Page 3 of Stuck with the Hot Boss
Nicky nodded once and took a thoughtful sip of wine. Evie couldn’t tell if she agreed or was working out how to commit a good friend into psychiatric care.
‘And this person also told you that Shaun was shallow and self-absorbed, and you were well shot of him.’
‘Um, they didn’t phrase itquitelike–’
Nicky waved her hand as if shooing a fly.
‘Okay, I guess that’s fair,’ Evie admitted. ‘But he also calledmeout forstayingwith Shaun. Which I don’t think is fair atall.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because I loved Shaun!’
Nicky’s bright blue eyes widened. ‘Mate, really?’
‘We engraved our initials on a heart-shaped padlock and attached it to the Millennium Bridge,’ said Evie. ‘I kept the key on a chain around my neck.’
‘Did it turn green owing to being made from super-cheap metal?’
‘Only a little bit …’
‘Mate.’
Evie fiddled with the base of her wine glass, too downcast to drink.
‘IthoughtI loved him,’ she said. ‘I always had that excited bubbly feeling when I saw him. He made me laugh. And he wasverygood at – you know.’
‘Parcheesi? Dry stone walling?’
‘Don’t wind me up, Nick, I’m not in the mood. I’m inamood, but not that one.’
‘Sorry.’ Nicky reached over and squeezed Evie’s hand. ‘And I’m sorry you’re sad. I really thought your relationship with Shaun was the same as with your other boyfriends. A casual, easy thing. Here for a good time, not a long time.’
Evie searched her friend’s face. ‘A good time, not a long time?That’sthe kind of relationship you think I’ve been looking for?’
Nicky frowned. ‘Well … so far, you’ve only picked guys who think ‘commitment’ refers to that movie about an Irish soul band.’
‘Not true!’ Evie protested. ‘What about Jason? We almost got engaged!’
‘And how many other women has he ‘almost’ got engaged to?’ Nicky pulled out her phone. ‘Let me check the latest membership numbers of the ‘Jason Gannon is a Lying Arsehole’ Facebook group.’
Evie refused to give in without a fight. ‘What about Tony, then? He was sweet, and very caring. He lit scented candles around the bed and massaged me with essential oils.’
‘And now he’s in Bali making a fortune out of rich American women,’ said Nicky. ‘But I’m sure he thanks you for teachinghim that undiluted ylang-ylang can cause a nasty case of allergic dermatitis.’
‘I itched for days,’ said Evie, glumly. ‘And in places you really shouldn’t scratch in public.’
‘Mate.’
Nicky pushed back her chair and stood up. ‘I’ll get us another round. Same again?’
Evie nodded. Any other time, she’d have been happy to be there, in the pretty outdoor space of her favourite bar, on a warm summer’s evening, drinking wine with her best friend. But Nicky’s words had thrown her. It had never occurred to Evie that there was a pattern to her relationships. And that the pattern might be one she’d created herself.
She remembered what the unusual council worker had asked her: what did she want? Up until now, Evie had thought she’d wanted Tony and Jason and Shaun. Handsome, easy-going men who were fun to be around. Who didn’t take life too seriously. Who didn’t takeanythingtoo seriously. Including their relationships with her.
Was what Nicky said true – that Evie had chosen them because she knew theyweren’tkeepers? If so, why?Whydid she want that kind of man?
‘What’swrongwith me?’ she said out loud. This time, the universe declined to answer.
