Keep Your Friends Close: A gripping psychological thriller full of shocking twists you won’t see coming

‘Please, Lou, just stay away from me. That won’t ever happen again. I’ve moved on and so should you.’

The intensity of Louie’s stare unnerved her.

Louie slapped her hand against the partition and left.

When Karin heard the door swish to a close, she could finally let some air escape from her lungs. She badly needed to pee. It came out hot and burning, the throbbing sensation a reminder of what she had just done. Louie’s fingers inside her, they knew exactly where to push, where to press. She began to wipe herself down, trying to put herself back together inside and out. What had she just done? The man she loved was waiting out there, possibly going to propose. Karin was capable of many things, but this wasn’t one of them.

When she exited the cubicle, she was relieved to find herself alone. Walking towards the gleaming array of sinks, she tried her best not to look in the long mirror above them, but couldn’t avoid it. The person staring back was unrecognizable. The tell-tale signs: lipstick wrecked, cheeks flushed, hair totally deranged. She regretted coming in search of Louie now. Even the possibility that it was her should have been enough to take evasive action.

Tugging a tissue from the box on the ledge, getting angry when it didn’t come out, Karin began to rub away at the red smears around her mouth and the one streaked across her cheek like some tribal marking. Maybe it wasn’t so bad though. Get rid of the mascara smudges, rearrange the hair, and she might be able to get away with saying she had been sick. If only she could wipe away the last fifteen minutes of her life. If only she could undo many things.

Back at the table, Aaron was waiting anxiously. ‘You’ve been gone ages,’ he said, putting down his glass of water. ‘I was getting worried.’

‘I know, I’m sorry. I felt sick and-and then I was.’

‘Oh no. Really? Here, drink some water.’ He poured a glassful and pushed it towards her.

‘Thanks,’ she replied, gulping it down. ‘I think I’ll be okay now.’

‘Well, should we go back up to the room? I mean—’

‘I’ll order something light and I’ll be fine. Really, I will.’

The damage was done in any case, and her anger was rising. Karin refused to let Louie ruin this for them, and why should they have to leave? But when the smell of sex wafted over her again, she almost changed her mind.

‘Better?’ asked Aaron.

‘Getting there,’ she said, forcing a smile. ‘It’s so hot in here.’

Aaron reached for her hand across the table as she drank some more water. Karin considered it for a moment, because she really didn’t deserve his hand in hers. She didn’t deserve Aaron. But she allowed him to stroke her fingers and heard herself apologizing to him again.

‘No, don’t be sorry,’ he said, the kindness in his voice almost unbearable. ‘You sure you’re all right now?’

‘I’ll be fine.’

He gave her hand a squeeze but Karin was still too embarrassed to look him in the eye. Her hair fell forwards over her face and Aaron pushed it to one side. She raised her head, brave enough to meet his gaze. As she did so, she automatically touched her ear and realized she had lost an earring. The special one from her dad. Karin panicked, quickly pulling her hair forwards, coughing nervously. Luckily Aaron was trying to get someone’s attention to come and take their order.

‘Hey guys. What can I get you?’

Karin froze.

‘So, what are we celebrating tonight?’

It was Louie.

Aaron didn’t answer. He seemed to be leaving it to Karin to respond. ‘Oh,’ she said, fixing her eyes on Aaron. ‘Erm. My birthday. It’s my birthday. Today.’ Karin had no choice but to look at Louie then. Becoming aware that she was using Aaron’s hand as a stress ball, she immediately slackened off, giving him another apologetic smile.

‘Well in that case, let me get you something suitable,’ said Louie. ‘I’ve been informed you used to work here, so it’s with our compliments.’

‘Very generous. Thank you,’ Aaron replied, beaming at Karin. Then when Louie had gone, he asked: ‘Do you know that girl?’

‘I can’t really remember. It’s a while since I was here. Staff come and go all the time. Listen, do you think we could step outside for a bit of air?’

Aaron got up, coming round to Karin’s side of the table. Covering her shoulders with her cardigan, he pulled out her chair and waited patiently for her to stand. On their way out, he caught someone’s attention and had a quiet word to explain, pointing over to their abandoned table. It didn’t seem to be a problem.

The evening was hanging on to its unusually warm air as they stepped onto the terrace, but Karin was grateful for the relative coolness. From here the sea was a glistening mass, breathing its dark silky waves, in and out. It made no sound, a silent predator awaiting its next victim. This was a dangerous stretch of beach.

‘It’s beautiful,’ said Aaron, putting his arm around Karin’s waist to steady her down the steps.

‘Yes. I did love it here,’ she replied, her eyes drawn to the pier. She pulled on Aaron’s arm to go in the other direction, away from the pier, and they began to stroll along the promenade towards Heysham, holding hands.

They’d celebrated her twentieth birthday on the end of that pier. Louie had suddenly produced a cheap bottle of wine and they each took a drink saying: ‘Meet me at the edge’. Karin wasn’t even sure what she meant by it, it was just a feeling back then, but it was always there. She remembered the sea beating against the pilings beneath them as they hung their heads over the side, dangling their arms into the inky-black waves, daring one another to let go.

‘Should we head back?’ said Aaron, coming to a standstill. ‘We’ve probably walked far enough. You feeling any better?’

‘Sure,’ she replied, allowing him to turn her round. She would carry on to Blackpool if she could, all twenty-eight miles of it in her heels. Karin was surprised to learn they had already been walking for over ten minutes.

‘Must have been great to live by the sea,’ Aaron said, as they strolled back in again. ‘I’d love to do that, one day.’

‘Yes,’ said Karin, shuddering at the memories she had left here. Then she felt Aaron’s arm across her shoulders and wondered if he meant the two of them together. ‘Oh. Well I’d really like that too,’ she added, looking into his eyes. He gave her a half-grin and Karin realized that, yet again, she sounded foolish.

Walking with her head down the rest of the way, the fear of running into Louie returned.

The champagne was waiting for them when they arrived at their table, sitting in a bucket of ice ready to be popped and poured into flutes. Louie was hovering nearby, but held off for a moment, giving them time to get settled. As Karin saw her approaching, she was also aware of Aaron rummaging in the inside of his jacket.

‘What are you doing?’ she asked, keeping a close eye on Louie.

He pulled out a box. Black velvet, expensive-looking.

Did he have to do this now?

She didn’t dare check on Louie again. She must have seen what was happening though, and maintained a professional distance. All Karin could think about as Aaron placed the box down in front of her was Louie’s pain. How much this would hurt her.

‘Happy birthday, Karin,’ he said, nudging the box towards her. ‘Open it.’

Her fingers were trembling; she could barely lift up the lid. Karin let out a gasp, no longer pretending to be surprised. It was a cross-over design, white gold set with tiny diamonds. A label was looped through the ring which said:

Marry me, Karin xx

‘Oh Aaron, it’s beautiful.’

‘Well?’

She hesitated.

‘Yes! Of course, yes.’

Plunging the ring down her finger she clasped both her hands round Aaron’s, until she was aware of Louie coming over and quickly released them again.