Free A Date with Fate by Cathy Cole Page A

Eve?” said Polly at last. The ties on her robe trailed on the soft pink carpet behind her.
    â€œI’m your host, of course,” Eve said, doing her best to sound light-hearted as she moved into the centre of the spacious room. “Isn’t this lovely?” She swung the carrier bags hopefully at her friends. “Goodies for everyone.”
    â€œThis is your sleepover?” said Rhi, looking confused. “What about the competition?”
    â€œThere was no competition,” said Lila scornfully, putting her hands on her hips. “I knew this was too good to be true. Come on, guys. Let’s go.”
    Eve felt panicky as her friends headed for the door. “No, wait. Wait! I . . . wanted to apologize to you. To all of you. I . . . I. . .”
    Friends to kick you in the tush when you misbehave. She could hear Caitlin in her head, as clear as a bell. This was her last chance to fix things.
    â€œI’ve been a total idiot and a bad friend and I’m sorry,” she said in a rush. “Please stay. There’s an explanation!”
    Lila marched back towards Eve. “An explanation ? What is there to explain? You’ve made all our lives miserable. You tried to steal our boyfriends. I think that’s enough explanation .”
    Tears welled up in Eve’s eyes. “I’ve been a bitch. I know I have,” she said in a small voice. “You don’t know how difficult it is, being me.”
    Lila laughed in amazement. “Now I’ve heard it all!”
    â€œQuiet, Lila,” said Rhi. She sat down on one of the wide white beds. “Let’s give Eve a few moments.”
    Hot tears ran down Eve’s cheeks. She let them fall. It was a strange feeling, letting herself be vulnerable like this. “One minute everything was great,” she sniffed. “Then Lila came along.”
    Lila glared. “I’ve heard enough of this.”
    Eve caught Lila’s arm as the dark-haired girl headed towards the door again. “I’m just saying what I felt! I’m not saying I was right to feel that way, OK?” She looked hopelessly at the hostile faces of the three girls around her. “I’m sorry Rhi, for the whole Max business. I’m sorry Polly for the way I treated you.” She swallowed. “And I’m sorry for not making you welcome when you came to Heartside Bay, Lila. I was . . . jealous, I think.”
    Eve was surprised to hear herself say it out loud. Jealous. She’d been jealous, all along.
    â€œJealous?” echoed Lila incredulously. “Of me?”
    â€œDon’t kid yourself, Lila,” Eve said with a waspish flash of her usual self. “You’re beautiful. And popular. You’d only been in the school for five minutes before all the boys started falling for you. You took Ollie.”
    â€œFor all the good it did me,” said Lila sourly.
    There was a long silence.
    â€œListen, Eve has apologized,” said Rhi at last. “We should give it a go.”
    Polly shrugged, clearly trying to keep the peace. She waved her arms around the room at the warm blankets folded on the ends of the beds, the basket of hot chocolate and biscuits on the dressing table, the widescreen TV and the huge marble bathroom. “We do have all this to try before the night is out.”
    Lila grunted, but sat down on the end of a bed.
    â€œGood!” Eve said, relieved. “Time for presents.”
    She gave everyone a swish little carrier bag. “PJs,” she said nervously. “Designer, naturally. I think I got the right sizes.” She hoped the others actually liked what she’d bought them. “I’ve got us all face masks too. Lovely organic ones. Mummy uses them every week. You wouldn’t believe how. . .”
    . . . expensive they are , she was going to say. Something in Lila’s face stopped her. “How nice they are,” she finished a little lamely.
    Everyone took