Free Missing Me by Sophie McKenzie Page A

Annie do that too?
    ‘Please, Madison.’ Annie wrung her hands together, her voice suddenly all wobbly. ‘It’ll only be a couple of hours and Lydia will think it rude if—’
    ‘Fine,’ I said, my irritation rising. Why couldn’t Annie ever say what she properly meant? ‘But I still don’t want to talk about
anything.
’
    I stomped off to my room and splashed some water on my face. Considering our climb over the iron gate, my jeans didn’t look too bad. I decided not to bother to change them. I’d have
a bath when I got back.
    Annie and I walked to Lauren’s mum’s house in silence. Annie tried to get me talking about the weather of all things. Again, it was so obviously a fake topic that I felt really
resentful. Rory opened the door to us. He was in the living room with a bunch of his friends, including the gorgeous Marcus, who gave me such a sexy smile as I passed the door that I nearly
fainted.
    Lydia and Lauren were in the kitchen. Lauren’s skin had that same peachy glow as before and her belly seemed even bigger than it had earlier in the week. She struggled to her feet as we
came in and Annie immediately started fussing, saying she thought Lauren looked pale and tired.
    ‘D’you think perhaps you’re doing too much, Lauren sweetie?’ she went on anxiously.
    What was she talking about? As far as I could see, Lauren looked healthier than I’d ever seen her.
    ‘I’m fine,’ Lauren said with a hint of irritation in her voice. ‘I’m going swimming every morning and—’
    ‘Are you sure that’s not too much?’ Annie said.
    Lauren’s voice rose: ‘Well, according to Chelsey Barton’s pregnancy book, swimming is the best exercise you can do if—’
    ‘Why don’t I take you upstairs, Annie?’ Lydia said quickly. ‘I’ve just bought a new dress I wanted to show you.’
    I met Lauren’s eyes. We both knew Lydia was trying to get Annie out of the way.
    ‘You girls stay here,’ Lydia went on. ‘This one’s for middle-aged ladies only.’ She left the room, Annie trailing in her wake.
    Lauren sat down heavily at the kitchen table again and rolled her eyes.
    ‘What is Annie like?’ she said with a sigh.
    ‘Tell me about it,’ I said. ‘I have to live with her.’
    Lauren grimaced. She fingered the jewelled, vintage cross around her neck. ‘You know she’s been on the phone to me every day since I last saw you, worrying that you’re not
coping with this sperm donor stuff and begging me to try talking to you.’
    I looked away.
    ‘I’ve told her you’re too sensible to go chasing some ridiculous dream, but she won’t listen. She thinks you’re going to try tracking down the donor dad . .
.’
    ‘
Our
donor dad,’ I said, turning back to her.
    Lauren threw me a sharp look. ‘He won’t want to know you,’ she said. Her blue eyes bored into me. She took her hand away from the cross around her neck and pressed it flat on
the table for emphasis. ‘If he’d wanted to know you, he wouldn’t have been an
anonymous
donor, would he?’
    What was Lauren saying? That I wasn’t worth knowing? Well, she was wrong. Totally wrong. Allan
did
want to know me. Anger spiralled up inside me. How dare Lauren assume she knew
what someone in Allan’s position would think or feel or say or do? How dare she think she knew better than me about what
I
should do?
    ‘Don’t look at me like that, Mo,’ Lauren said fiercely. ‘I’m only looking out for you.’
    ‘I can take care of myself.’ I marched to the door, feeling really furious now. ‘Tell Lydia I’m sorry about dinner and tell Annie I’ve gone home.’
    ‘Wait—’
    But I didn’t stop to listen. Tears pricked at my eyes as I headed back to the front door and let myself out. I didn’t know why I was so upset, just that everything with Lauren seemed
to be changing now. It was partly the baby and partly her refusal to understand how I felt about Allan . . . it really hurt.
    I switched off my phone, got home and had the