my throat. Imogen sat on the couch beside me.

‘
Jules, honey. What’s wrong?’

I felt better now Imogen was here. I could deal with this if I had her with me. She patted my arm.

‘Poppy said she had lunch with Beth last week. Beth told her about…’

Then something beeped and Imogen held up her hand to signal me to stop. She pulled her phone out of her bag and read the message.

‘Sorry, Jules, but this is really important. Would you mind leaving me? I have to see someone… and we can talk later.’

Imogen stood up and checked her lipstick in the mirror over the fireplace.

I guess that was the sign for me to go.

Time to look for Beth anyway. I
’d say what I had to say then go home and forget the Bad Girls’ Club had ever existed. Bad girls, my arse. More like bitchy, selfish girls.

A ton of people had turned up while I was in the other room. A few guys hovered around the barbecue with Daniel, and Poppy
’s rellos sat around on the couches. That woman, Poppy’s aunt, must be Beth’s mum. I’d never thought of that before. She looked like an older, frumpier version of Beth. Well, I’d say what I had to, mother or no mother.

Most of Poppy
’s friends lingered around the drinks. Poppy’s dad must have come through with the food – the table was covered in bowls of dip and antipasto, mini quiches and chicken wings. In the middle of it all sat two enormous cakes – a sponge cake with layers of cream topped with big, juicy strawberries and big, gooey mud cake.