Page 8 of The Puck Stops Here

‘I’m going to do my best. My very very best. I promise.’

Because Astrid couldn’t imagine it for herself. Ten years and to still have it cut so deep. As much as Chase had hurt her, broken her, she hoped to God she wouldn’t still be stewing on it ten years from now. Though Bella was already helping with that.

‘Your uncle has seriously good taste in wine,’ said the woman herself returning with a fresh bottle.

‘He can afford to.’

‘Oh, to have a wealthy uncle with a New York City apartment to steal whenever you so wish,’ Sienna said, ‘and a decent wine collection too. It’s the stuff of fantasies.’

‘Wait until you see the view, Si,’ Bella added.

‘Hey, it can be your fantasy too,’ Astrid said. ‘You’re more than welcome to come join me any time.’

‘Chance would be a fine thing.’

Between waitressing and studying law, Astrid knew Sienna rarely had a moment to spare, but still…

‘You work too hard.’

‘Tell me something I don’t know.’

That I’m not sure I can do this…

Could she admit that to her friend?

Bella topped up Astrid’s glass and passed it to her, grey eyes narrowing as she did so. ‘You look pensive. What’s wrong?’

Trust Bella to notice. The girl didn’t miss a trick.

Astrid blew her unruly waves out of her eyes and thought about how best to say it. ‘I’m no Kate Hudson, ladies.’

‘No Kate Hudson?’ Bella picked up her own glass and flopped down beside her. ‘I don’t get it… You mean, because she’s blonde and most of his exes are blonde?’

‘No, not really. Well, not quite.’ She gave Sienna a sheepish glance. She didn’t want to worry her, or worse, let her down. But at the same time, she needed to get it off her chest. ‘I was meaning more in the wholeHow to Lose a Guy in Ten Dayssense. The facade…’

‘I’m lost,’ Bella said, chugging some wine then squinting at the drink. ‘Maybe we should have sorted your image before consuming so much wine.’

‘She means the film where Hudson’s character has to date a guy and scare him off,’ Sienna explained. ‘Though you’re in role reversal.’

‘Ha!’ Astrid huffed into her glass as she took a nerve-soothing swig. ‘I’m no Matthew McConaughey either.’

Bella snorted. ‘I don’t know, maybe there’s a slight resemblance. The twinkly eyes, the dimples, the cheeky streak…’

Astrid gave her a playful shove. ‘Hey!’

‘If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck…’ Sienna said.

‘Quacks like a duck,’ Bella added.

‘Yeah, yeah, I’m the duck, I get it.’

Hell, they were probably right. She had to be cheeky to get access to the people she had over the years, but it still begged the question – could she dothis?

‘I think it would have made more sense for you to take on Aiden, B. You’re naturally more his type.’

‘Na-ah, one man is enough, and I’ve got Chase for you. He’s driving me crazy enough. Besides, I don’t have the right assets to gain access to the Titans like you do.’

‘Assets?’ She cocked a brow. ‘Are we back on the boobs now because?—’

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