Page 43 of Knotting Hill
“Thanks,” I say, taking it at face value and dropping the subject. “So, who do you think my mum has lined up?” I snort to get the night back on track.
She lets out a loud laugh. “Oh, my God! I cannot wait to see. They’ll be perfect for you, though. I know your mum. Nothing less than the best for her baby. I wonder if she’s got more than one? Like a runner-up?”
I giggle. “I wouldn’t put it past her.”
“Aww, Stormy Rivers, all grown up and ready to mate.” She gets a bit teary. “Please don’t ditch me when you’re all loved up.”
“Don’t be daft. We are besties for life and the afterlife.”
She grins, happy with my reassurance.
But the cloud scurries back over my head when I think about Emma.
“What is it?” Cassidy asks, sensing the mood change suddenly.
“Do you know an omega called Emma? Blonde, pretty?”
She nods slowly. “Emma Franks? What did she do? Whatever it is, do not believe a word of it. She thought I was getting it on with the St. Lucs, and she clam-slammed me so fucking hard, I thought she was about to get physical. She toldme she and Russell were hooking up inelite,but I know it’s not true.”
I blink at that info dump. “What? Why did she think you were getting it on with them?” The pang of hurt I feel over that startles me, but I push it back.
“Because I was meeting them in secret to talk about you.”
“Oh.” I chew my lip. “She’s lying then?”
“What did she say?”
“She said that Russell climbed out of her nest this morning. But then he was waiting for me at the coffee shop.”
“And how did that make you feel?”
I roll my eyes. “What is this Psych 101? To be honest, I don’t know. Sad, I guess that I was right about them.”
“It’s not true. I confronted him about her the other day, and he was mad. Like flaming mad and upset and worried about how it would affect things with you. There is no way he was lying. She is. She is toxic.”
I gulp. I guess it doesn’t matter anyway. “Film?”
“You know it.” She bustles about getting us one lined up while I make us sandwiches and crisps, not having much else in. I really need to go shopping. Soon. Tonight, though, I want to forget about my impending sacking from Robb & Robb, the St. Lucs, Franco, Emma and everything else crappy that has happened over the last few weeks.
Twenty-Seven
Josh
I lookup from my notebook, where I’m sitting on my bed.
“It’s 2AM,” I say quietly.
“Can’t sleep. Have you even tried yet?” JP says.
“Nope. Won’t bother for another hour.”
“I need to get pissed,” he says, coming in and flopping down on the bed.
“No one is stopping you.”
“I’m stopping me. When I drink, I get horny.”
“Hornier, you mean.”
