Bad Decisions

Chapter Four

September 14th

"Eric, do you know where Inver Court is?"

"Yeah, it's a five-minute walk from here. Why do you ask?" Eric shouts back from the living room, watching TV as usual.

Piper grins at me as I let out a sigh, already running late as it is. "I'm meeting someone. How do I get there?"

"It's the street behind Inverness Terrace, so if you walk down Bishop's Bridge Road you should find it no problem. Who are you meeting?"

"I'm going to a concert with a friend. I told you about that this afternoon when we got back from my grand tour of London."

"Ah, that's right. Sorry, babe, I forgot. Do I know her?"

"Do you know who?"

"The friend you're going out with."

"No, you don't. I'll see you later tonight, okay?" I cut our conversation short, typing in the name of the street on Google Maps just in case my sense of direction lets me down.

"Have fun, love you."

"Love you," I reply without thinking, heading over to the front door in a rush. Piper trails along behind me with Rylee balanced on her hip, bemusedly shaking her head.

"You get so cranky when you're running late. Good save, by the way," she says with a wink, referring to my previous conversation with Eric.

I let out a huff, pulling my jeans up a little higher. "I'm not trying to hide anything from him, I just really can't be bothered explaining everything to him when I'm already in a hurry."

"Yeah, right," she replies with a scoff. "You're going off him, you know and I know it. Eric probably doesn't though, so you might want to let him know."

"That's enough, Piper." I snap. "I'm not a child, and I'm in a serious relationship. I don't mind if you have an opinion about that, just don't try to shove it down my throat. I'm happy how everything is, so just drop it."

"Jeez, calm down," she replies, clearly surprised at my reaction. I never really snapped at her like that, since she tended to take it to heart. "Don't take everything so seriously all the time, you've been acting like you've got-"

I sigh, pulling her in for a quick hug and thereby interrupting whatever she's about to say to insult me. "I'll see you tonight," I kiss her cheek and she nods her head before I'm finally out the door.

+ + +

"I thought you said you lived near Hyde Park."

"I do," I say, peering out the window as we drive. I don't really recognise any of the streets we pass, probably because I literally never drive anywhere, despite having had my driver's licence for years. I don't even own a car, since walking everywhere or taking the tube is so much easier than driving through the centre of London. "It's only a 10-minute walk and my flat is situated on the top floor of a period building, so I've got a great view from there."

He nods his head, turning onto the motorway. "That does sound nice."

"Do you live in the neighbourhood?"

"Yeah, about five miles from here. I live near Hampstead Heath."

"Right," I reply blankly, having no idea if that's even in London. "Lovely place."

"Have you ever been?"

"Well, no. I can't say I have," I reply awkwardly, and I mentally facepalm myself for getting myself into this situation. "I just-I think it's safe to say most parks in England are...lovely. To live nearby, I mean. For the view."