The Alphabet Game the Complete Alpha Series a to X, Y, Z by Andie M. Long Page A

the place. Hey hooked, get it?’
    I shake my head at her bemused.
    ‘Anyway, I didn’t mention it to you cos I knew you wouldn’t approve, well the you before Gabe wouldn’t approve. He knows I go there by the way. I’ve seen him.’
    Another secret. How many more things don’t I know?
    ‘But going to meet rich men to cover your missing allowance -’
    ‘I only do rich men anyway Stella, you daft bint. I need a big package in wallet and dick.’
    ‘So have you heard from Rob?’
    ‘He called me a pint-sized prick tease. I think it was supposed to be an insult but I’m thinking of having tee-shirts printed.’ She thrusts out her chest as if she was wearing one.
    ‘So I spoke to the doctor, they think twenty eight days?’
    ‘Yep that’s the deal with the folks. Twenty-eight days to stop drinking, which they think is the root cause of my embarrassing “loose” lifestyle and then the allowance is back.’
    ‘Well I know the detox bit isn’t going to be fun, but you could do worse Ronnie.’
    ‘I have a double en-suite and there’s a gym. I saw one of the singles first but Daddy wouldn’t allow it. He said it was too Travelodge. My room’s more Marriott apparently. I went in the therapy room this morning. There was a watering can on the side, they’ve told me I can garden,’ she holds out her immaculate manicure. Then she whispers, ‘How’d you grow Cannabis, is it a seed? Smuggle some in, that’d be a riot.’ She shouts riot loudly and the patients that have filtered through for their lunch whilst we are chatting look at her worriedly.
    She takes a drink of the water in front of her and sighs. ‘I can’t drink alcohol any more Stel, so I’m not sure I’ll be able to hang with you.’
    ‘What do you mean?’ I look worried.
    ‘Well you’re going to remind me of lager, Stella, get it?’
    ‘Ha bloody ha.’
    ‘I’m going to have to drink everything virgin. Hey I might have to have a matching cock.’
    ‘Please leave poor virgin males alone. I’m putting them on the banned list alongside Col.’
    She sighs, ‘The lovely, but poor Col. What did he say about me coming in here?’
    ‘He looked really worried when he told me, but then I just ran off into the apartment to call your Dad. I’ll make sure to catch up with him later.’
    ‘Check if his pocket’s bulging when you mention me.’
    ‘Ronnie.’
    ‘With money. I might save myself for him if it is.’
    ‘Col is another banned substance, you hear me?’
    ‘Yes Miss. So why did you have to leave the restaurant then? Must have been bad if you weren’t able to stay to help me.’
    I look at her and there’s hurt in her eyes. Of course, she’d have been wondering why I didn’t help.
    I explain about my mother and stepfather and the mystery about Gabe and Isabel.
    ‘So you haven’t asked him about it? No of course you haven’t, you’ve put your head in the bloody sand again haven’t you? Jesus, that’s why the hair’s changed again. It’s going to fall out if you carry on, you know that right?’
    ‘I just fancied a change,’ I lie. ‘No, he’s going to talk to me today sometime. I’m not sure I want to hear it.’
    Ronnie grabs my hand across the table. ‘Listen to me Stel. You do this all the time. Pretend things haven’t happened, avoid confronting them, change your image.’
    ‘It’s easier.’
    ‘I know, but the time’s come to do something different. It’s supposed to be the whole getting revenge plot, yet one sentence from your stepfather and Gabe’s the bad guy. Find out what happened and then deal.’
    I nod.
    ‘I like this hair colour on you, so promise me you’ll keep it. You don’t need to keep changing yourself.’
    I sigh, ‘I think I need to join you in here. I’m more screwed up than you are.’
    Ronnie looks over at the counter.‘I’m just going to grab a bite and then I’m going to go up to my room, I’m feeling a bit rough again. Promise you’ll keep in touch.’
    ‘Of course I’m