Free The Sunshine And Biscotti Club by Jenny Oliver

exactly the kind of thing he would do,’ Jimmy went on. ‘Every time he doesn’t get caught he’ll push a little bit harder.’
    Eve frowned, remembering the Instagram pictures of Jake carrying a massive Christmas tree on his shoulder or giving Libby a piggyback on a country walk. ‘You think he’s done it before.’
    Jimmy almost choked on his swig of beer. ‘Are you serious?’
    Eve looked at Jessica who shrugged, equally nonplussed. It felt weird talking about Libby and Jake like this at their place.
    ‘Of course he’s done it before. The guy’s the ultimate player,’ Jimmy went on. ‘He can’t sit still. Never could. Christ, he’s shagged people left, right, and centre over the years.’
    Eve paused with her drink up to her lips. ‘Wow,’ she said, before taking a little sip, the vodka coursing cold through her body. Poor Libby. For a second she thought about her life envy. Even their infidelity was bigger and bolder and more media friendly than her and Peter’s quiet little bust up. ‘Do you think she knew?’ she asked.
    Jimmy held his hands up. ‘I don’t see how she didn’t know. He’s been—’
    He was cut off by Jessica doing a really loud cough and they all turned to see Libby standing at the gate to the lemon grove. She had a bottle of ice cold vodka in her hand and a couple of spare glasses. All around her fairy lights sparkled in the leaves.
    Everyone was silent for what seemed like hours.
    Jimmy looked down, rubbing his hand over his forehead.
    ‘Giulia said you were all on vodka,’ Libby said, trundling through the silence as if nothing had happened. She swallowed. ‘So, erm, I brought this.’ She held up the condensation covered bottle. ‘But I think, though, I think I’ve just forgotten something. I’ll be back in a tick,’ she said, then turned and took a couple of paces, then turned again and added, ‘I’ll leave this here.’ She put the vodka bottle and glasses on the ground by the fence then disappeared back through the grove.
    ‘Shit,’ said Dex.
    Eve put her hands over her mouth.
    Jessica narrowed her eyes. ‘You knew,’ she said to Jimmy. ‘You knew and you didn’t tell her.’
    Jimmy shook his head. ‘It’s none of my business.’
    Miles raised a brow.
    ‘Are you kidding?’ Jessica said. ‘She’s your friend.’
    ‘So was he. Is he.’ Jimmy made a face. ‘Come on, why would I get involved in this?
    Dex?’ Dex shrugged. ‘It’s messy.’
    Jessica rolled her eyes.
    ‘Never get involved.’ Jimmy held up his hands. ‘People’s relationships are their own business. They choose what they want and what they want to see.’
    ‘That’s such a cop-out,’ Jessica stood up and walked over to the gate to pick up the vodka.
    ‘Oh, and you’re the expert?’ Jimmy said, and they all suddenly became fascinated with their drinks.
    Jessica huffed, jaw clenched, and bashed the bottle down on the table.
    Jimmy shook his head and sat back in his chair, taking a swig of his drink probably to stop himself saying any more.
    ‘One of us should go and find her,’ Eve said, knowing that it should be her, but something was holding her back. Pride, perhaps. The feeling of being the outsider. The fact that all this had been going on in Libby’s relationship and she hadn’t told her.
    She glanced around for a possible candidate. Miles was still battling the jet lag and had sat back with hiseyes closed. Jessica was clearly quietly fuming about Jimmy’s comments and not about to get up again. It was Dex who paused as he was refilling everyone’s glasses and, looking up at Eve, said, ‘Give me one sec and I’ll go.’
    When Dex stood up Jimmy did as well but, as Dex strode off towards the hotel, Jimmy took his drink and wandered down to the very bottom of the garden. Jessica kept staring moodily down at her glass.
    Eve was about to follow Jimmy when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen to see Peter’s name flash up for FaceTime and was hit by a confusing