Page 114 of The Reboot
‘That little bitch!’
Roly flinched. He’d just been lashing out when he’d told Ella he’d call Pippa. He’d wanted to hurt her. But then he thought why not? She may be shallow and brash, but she was forthright, which was something he particularly appreciated right now, and she had a good heart beneath it all.
‘I can’t believe she did that to you. Miss High and Mighty, acting like she was so much better than everyone else. Butter wouldn’t melt.’
‘She didn’t think she was better than everyone else.’ Damn it, why was he defending Ella? He should be joining in, bitching her up with Pippa. It would be cathartic. But no matter how he felt about her, it still got his back up when someone else had a go at her.
‘Give me a break! Don’t think I didn’t see her looking down her nose at me.’
‘She’s not like that.’
‘How can you still stick up for her, after what she did to you? If it wasn’t for her, you wouldn’t be in the state you are now.’
‘What do you mean “the state I’m in”?’ He bristled.
‘Come on, Roly. Don’t make me spell it out. I know things are good now, but until a few months ago you were broke, depressed and overweight. No one would give you the time of day. Your career was down the toilet.’
‘Wow, kick a guy when he’s down, why don’t you?’
‘I’m just telling it like it is, babe. Oh Boy! moved on and you got left behind. Your solo album tanked. First you became a national laughing stock, and then everyone just completely forgot about you.’
Roly nodded. ‘This is great. This is just the confidence boost I needed. Thanks.’
‘And that’s all down to her,’ Pippa continued as if he hadn’t spoken. ‘I hate that she did this to you, and it’s even worse that you’re still sticking up for her. It’s like you have that Stockport syndrome or something.’
Roly laughed. Maybe he’d done the right thing, calling Pippa after all. ‘It’s Stockholm syndrome.’
She shrugged. ‘Whatever.’
‘And Ella didn’t exactly kidnap me.’
‘No, but she hijacked your life.’
‘She did it because she cared about me. She was worried. She thought she was doing the right thing.’
‘Sure.’ Pippa rolled her eyes. ‘Classic Stockholm syndrome.’
‘You might have done the same yourself if you’d been around.’ They were still officially together at the time, but they’d both known it was over – his fault, of course.
‘No way.’ She reached out and put a hand on his leg. ‘And if I had I’d have told you straight out.’
He could believe that at least.
‘Of course I’d have supported you. But there was no need for anyone to stick their nose in like that. You had plenty people looking after you.’
‘Yeah.’ But he hadn’t, had he? If that photograph hadn’t emerged, he wouldn’t have been kicked out of the band. He’d have gone on the American tour. No one would have called a halt.
‘If it hadn’t been for her, you’d have been in Oh Boy! right to the end,’ Pippa said, echoing his thoughts. ‘You could have had this amazing life. You wouldn’t have to be trying to claw your way back like you are now.’
‘Claw. Nice.’
‘You’d still be famous and rich.’
‘Not clean though, maybe.’
She shrugged. ‘You could have done that without her. You’d have sorted yourself out eventually. You just think that because she’s been gaslamping you.’
Roly laughed again, despite himself. ‘Gaslamping!’
