“Appington.”
It’s the first word she says when Ryan picks up the phone, and he frowns, for a moment completely lost as to what that even means.
“What?”
“Appington,” she repeats. “That’s where you spend your summers, isn’t it?”
“Erm. Yeah,” he says. “Why?”
“Guess where I’ve just been!” she sings, and he sits bolt upright—which is an impressive feat in a recliner.
“Mara!”
“And that guy you told me about, that you hang out with? Alex?”
“Oh my God.”
“Guess who I’ve got pictures of!”
“Pictures?! Holy s**t, Mara, what did you—?!”
“Well, okay, I wasn’t in Appington, but I have my driving license now—did I tell you? I passed!—anyway, we were in Thame because my Aunt got married—she looked like a fruit bowl, I swear that isn’t traditional white wedding design, and who gets married in Nov
