Kirsty had found herself more and more in Colin’s company and at first she had suspected that the lad had only sought her out for the goodies she produced from that wonderful oven, but gradually it had become a habit to sit and chat over endless mugs of coffee, putting the world to rights. There was something relaxing about spending time with Colin: yes, he’d be good boyfriend material but Kirsty preferred his friendship. Perhaps it was the way they always managed to open up to one another, as if they’d been friends for years rather than weeks?
Funny how they had all got into a routine so quickly, Kirsty mused. It was flattering how the others wanted to come home in time to share whatever she had decided to cook each night, and then they would spend most of their evenings together. After the lads had stacked the dishwasher — strangely it was never Eva who did this — they’d often go round to the pub, strolling back home by ten o’clock to watch the evening news on the television.
‘Kirsty, we have arrived at Queen Street,’ Eva said, breaking into her reverie and making her stuff the book hastily back into her bag and join the queue waiting to get off the train.
The platform was jammed with commuters disembarking, at this time of day mostly students heading for one of the city’s universities. A quick ride in the underground from Buchanan Street would take the Glasgow Uni students to Hillhead or Kelvin Bridge but it was a short walk for both Eva and Kirsty from Queen Street station to their morning classes at Strathclyde and Caledonian universities.
Kirsty followed her friend to the automatic barrier then slipped her ticket in the slot, watching it being swallowed up. Then they made their way out of the press of people and headed uphill towards Cathedral Street and the spot where their paths diverged.
‘Hey, d’you want to meet up for lunch?’ Kirsty suggested. ‘I’ve got a space between twelve and one.’
Eva’s smile was still in place as she shook her head, Kirsty noted, but there was something different about the girl today; she had hardly said a word since they had left the flat and there was a faraway look in those blue eyes as if she were harbouring a secret that she wanted to hug to herself.
‘Okay. See you tonight, then!’ she called out cheerfully and Eva gave her a desultory wave before disappearing among a stream of students heading up Montrose Street.
The Swedish girl glanced at the familiar figure of a tall young man who loped past her, his eyes raking her face for any signs of recognition, but she looked straight ahead again as though completely unaware of his interest, her smile drooping a little lest he think she wanted to engage in conversation. He reminded her a little of Colin, that longing look in his eyes like a spaniel waiting for a titbit from its master. She was used to it now, this attention from young men in her orbit. After the first few weeks of the term it had become tedious though she was always careful not to show it, smiling and talking politely, giving them the brush-off so nicely that they didn’t even realise what was happening.
At least she could tell her secret friend about it all, giggling sometimes as they chatted together on the telephone late into the night.
Eva breathed out a long sigh as she came to the crest of the hill. It was evident that Kirsty had no idea just what she had been up to these past few nights. Her smile broadened as she thought what the other girl’s reaction might have been. Shock? Maybe. Envy? Well, she wasn’t so sure about that: Kirsty was a fairly contented soul who seemed happy enough just to remain friends with everyone she met. But that was not enough for Eva Magnusson, she told herself. She had always wanted more and it was a delicious discovery to find just how easy it was to have it all, especially when it was spiced with the thrill of being hidden in the darkness.
CHAPTER 8
Gary crept back up the spiral staircase, his bare feet brushing each tread of carpet as he listened. There was no sound, however, only the thickness of his breath as he left the lower floor of the flat and headed to his own room again. A sudden flurry of rain pattered against the skylight window as he reached the top of the staircase, making the young man pause, one hand on the curve of the banister rail. Winter storms had been forecast for the remainder of this week and so Moira had called to postpone her visit to Glasgow till nearer Christmas. That was fine with him, Gary thought, a grin creasing his handsome features. His nights were taken with so much fun that he would be hard put to stay awake in class let alone trail his mother around the sights of the city.
The white-painted door gave a creak as he pushed it wide then he was inside and closing it carefully behind him. He rubbed his groin gently, groaning a little as he felt the raw and tender flesh. God! It was true what they said about Swedish girls after all! Gary slipped into bed, relishing the cool sheets against his warm body. He would find it difficult to get to sleep, visions of their antics still hot and hard in his brain. And she was probably asleep already, little minx! Anybody seeing her at breakfast morning after morning would never guess what sort of sexual gymnastics she’d been putting him through, leaving him yawning over his cornflakes. Kirsty had asked him only yesterday if he was coming down with a cold. Gary snickered to himself. He’d managed to keep a straight face, only glancing once at Eva, but the girl had been intent on mixing some of her home-made muesli and had not even acknowledged his presence in the kitchen.
The grin on his face turned to a frown as he began to wonder why the Swedish girl had been so insistent that they keep their affair a secret from the others. Then, as though the thought was too much for his sleepy brain, he closed his eyes and visualised that creamy white body stretching upwards in an arc as he knelt before her.
CHAPTER 9
December
Kirsty turned the key in the door and closed it behind her with a sigh. The hall was in darkness and there was no sound coming from the living room. Her shoulders moved up and down in a shrug of resignation; she was alone in the flat again. Then she remembered. Wasn’t there some party that Eva had mentioned? They’d all be there, wouldn’t they? Pulling off her thin raincoat and hanging it on the old-fashioned wooden coat stand, Kirsty sauntered into the bedroom next to the front door, unbuttoning her jacket. It was fair handy having this big room to herself, especially when she was working late shift at the hotel. Nobody would be disturbed by her comings and goings. She took off her shoes and tossed her jacket, bag and mobile phone onto the bed. Oh, it was good to be home. A wee cup of hot chocolate and some of her own gingerbread would go down well, she thought, already imagining her teeth sinking into a thick slab of treacly cake.
She stopped for a moment, listening. There was a swish then a click as the front door opened and closed again. Then, nothing.
‘Colin? Is that you back already?’ Kirsty wandered out into the hall, her bare feet sinking into the pile of the hall carpet, still thick and soft despite all their winter boots tramping back and forth. Eva’s father had spared no expense in doing up this flat for his daughter and Kirsty Wilson was grateful for those small luxuries that were absent from most of her friends’ student flats.