Page 50 of Best Served Hot
‘You’re a piece ofshit,’ Alex repeated.
‘Look, I know you’re bitter about this and everything, but if I were you, I’d hold my tongue,’ Ethan warned her.
‘Alex,’ Nicole said, shaking her head. ‘It’s OK, let him go.’
‘Lethim go?’ Alex shrugged. ‘What am I gonna do? I’ve got no power here. All I’ve got is what I know. And I’m gonna say it.’ She paused and could feel her eyes do that thing they did when she was truly worked up. They turned into search beams of hate, locked onto Ethan.
She couldn’t say what impact her search beams had on a person, but she noticed that Ethan had closed his mouth. ‘I want to tell you, just this once, who you are. And I want you to hear it. And if it manages to stick in some dark corner whereyouknow it, all the better,’ Alex said.
‘You’re nothing. Every time you think you made a fool of Nicole,youwere the fool. She was the best you’ll ever do, and you threw her away. And whoever you con next, just know that you’ll only ever trick that person into loving you. Because there’s nothing to you. You’re just lies stacked on top of each other in a pretence of a person.’
Nicole gasped, but Ethan was laughing. It didn’t feel very real.
‘Wow. You should have been a writer, Alex. That was some really dramatic stuff, sweetheart,’ he said condescendingly.
Alex didn’t respond. There was nothing more to say.
‘Oh, by the way, that job I lined up for you? That’s going away.Alljobs are going away from now. In perpetuity.’
‘Ethan, stop. You don’t want to threaten her. I haven’t signed your postnup just yet,’ Nicole interjected.
Ethan looked at her. ‘What do you care if I sack her? She was just a means to an end to you, surely?’
Nicole flushed angrily. ‘She hasneverbeen that. And, in fact, you canthankher for how easy I’m gonna let you off. Because being around her made me realise just how much I’ve been missing out on. That’s why I’m letting this go. I want more than this. More than you,’ Nicole told him.
They hadn’t had a chance to talk this through. How could they? The kiss seemed to take them both by surprise. But Alex knew how she felt. But Nicole? That was harder to know—until now. This wasn’t just a crazy, passionate moment. Nicole felt for her, too, and Alex was elated.
Ethan was less thrilled. ‘What the hell are you talking about? You gonna stand there and tell me you two are in fucking love?!’
‘You wouldn’t understand this, Ethan. But it’s real,’ Alex told him.
Nicole turned to her. ‘Yeah?’ she asked tentatively.
‘I mean, I don’t want to assume. I just meant. I’ve been… I’ve wanted to tell you… I—’
‘Oy! What the fuck is this, and why are you making me watch it?’ Ethan demanded.
They turned to him. ‘Ethan, just go. Nobody cares,’ Nicole told him.
But for Ethan, this was it. This was all too much. ‘I’ll go. But this isn’t going to be so easy anymore. I’m not letting you two embarrass me like this.’
‘Embarrassyou?’ Nicole sputtered, amazed.
‘Yeah! I had the decency to keep things quiet. And I never felt anything for anyone. I put a block on my emotions with anyone but you. That’s how you staytrulyfaithful. I meant my vows. Real love is forever.’
Nicole stared at him with her mouth open, wordless. Alex couldn’t blame her for going non-verbal. What response could she possibly offer to counter Ethan’s mental gymnastics? He was the Simone Biles of treachery. He had decided that in all this, he had the high ground. You couldn’t fight that kind of lunacy.
‘And now you’ve done this. It’s so much worse than any lie I ever told,’ he said.
Alex wondered if Nicole might pop him. Instead, she slid her wedding ring off her finger, walked over to a prop box full of assorted jewellery, and dropped it in.
‘That’s worth five grand,’ Ethan growled.
‘Then dig it back out,’ Nicole said. ‘If you even know which one it is.’
Ethan looked like he was thinking about it when Lena walked in, with just enough self-awareness to look bashful. ‘Umm, everyone’s ready to start back up out there. Just waiting on you, Nicole.’
Nicole sighed. ‘Yep. OK. Coming. Just needed a quick chat with myhusband,’ she said to Lena.
