Page 29 of Best Served Hot
Once he’d left, she started smashing whatever was left of the pillow on the bed, really going to town on it. Alex came in a bit sooner than she was expecting and caught her going at it. She was pretty embarrassed and apologised immediately, but Alex didn’t appear bothered.
‘I don’t think it’s functional as a pillow anymore, sorry. I’ll buy you another in the morning,’ Nicole said, red-faced from embarrassment and exertion.
‘I think if I’d been in your position, I’d have put a window through,’ Alex said.
‘God almighty, the shit that came out of his mouth about me… Is this how he talks about me to people we know?’
‘I doubt it. He only wrecked your reputation with me because, well, let’s face it, I don’t matter,’ Alex said casually, sitting on the bed.
Nicole sat down next to her. ‘Don’t you dare let him make you feel like that.’
‘You don’t have to cheer me up,’ Alex said. ‘You don’t owe me emotional support or anything like that. Not after what I did to you.’
Nicole tutted. ‘You still feel guilty about that? Why?’
‘I don’t know,’ Alex sighed.
Nicole paused. ‘I do. Because you’re a good person. This wasn’t your fault, but you still want to take the blame for your part in it. While that sack of shit who isactuallyto blame for this doesn’t want to take any responsibility at all. The human psyche is a backwards-ass machine.’
Alex had to laugh. ‘Yeah. I guess it is,’ she said, her amber eyes brightening.
Despite what she’d said, she did look a little lifted. It made Nicole happy to be able to do that for her. It was odd how warm this felt. How comfortable she was with Alex. She could almost forget how this had started.
But not quite. Eyes on the prize, Nicole. This ain’t no book club. ‘So, how do you feel that went? I hulked out in here, but you sounded pretty calm with him?’
‘Well, he did pretty much what we wanted him to do. He said no. But he was scared,’ Alex said, satisfied.
‘Yeah, quitting the show?! That was the perfect demand! Way better than the money,’ Nicole told her.
Alex brightened. ‘Thanks.’ She paused. ‘It sucked what he said about you. But he was just trying to paint himself as the lesser evil.’
‘Pathetic. I’d hate to imagine him pulling that kind of shit on a more vulnerable girl,’ Nicole said.
‘Maybe this whole thing will scare that douche-nozzle straight,’ Alex proposed. ‘I’d love to think of him having his skeezy little thoughts and then remembering how badly it went with me and deciding it’s not worth the risk.’
Nicole nodded. ‘It would be nice to at least slow him down for a bit,’ she said hopefully. ‘You think he’s gonna come back with a counteroffer?’
‘For sure. He thinks I’m off my rocker,’ Alex said with delight.
‘Good.’ Nicole smiled. ‘The more unpredictable you appear, the worse an idea it is for him to call your bluff. And I need to keep playing old Nicole. Dumb and compliant.’
‘How the hell could anyone mistake you for that?’ Alex asked, baffled. ‘You’re a damn supervillain.’
Nicole was surprised. ‘You think?’ she asked, pleased.
Alex looked at her with something that seemed like admiration. ‘Total evil genius.’
Given what Alex’s existence had done to Nicole’s self-esteem initially, she had this funny way of making Nicole feel pretty good about herself. Nicole didn’t quite know how she did it. But it was hard to imagine how any of this could have worked if Alex wasn’t exactly the person she was.
It was kind of crazy, but Nicole could have cut Ethan some slack for her going for Alex if he wasn’t a serial cheat. She was cool, that was for sure. And easy on the eyes. She’d turn anybody’s head.
Bloody hell, she was doing it again! Feeling cosy about Alex. But she simply couldn’t help but wish they had met under better circumstances. But who could say how things would be after all this was done? When the smoke cleared, did they have to end this… whatever it was? Maybe they could still pull a friendship out of this wreckage?
But Nicole wasn’t sure where she’d be when all was said and done. Orwhoshe’d be, for that matter. In all of this, she hadn’t looked to a future beyond revenge. She’d be divorced, of course. But would she get their friends? Would she get the house? And did she want it, knowing what might have happened there?
Speaking of which, she should go home and let Alex have some peace. ‘Great start today. Thanks for everything.’ She stood.
Alex stood quickly. ‘Oh, yeah, sure. Tomorrow.’
