Chapter 4 

Naomi still looked far too amused.

“Okay,” she said, falling back into step beside Susie and Dan, “I need to know.”

Susie narrowed her eyes immediately.

“Oh no.”

“The name,” Naomi said. “Nine and a Half. Spill.”

Dan grinned instantly.

“Yes,” he said dramatically. “The people deserve answers.”

Susie sighed.

“You’re all way too invested in this.”

“Correct,” Naomi replied immediately.

Dan nodded. “Obsessively.”

Susie shook her head, already laughing.

“Fine.”

She adjusted her coat as they walked.

“So… when I was little—about five, I think—this was back in the late eighties, early nineties when the milkman still delivered milk in those glass bottles—”

Naomi gasped dramatically.

“Oh my God, nostalgia.”

“Right?” Susie laughed. “Anyway, my parents were still in bed and I’d gone to get the milk off the front step.”

Dan already looked concerned.

“Why does this sound traumatic?”

“Because it is.”

Naomi laughed.

“It had been raining,” Susie continued, “and one of the bottles slipped out of my hand.”

Dan winced immediately.

“No.”

“Oh yes.”

“It smashed,” Susie said, grimacing. “Straight onto my foot.”

Naomi’s face dropped.

“Oh my God.”

“Chopped part of my middle toe off.”

Dan stopped walking for half a second.

“WHAT?”

“It was hanging on by a piece of skin,” Susie said casually.

Naomi physically recoiled.

“Nope. Absolutely not.”

“Yeah,” Susie laughed. “So obviously, rushed to hospital.”

“What happened?” Naomi asked.

“I don’t remember loads because I was little, but basically the bone was unsalvageable.”

Dan looked horrified.

“That word alone makes me uncomfortable.”

“So,” Susie continued, “they took part of the bone out, did whatever magical doctor stuff they do, pulled the skin over and…”

She shrugged dramatically.

“Boom.”

She held up her hand like she was presenting a prize.

“Nine and a half toes.”

There was a pause.

Naomi blinked.

Then burst out laughing.

“Okay.”

She pointed at Susie.

“That is actually a brilliant nickname.”

“Keeps people guessing,” Susie laughed.

Dan was crying laughing already.

“All this time and I genuinely thought it was something way worse.”

Naomi shook her head.

“I honestly didn’t know what direction that story was going.”

Susie grinned.

“Yeah, I usually just tell people…”

She lowered her voice dramatically.

‘Bet mine’s smaller than yours.’

Dan nearly folded in half laughing.

“Oh my God.”

Naomi laughed so hard she had tears in her eyes.

“That is awful.”

“It works though,” Susie said proudly.

Dan shook his head.

“You genuinely make people wonder.”

“That’s the point.”

Naomi wiped her eyes.

“Honestly? Ten out of ten nickname.”

“Nine and a half out of ten,” Dan corrected.

Susie shoved his shoulder.

“Oh, piss off.”

The three of them burst into laughter again, the sound carrying through the trees while Fawkes barked like he wanted to be included in the conversation.

As the group continued along the trail, conversations shifted again naturally, people drifting between little clusters as the path widened through the trees.

Up near the front, Andy had fallen into conversation with Heidi, the two chatting easily while everyone else spread out behind them.

Heidi was talking about her two house rabbits.

“My babies,” she said proudly.

Andy laughed. “You say that like they pay rent.”

“They emotionally support me,” Heidi replied seriously.

“Do they?”

“No.”

That made Andy laugh.

“I actually made them a little TikTok,” she admitted, smiling.

Andy looked genuinely impressed.

“No way.”

“Yep. Videos of them being adorable.”

“How many followers?”

Heidi shrugged casually.

“Actually quite a lot.”

Andy blinked.

“Your rabbits are more famous than me.”

“They’re cuter than you.”

“That’s rude.”

“Accurate though.”

Before Andy could reply—

Movement.

Fast movement.

Very fast movement.

From somewhere in the middle of the group—

Beppe had spotted the Cadbury bag.

Like a predator locking onto prey.

Or, more accurately—

Like a Labrador hearing a crisp packet open.

Without warning, he suddenly appeared beside them.

Fast.

Concerningly fast.

Andy physically jumped when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.

“JEEZ—”

Andy nearly launched his cake.

“Beppe!”

Beppe said nothing.

Didn’t even acknowledge the near heart attack.

Just stood there.

Waiting.

Andy narrowed his eyes.

“…What?”

Still nothing.

Then—

Beppe slowly looked down.

At the bag of Cadbury mini chocolates Andy had casually pulled from his coat pocket.

Then back at Andy.

Silence.

Pure expectation.

Andy sighed dramatically.

“Oh for—”

He held out the bag.

“You absolute gremlin.”

Instantly—

Beppe took it.

No hesitation.

No shame.

Grabbed a handful.

“Love ya, Andy,” he said cheerfully.

Then—

Like some sort of woodland creature that had successfully scavenged food—

He immediately turned and hurried back toward the others.

Quick little steps.

Chocolate secured.

Mission accomplished.

Andy stared after him.

“…Did I just get mugged?”

Heidi was already crying laughing.

“Oh my God.”

“That wasn’t even a conversation!”

“He saw snacks and lost all human function.”

Up ahead, Beppe had already rejoined Ryan, Eddie, Deena, Logan, and Mark, happily opening his stolen chocolate like nothing unusual had happened.

Ryan looked over.

“You alright there?”

Beppe nodded happily.

“Got chocolate.”

“From where?” Logan asked.

Beppe pointed vaguely backwards.

“Andy.”

Logan looked horrified.

“You robbed him?”

“No,” Beppe said seriously.

A pause.

“He volunteered.”

Further back, Andy shouted—

“I DID NOT!”

The group burst into laughter.

Beppe popped another chocolate into his mouth, entirely unbothered.

Honestly?

He seemed perfectly happy now he had chocolate.

And somehow…

That felt very on brand for Lifted.