Page 69 of Best Served Hot
‘I know you’re not going to want to take credit for this, but at the very least, you don’t need to feel guilty anymore. She’s where she always wanted to be,’ Nicole said softly.
Alex couldn’t process this news, but she wondered how she would feel when it sunk in. This guilt hung over her head for years. She didn’t know how long this new information would take to settle in, but she thought that once it did, maybe something would be different. Maybe everything.
And at that moment of moments, with Alex creakily turning back to a future that held possibilities that she was sure had died, someone had to come along and spoil it.
‘I hate to interrupt,’ said a liar, and Alex turned to see Ethan.
‘I need a word,’ Ethan said to Nicole.
Alex decided to say nothing. She didn’t want to speak for Nicole, who was currently refilling her glass, muttering, ‘They’ll let anyone in here.’
‘Nicole, did you hear me?’ he demanded snippily.
Nicole took a big swig of champagne as though no one had spoken. ‘That’s a nice drop.’
‘Nicole—’
‘Ethan…’ Alex began irritably, breaking her vow of silence. She’d been happy. She wanted to be happy again. And she could be if he would just bugger off.
‘I’m talking to mywife,’ he spat at her, his voice rising on the last word.
He was less bothered about keeping that secret now. Which was funny timing, considering they were about to get divorced. But it was loud in the bar, and no one was listening anyway. Too busy getting buzzed, dancing, trying to get laid.
‘Don’t talk to Alex like that,’ Nicole told him firmly, breaking her silence. ‘Come to think about it, don’t talk toeitherof us. In any way at all.’ She looked at Alex. ‘Maybe it’s time we headed out now?’
‘Oh, I think you’re gonna want to hear this,’ Ethan said, suddenly grinning. He was far too happy, which was never a good sign.
‘I doubt that,’ Nicole said. ‘We said we were going to talk through lawyers, and I really would love to keep to that.’
‘Then let’s finish it. One last thing. Scout’s honour.’
‘I don’t know. You’re not exactly known for your promise-keeping, Ethan,’ Nicole said with a disinterested chuckle.
Ethan glared at her, waiting. He wasn’t dropping it.
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake,’ Nicole said, rolling her eyes, putting her glass down on the bar with a loud crack. She gave Alex a quick smile. ‘Let me square this bullshit away so we can continue our evening,’ she said.
She wended her way out of the bar through the drunk throngs, Ethan on her heels. Alex almost chased them, but Nicole had made it clear she was handling this herself.
Over the tops of people’s heads, Alex could just about see the window, and she watched them talking out on the quiet street. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she could read body language well enough.
Initially, it was a relatively calm back and forth. Nicole seemed irritated but OK. And then Ethan started talking. It went on for a while. As it did, Nicole’s face changed. Even from metres away, over a crowd of revellers, through a pane of glass, you couldn’t miss the shift. Something bad was happening.
Alex reconsidered going out there. But then Nicole walked away from Ethan and returned to the bar. She moved through the crowd again, making her way back to Alex. But not the same Nicole that had left a moment ago. Her spirit was depleted.
‘Are you OK?’ Alex asked her, though she already knew the answer.
Nicole put her hands on her hips, keeping her eyes on her feet. ‘Umm, Alex? I have to… I have to go now.’
‘What, where?’ Alex asked.
She tried to look at Alex, but her eyes couldn’t seem to stay on her, sliding back down. ‘Nowhere. I mean, I’m just going. I’m leaving.’
Alex was a bit confused, but she put her drink down. ‘Sure, let’s go—’
‘No, just me. I’m not…’ Nicole’s eyes stayed on the ground as she delivered the killing blow. ‘This is finished. You and me.’
Alex almost started laughing. It was so ridiculous. But this was no prank. Nicole wasn’t like that. Still, this made no sense. ‘What?’
