Page 13 of Best Served Hot
Funny, she wouldn’t pay much attention to that usually. Now she was noticing every physical flaw. The smallness of his eyes, the yellowness of his teeth, his weak chin.
‘I thought you were coming home Friday, what with the car and everything!’
‘Oh, you must have been worried!’ she said apologetically. ‘I’m so sorry. I got in touch with Ben, and he offered to fetch me. And then my phone broke, as well as the car. What a day it was!’
‘Why didn’t you find another way to contact me?’ Ethan asked anxiously.
‘I did! I texted you from Ben’s phone.’
‘I didn’t get any text,’ he complained.
‘You didn’t? Oh. Oh shit, I must have inputted the number in wrong, missed a digit or something. I had to do it from memory, and you haven’t had it long, so…’
Ethan’s whole body relaxed. ‘I’m just glad you’re OK.’
Nicole came down the stairs and hugged him. ‘I’m glad to be home. I’ve had an absolute nightmare getting back.’
Ethan held onto Nicole, and she let him, resisting the urge to dig her fingernails into his back. That was just a little pain, and he deserved so much more. So if she had to match his little performance, she’d do it. Because she couldn’t have him see it coming. What she was going to do to him.
But she would need a little bit of help. And she knew just the woman.
Ten
Alex was quite glad to get a text from Nicole asking to grab a coffee a week later. It wasn’t like she was busy at work. And she wanted to hear how Nicole was doing after the car crash of a conversation she’d had to face.
Alex had been a bit worried about Nicole. Even though she barely knew her, they were foxhole buddies. She didn’t like to think of Nicole having to deal with that shithead without support. Alex would have stood shoulder to shoulder against Ethan if Nicole had wanted.
She expected Nicole to turn up in the same state she’d seen her last time. Dishevelled, tired and unwashed. But the person who stepped through the door of the cosy coffee shop was light years away from that. She was in a rather gorgeous green cashmere sweater. Her dark hair was shiny and coifed, and she wore light yet very complementary makeup. It was like a before and after on a daytime TV makeover.
‘Hi,’ Nicole said warmly.
Alex was a bit thrown. She’d expected an emotionally wrung-out husk, but Nicole was positively sprightly. ‘Hello,’ Alex replied, trying not to look surprised. Alex had noticed Nicole was attractive before but seeing her now— with a little grooming and some pep in her step—Alex thought Ethan must have lost his entire mind to step out on her. But why exactly was she so…
‘You must be wondering why I’m not looking like a miserable wretch today,’ Nicole smiled.
Alex laughed nervously. ‘Umm…’
‘I’ll explain everything. Don’t worry.’
The waitress appeared, and they ordered their beverages. As the waitress left the table, Alex was struck by the terrible thought that this happy new version of Nicole might be due to her deciding to give her marriage another go or something bonkers. She knew Ethan and how he could spin things. Maybe he’d spun this? Maybe he’d declared himself a sex addict and promised to get help, and Nicole had forgiven him.
Alex would have hated to find out that’s how it had gone. That he’d wormed his way out. There were sex addicts, and there were bastards. Alex felt confident about which camp Ethan fell into.
‘So, tell me everything,’ Alex said with a little hesitation.
Nicole smiled. ‘There’s a lot to tell.’ Her phone beeped, and she checked it. ‘Whew! Just got my results from the clinic. Clean,’ she said with deep relief. ‘You get checked out?’ she asked with concern.
Alex nodded. ‘Yeah. I’m OK.’
‘Great. That’s great,’ Nicole said, reassured.
Alex was touched by the concern, but not enough to be shoved off course. ‘So you confronted him, right?’
‘Not exactly,’ Nicole said with a dry smile.
‘Not exactly?’
‘Well, no.’
