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There’s silence I can feelredder and redder

"You knohat, Suze," I adht have been… my fault"

"Your fault?" She raises her head and stares at ave him the jumper And the hairstyle" I flinch at her expression "But I ive hiot a lot to answer for!" cries Suze "I’ve been so stressed I just keep thinking, I htening "What does he get you to do?"

"No, silly! Because we’re cousins Well, distant cousins, but still…"

"Ooh" I pull a face -- then realize that isn’t exactly tactful "But I , is it?"

"Oh God, Bex!" wails Suze "That reallyand mine, takes them over to the sink, and starts to run the tap

"I just can’t believe you’re having a relationship with Tarquin!" I say

"We’re not having a relationship!" squeals Suze, as though I’ve scalded her "That’s the point Last night was the very last tiain Never And you mustn’t tell anyone"

"I won’t"

"No, I’m serious, Bex You mustn’t tell anyone No one!"

"I won’t! I proot so for you"

I hurry into the hall, open one ofI pluck a card from the pile, scribble "To Suze, love Bex" inside, and return to the kitchen, sealing the envelope

"Is this for me?" says Suze in surprise "What is it?"

"Open it!"

She tears it open, looks at the picture of a zipped-up pair of lips, and reads aloud the printed e:

Roomie -- your secret’s safe with me