Page 17 of One Hollywood Sunset

The tale she was recounting sounded as believable as an X-Files script. But he’d told her and she’d believed him. Hadn’t she? Or had her opinion been blighted by the promise of help for the Every Day project?

‘So he lied to me! Did you believe him?’

Did she?

‘I don’t know. It was strange, seeing him again and him being so different to how I remember.’

Had she been charmed by the good stuff from the past? The chocolate-brown eyes, the friendly hug at Gatebrook?

‘So, will you see him again, do you think?’

‘Well, he’s going to be donating a lot of money to my charity, and I mean a lot of money. Millions of dollars. In return, I said I’d do some promotional pictures for the Recuperation Inns. Vulgar buildings though they are,’ Freya told her.

‘I can’t believe he’s rich. I just can’t imagine it. I mean, one of the reasons you dated him in the first place was because he was just the opposite of what you were,’ Emma reminded.

‘I know and now he’s practically Trumpesque. It’s a rags-to-riches tale if ever there was one. Perhaps there’s a film in it,’ Freya joked.

‘So, why haven’t you told Nick about meeting with him?’

Good question, best friend. Why hadn’t she told Nick about meeting Jonny? Think of an answer, anything will do.

‘Oh, I don’t know. It was weird, you know, and it hasn’t sunk in properly yet. I just want to get it straight in my head first before I tell Nick.’

‘And that’s all it is? There were no old feelings being stirred up when you saw him? I mean, you did want to marry him once.’

‘Yeah, I know, but it was a long time ago,’ Freya reminded her.

‘And he was the only man before Nick that you admitted your identity to,’ Emma continued.

‘There were no old feelings being stirred up. Apart from this amazing thing he’s doing for my charity, he’s driven by profit and that makes him very unattractive. Actually, he gave me a hug when we were out at Gatebrook and it felt just plain weird,’ Freya said, remembering the moment.

‘How d’you mean?’

‘I don’t know. It was odd. It felt awkward and just off. Anyway, it didn’t make me feel anything remotely like “God, my first love, how I want him back”,’ Freya concluded.

‘Then I’d tell Nick you met with him and what he’s going to do for the charity in case he jumps to the wrong conclusion. You know what men are like about things being kept from them, particularly with regard to exes.’

‘Yes, I do remember quiet, mild-mannered Yiannis fighting with Dopey Darren in the fountain.’

‘Exactly, so what time is it there? What am I interrupting?’

‘It’s nearly eight at night and we’re going to a friend’s birthday party. Sam. Him and Jolie run the local store,’ Freya told her.

‘The couple with twin boys you call Krueger One and Krueger Two,’ Emma said.

‘Yes, that’s them. It’s fancy dress and Nick’s holed up in the bathroom because he’s a little uncomfortable with his outfit.’ She laughed.

‘What have you got him dressed in?’

‘A nurse costume!’

Emma let out a shriek and both the women split their sides with laughter.

7

‘You can see my ass in this uniform,’ Nicholas said, pulling at the hem of the skirt.

‘Can you? Let me look.’

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