Page 4 of Fit for Love
It was starting to get dark when we arrived back at the house. I pulled up next to the intercom, reached out and pressed the buttons to access the driveway. The gates whirred open and I drove through, right up to the door.
“We’re here,” I announced, although being as Cora had been there a few times before, she would have known that. I got out and went around to the boot, hauling her cases back out.
While she slid out of the car, I unlocked the front door and pushed it open for her.
“After you,” I said politely, waving her inside.
She stalked past me without a word, making a beeline for the stairs up to the living area. She paused at the bottom step and turned back to me. “Wait, why do you have a key to Mal Colten’s house?”
“It’s amazing the service you get from taxi drivers in Westbourne Water.” I felt the corner of my mouth quirk up into a grin. “Do you want me to take these up to your room?” I gestured to her cases.
Cora fixed me with a withering glare, one that even my moodiest of taxi customers would be proud of. “You’re joking, right?”
“Turns out I live here too.”At least for a while,I added silently. “I knew you didn’t remember me.”
Her face puckered up again, and I guessed she was desperately trying to place me.
Mentally, I shrugged. Whatever.
Being the bigger person, I held out a hand. “I’m Ethan Stone, Mal’s best friend.”
The lightbulb went on and her pretty blue eyes lit up in recognition. “God, I’m so sorry. I’ve been a bit, um, preoccupied and I thought you were just another driver. I do remember you now.”
“So you okay with me taking these up to your room?” I repeated my offer.
“Sure, thank you.” Cora gave me the most genuine smile I’d seen from her that afternoon.
Maybe she wasn’t the uptight bitch I’d pegged her as, after all.
Chapter Three
Cora
From the moment I got on the train, I felt as if everyone was looking at me. As if they knew about Orlando and how he’d betrayed me. How I wasn’t enough for him. And they were all laughing behind my back. Then the reasonable part of my brain kicked in and told me that no one had a clue who I was. How would anyone recognise the glossy, blond-haired, blue-eyed, perfectly made up, body-con-dressed woman underneath the skinny, black jeans, Doc Marten’s, oversized grey jumper, black-bobbed wig and tortoiseshell glasses? It didn’t make me feel any less on edge though.
Getting away from London was exactly what I needed.
Once Mal Colten—my ex—agreed to my request of a short break at his house, some of the tension left my body. Being in Westbourne Water, away from the usual pressures of my life, would help me relax and regroup. I still felt guilty, not to mention ill, about falling off the vegan wagon. In the few hours since I’d woken in that hotel room, I’d drunk at least three litres of water and taken several supplements just to try and feel human again. And I’d felt strong enough to call Louise and vocalise what I’d seen the previous evening.
She answered as I was throwing stuff into my suitcases for the trip.
“Oh. My. God. Cora!” Her tone was bordering on manic. “How are you?”
I sighed. “How do you think?”
“I’m so sorry. I really thought you and Orlando were a fabulous couple.”
The laugh I let out was hollow. “Somehow I don’t think we were. I’m sure it was only to help his career. Think of the mileage we’ve had over the past few months, the premieres, the parties, the awards ceremonies. And now he’s got this prime-time Sunday night drama thing as a result.”
“I can’t believe he used you like that.” Louise’s tone was sympathetic. “I mean, if he needed someone to be in a fake relationship with him, he could have said sooner. Or at least paid you for it.”
This time the laugh was a bit more real. I was aware of things like that happening in the industry, but no one had ever been brave enough to admit it.
“Do you want to come around to mine?” Louise offered. “I’ve got a new delivery from The Vegan Kind and there are some yummy choices this month.”
Involuntarily, my stomach let out a loud gurgle, no doubt still protesting at what I’d put it through. I debated whether to tell Louise about my lapse and decided against it. I didn’t need her lecturing me on top of everything else.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’m sorted. I’m heading to Westbourne Water for a while, but please, please don’t tell anyone. I’m going dark.”
