Page 98 of For Love or Money
‘Yeah. We’ve all had a go on Jean-Claude, haven’t we?’ Jill giggled.
‘Oh.’ Lesley wondered had they all had a ‘go on’ Al too.
‘Not Al, though,’ Emma said quickly, as if she knew what Lesley was thinking. ‘None of us have ever been with him. Apart from Cassie, of course.’
‘Can’t say the same for Scott, though,’ Jill said.
‘Scott’s had a go on Jean-Claude?’ Lesley asked, wide-eyed.
‘Oh!’ Emma hooted. ‘No, I mean we’ve all been with Scott at one time or another. He spreads his net even wider than JC.’
‘He’s just broken up with his boyfriend, apparently,’ Claire said, looking across the garden at Scott. ‘Maybe he’d go for a girl next time. I wouldn’t mind a little summer fling.’
‘He’s already got someone new,’ Lesley said. ‘He met a guy at the beach the other day.’
‘Ha, you’re too late!’ Emma said to Claire, laughing. ‘You have to get in quick with Scott. He never stays on the market long.’ She poured the remainder of a bottle of champagne into her glass and popped open another. She refilled Lesley’s glass, but Stella refused a top-up, saying she was going to find Peter.
‘Wow, she should get a job in MI6,’ Claire said when she was out of earshot. ‘Talk about tight-lipped. Name, rank and serial number only!’
‘She’s just a very private person,’ Lesley said defensively as they all laughed.
‘Well, she seems like a lovely girl,’ Emma said. ‘She’s got to be after Peter’s money, though, hasn’t she?’
‘I don’t know,’ Claire mused. ‘I like older men. And Peter’s still got something.’
‘Well, I don’t envy her,’ Emma said. ‘Mum says Peter’s never got over Jane.’
‘It must be weird for her with Jane still around.’ Claire’s eyes drifted to Jane and Peter chatting together on the terrace. ‘Jane’s so cool, isn’t she? I really admire the way she and Peter are still friends, even though he dumped her for a younger model. It’s so evolved. I’d like to be like that when I’m old.’
As Lesley looked around the garden, she saw Al standing under a tree with Cassie. He was leaning on the trunk as he talked to her, a drink in his other hand, and they seemed to be having an intense conversation.
‘I’m going to go and find my boyfriend,’ she said, getting up and taking her leave of the girls.
Curious, she crossed the garden circuitously, edging closer to Al and Cassie, but making sure they didn’t see her. She moved behind them, staying out of their line of sight, until she was almost close enough to reach out and touch Al’s sleeve, but hidden from view by the trunk of the large tree.
Cassie was touching Al’s arm now ‘… made a mistake,’ she was saying in a low voice. ‘I mean, come on, it’s Jean-Claude!’ She gave a little huff of laughter. ‘No one’s supposed to end up with him.’
‘Does he know?’
Lesley wished she could see Al’s face.
Cassie shook her head. ‘No. I’m going to talk to him tonight. I know he’s going to be devastated.’
Huh! Ego much, Lesley thought.
‘I knew it was wrong practically from the start.’ Cassie sighed. ‘What can I say? It was a moment of madness. Look, I know I don’t deserve it, but do you think you can forgive me?’ She touched Al’s arm again, looking at him earnestly. ‘I mean we were always friends, weren’t we, apart from anything else?’
‘Yeah, you’re forgiven.’
‘You’re the best, Al.’ She smiled happily at him. ‘You do still love me, don’t you? Even if I do act like the most enormous dick at times?’
‘You know I’ll always love you.’
Lesley’s stomach lurched. What the hell did Al think he was playing at, lurking behind a tree with Cassie, telling her he still loved her? He was supposed to beherboyfriend. Well, she wasn’t going to hang around to watch them mooning over each other any longer. Fuming, she wheeled around, and stormed off in the direction of the house, almost immediately crashing into a solid warm body.
‘Oops! Sorry!’
‘No harm done.’ Scott grinned at her. ‘What were you doing skulking around behind that tree? Come and dance.’ He jerked his head towards the terrace by the pool. As darkness fell, the music had been pumped up, and fairy lights twinkled in the trees.
