Total pages in book: 184
Estimated words: 176002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
Loving someone is a totally different thing, and for me the gulf is widening day by day, I can feel it, so for her… doing it for so long…
I know I must be doing the lip thing. I can see it in how Josh smirks.
“That’s all I’m going to say on it.” He squeezes my hand. “As I said, Tiff’s secrets are hers to tell.” He looks off to the side. “I have to call myself out on double standards, though. That’s not what I was saying last night about Carly, and I was wrong. It was absolutely her choice to keep things from me, I just wish she hadn’t.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t have, if it wasn’t for me. She’d have probably been sending up the Josh symbol into the sky and screaming for help.”
He laughs and pulls me in for a hug. “I always fancied a Batman costume.”
“You’re built for it,” I tell him and drop a kiss on his solid jaw. “Maybe I could be Cat Woman.”
“Here kitty kitty,” he says and I’m suddenly back in the ghostly old house from my proposal.
I give myself a shake and grin at my boyfriend. “Ever done cosplay for a client?”
“Actually, yeah, one time, an American client asked me to get all done up like the Joker, smeared makeup and everything.”
“You’re kidding?”
“The purple streak in my hair in my profile picture sealed the deal. It was a wild two hours.”
“Who was the lucky lady? Was she Cat Woman?”
“He was a retired Marine, late sixties, grey hair slicked back, grey suit. He played the part of the Commissioner. Reamed me with his truncheon before he fucked me.”
“Wow!”
“Yeah, it was intense for a four grand gig. Guy had some stamina. Anyway, whether Carly held off from telling me because of you or not, it doesn’t matter. What matters is, you stepped up, and you did a good thing. My sister is feeling a whole lot better this morning because of you. She’s eating a fry up like there’s no tomorrow and singing your praises.”
“She is?”
He pulls out his phone.
“Mum sent me this while you were helping Tiff clear up after the pancakes.”
He turns the screen and there’s a picture of Carly with two thumbs up, in front of a big breakfast plate at her parents’ table.
“Well done, baby,” Josh says. “Couldn’t have done it without you.”
Another flash of pride for me – one so strong that it makes my stomach flip.
“Every cloud has a silver lining. Even the shittiest ones.”
“I should send Connor a thank you card,” Josh says, “His mistakes bring us closer every day.”
“Yeah, and I should send one to Carly. Same goes for her.”
We tap knuckles as we laugh together.
“The dynamic duo,” Josh says.
I laugh. “Yeah.”
“We’ll be a dynamic duo for real soon enough. Our double five-starrer is looming.”
Yes, it is.
And there is that electric undercurrent again… something in Josh’s eyes.
“What?” I ask him. “Come on, Josh. Spit it out. You might not do the lip thing, but I can still feel your brain whirring. What’s going on with this proposal? It’s not just a regular duo thing, is it?”
He taps his nose.
“Wait and see. You’ll be glad you did when it comes to it.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
I’m praying for at least one drama free evening when I head back from the store later, with fresh vegetables, ready for a stir fry. Josh’s favourite. It’ll give him a nice surprise when he gets back from his proposal, since he’s usually the one with the chef’s hat on. I’ve even picked up some organic ginger. Go me.
I’d call Mum for some pointers if I wasn’t trying to lie low until they touch down on UK soil. The career revelation needs to be in person, right from my own mouth – but that isn’t a thought for now, so I force it from my head.
Drama. Free. Evening.
That’s what I’m after tonight.
I’ll have to get the stir fry on quick, since Josh is due back from his proposal early. It’s a relatively easy affair, just a couple who want some decent shared anal. Hardly a biggie.
My sense of normality is widening every day.
I reach the courtyard with a spring in my step. Garlic and ginger in the pan first, then chicken… that’s what I’m thinking about as I reach the tower entrance, until a voice sounds out behind me.
“Ells!”
Jesus fucking Christ.
I take a deep breath before I turn and face Mr Megastar. I’d fold my arms if they weren’t loaded with shopping bags, but I nearly drop them regardless.
He’s dressed like he’s an undercover gangster, trying to avoid some fictional paparazzi. He has a baseball cap on, pulled down so low that it’s perched on his ridiculous oversized sunglasses. He’s in a hoodie, sweatpants and training shoes. Great choice for around here.
Idiot.
I glance around the place in case people take him for a dealer and call the police.