Page 13 of The Player

Thankfully, with what Liza had done over the last decade, Cindy’s financial future was secure and they no longer needed her mum’s money. Now Liza needed to start doing stuff for her and first item on the agenda involved finding her dream job. One that didn’t involve schmoozing or showing her best angle to the cameras.

She sipped at the tea, savouring the warmth.

‘Could you drink any slower?’ Shar wiped brownie crumbs off her fingers and mimicked talking with her hand.

Liza placed a cup on the saucer and reached for a brownie, and Shar slapped her wrist. ‘You can eat later. I want details, girlie.’

Liza chuckled. ‘I better tell you something before you break a bone.’

Shar’s hand continued to open and shut, miming chatter. ‘Still not enough of this.’

‘Okay, okay.’ Liza leaned back and sighed. ‘Henri’s book launch was every bit as boring and pompous as him. I was doing the rounds, talking to the regular people. I got bored as usual.’

Then she stepped out onto that balcony and her life changed in an instant. Melodramatic? Hell yeah, but no matter where her future led, she’d never forget that one incredible night with Wade.

‘And?’ Shar leaned forward and rubbed her hands together.

‘I needed some fresh air, so I headed outside, and met someone.’

‘Now you’re talking.’

Liza sighed. How to articulate the rest without sounding like a floozy?

‘Shar, you know Cindy is my world, right?’

Shar’s eyes lost their playful sparkle and she nodded, sombre. ‘I’ve never seen anyone as dedicated as you.’

‘Everything I’ve done is for my little sis and I’d do it again in a heartbeat, but last night signalled a new beginning for me and when the opportunity to celebrate presented itself? Well, let’s just say I grabbed it with both hands.’

Shar let out a soft whoop and glanced at Cindy’s door. ‘Good for you.’ She leaned forward and wiggled her eyebrows. ‘So how was he?’

Liza made a zipping motion across her lips. ‘No kissing and telling here.’

Shar reached across and patted her forearm. ‘All I can say is, about time, love. You’re a good girl, dating those dweebs to secure your financial future, making the most of your assets. About time you had a little fun.’

‘There was nothing little about it,’ Liza deadpanned, joining in Shar’s laughter a second later.

‘Hey, Liza, is it chocolate cereal time?’

Liza’s heart squished as it always did at the sound of Cindy’s voice from behind her bedroom door.

There was nothing she wouldn’t do for her sister.

‘You know the drill. Muesli as usual,’ Liza called out, draining the rest of her tea before heading to the bedroom to help Cindy dress.

‘Are you going to see him again?’ Shar asked, as Liza paused with her hand on the doorknob.

Liza shook her head, the disappointment in Shar’s expression matching hers.

Silly, as Liza didn’t have time for disappointments. She had a secure investment about to mature, a new career in marketing to embark on, and an easier life ahead. No time at all to reminisce about the hottest night of her life and what might have been if she’d had the courage to leave her details.

‘Trade you a pancake stack for the muesli,’ Cindy said, as Liza eased open the bedroom door.

The moment she saw Cindy’s beaming, lopsided smile, Liza wiped memories of Wade and focused on the number one person in her life and her sole motivation.

Life was good.

She didn’t have room in it for commanding, sexy guys, no matter how unforgettable.

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