Page 75 of Love Me Till Wednesday

‘Are you ok?’

‘Yes, I’ve only just woken up. We’re not a mess, are we?’

‘No, but Adrienne is. Well, I’ve got a lot more colourful words to describe her, to be honest.’

‘What’s she done?’ He sounded wide awake now.

Lisa gave him a précis of the article.

‘Seriously?! Shit! Ok. I need to get hold of Suki. Sit tight. I’m so sorry you’ve been dragged into this. We’ll sort it.’

It was a bit late for that, but it wasn’t his fault. ‘I’m going to phone Jim. He didn’t sound impressed when he called earlier.’

‘I can understand that. I’ll phone you back. And Lisa?’

‘Yes.’

‘Adrienne got one thing right. I think you are my soulmate.’

Nick lay back on the pillow and groaned. Why had he mentioned the soulmate thing? He should’ve done that face-to-face when he could gauge Lisa’s mood better. He was sure he’d heard her take a sharp intake of breath, and she’d definitely been in a hurry to end the call. He didn’t want it to be awkward between them, but after last night’s kiss, he’d been so convinced this wasn’t a one-way thing that he thought it was safe to say it.Wishful thinking, Nixon.

He checked his phone. There were several texts from Suki. She’d been asked to comment by the newspaper, and she’d been trying to contact him all morning. He gave her a call.

Suki got straight down to business. ‘Have you seen Adrienne’s story?’

‘No, but Lisa’s told me all about it.’

‘Oh. Where is she?’

‘At home. Why?’

‘I’ve written a draft response, but it does assume that you weren’t shagging Lisa last night or before.’

‘I was thirty years ago.’

‘I realised that! I meant more recently.’

‘No, I can assure you Thursday evening was the first time we’d met since 1992. And we were just talking last night.’

‘But it sounds like you’ve got plans to take it further at some point?’

Nick laughed. He would have told anybody else to mind their own business, but Suki always insisted on the truth so she could make sure he didn’t get caught out in a lie.

‘I’d like to, but I have a feeling she doesn’t feel the same way.’

‘OK. I’ll reword that part just in case you win her over. I assume you don’t want to be interviewed about it.’

‘Absolutely not.’ He’d learnt early on in his Hollywood career that the more you refuted a lie, the more people assumed it must be true.

‘Good. The email will be with you in a few minutes. Let me know if you’re happy, and I’ll get it over to them.’

‘Thanks. You’re a star as always.’

Jules put a large mug of tea on her kitchen table in front of Lisa. ‘So, my lovely, tell your auntie Jules how the hell you managed to get off with a film star.’

‘That’s just it. I didn’t get off with him. Adrienne’s got it all wrong. Nick and I are just friends now.’

Jules looked sceptical. ‘So what kept you at his hotel till 1 am? I assume that part was true?’

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