Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James Read Free Book Online

being there: I missed my friends, my social life, whatever boy I had a crush on at the time, and was usually impatient to get back home. I wish now that I’d taken more notice, that I’d been more present. I wish now that I’d known how fragile it all was. If I’d understood how easily everything could be destroyed, I wouldn’t have taken it for granted.
    With hindsight I can see so clearly how lucky we were. With hindsight I’m ashamed of the fact that I had no idea.
    So, despite the obvious suitability of the country house, I don’t mention it. Instead, I suggest that we head to the beach.
    “But it’s too cold to swim. What’s the point?” Alice objects.
    “Don’t be such a wimp. The beach is great at this time of year. There’s no people but the water’s still warm.” Robbie smiles at me, then widens his eyes a fraction in fond amusement at Alice. “A most excellent idea, Katherine.”
    “Hey.” Alice stares at me and then at Robbie. “I saw that look you two just gave each other. Having private little exchanges, are you now? About me, even?” She is smiling, but there is an edge to her voice, a cold glint in her eye. “Just remember that this is all about me. You two don’t exactly have a thing going. You wouldn’t even know each other if it weren’t for me.”
    “Shut up, Alice.” Robbie rolls his eyes and lifts his empty cup. “I need some more coffee. Be a good host and go and get us some.”
    Alice puts her face right up close to Robbie’s, and for a moment I’m not sure what she’s going to do. She looks angry, and I wonder if she’s going to scream, or tell him to leave, and for a moment I even think she might bite him. Instead, she presses her lips hard against his and opens her mouth, forces her tongue between his lips. Just as suddenly she pulls away, stands up, and collects our empty mugs.
    “Another coffee? More tea, Katherine?” She smiles cheerfully.
    “Sounds perfect. Thanks.”
    Robbie watches her leave the room.
    “Was she serious?” I ask him.
    He turns to me with a startled look on his face, as if he’d forgotten I was there. “Serious?” And then he nods. “Oh, yes. You mean everything being about her? Very serious. She’s a narcissist through and through. She really only cares about herself.”
    At the time I think Robbie is just exaggerating. He loves her, after all, so he couldn’t mean this too seriously. Alice is a little selfish, a little self-absorbed, I’ve certainly noticed that about her. But so what? She can also be amazingly generous and kind. She has a remarkable ability to listen and to make others feel special.
    “But you love her anyway?”
    “She’s like a drug. I can’t get enough.” He looks suddenly sad. “I know she’s bad for me, I know I won’t ever be happy with her, but I can’t help myself. No matter what she does to me, I just keep coming back for more.” He shrugs and looks away. “I’ve got an addiction. An Alice addiction.”
    “But what—?” I’m about to ask him what exactly she has done, why he thinks she is bad for him, when Alice comes back into the room carrying our steaming mugs.
    “Thanks.” Robbie reaches out for his, and Alice bends down to kiss him tenderly as he takes it from her grasp.
    “You’re an angel, Robbie. A star,” she says. Robbie rolls his eyes, but he is pleased by her display of affection, it’s obvious on his face.
    She hands me my mug. “And you, Miss Katherine. You’re a total legend.”
    I smile, sip my tea.
    Alice sits down, leans forward, her face aglow. “I was just thinking when I was in the kitchen. I was just thinking how cool it is that the three of us have found each other. I mean, I know it’s probably super-corny to say so, but we really do get along well together, don’t we? I mean, we just seem to fit together, like … oh, I don’t know … like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. We just totally get each other.” And she smiles, looks down, suddenly