Page 3 of Best Served Hot
But she didn’t do any of that. Because even now, Nicole wasn’t the type to act rashly. She kept her hurt inside and thought and thought and sat on it until it went below the water line of her rage. Today was no different. Nicole backed quietly away from the window and walked down to the street, unseen. She ordered another Uber and let it take her to a budget hotel. She didn’t notice until she got out of the car that she’d lost a shoe somewhere.
In the cheapest room, she sat down on the bed and slumped backwards. She stared at the white cladding ceiling while she tried to understand how this had happened. Much like the car, Nicole had believed she’d get a warning about something like this. But nothing. Not until she’d looked into her home and seen a large crack in what she had thought was a safe life.
What was she supposed to do now?
Two
Alex Torrence hadn’t been sure about this from the start. She wasn’t looking to get involved with someone from work. Everyone knew it was a hideous idea. The timing didn’t seem right either.
She was too newly single. She had a policy for that. She remained a nun for atleastsix months after any serious relationship ended. She was still only at the four-month mark.
But her ex-girlfriend had done a number on her. Three years of commitment—a waste. The writing was on the wall just after their second anniversary.
‘What are your thoughts on going poly?’ Jen asked over breakfast waffles.
Alex really hoped it was a purely theoretical question. ‘Not for me,’ she answered.
‘You’re sure?’ Jen asked. And kept asking. And asking. Before revealing that she was living poly already and had been for a while.
‘I don’t think that’s polyamory,’ Alex had wept at the end. ‘I’m supposed to be in on it.’
Jen was distantly sympathetic. ‘Yeah, sorry. I’ve been trying to tell you for a while. I just didn’t want to lose you. I still think we could make it work. If you couldjustseparate your emotions… I only love you!’
‘You only love yourself!’ Alex screamed and kicked her out.
It had knocked Alex on her arse. What had she lacked that had made Jen go elsewhere? She didn’t want to think like that, but she couldn’t help it. She was miserable, and her self-esteem was in the toilet. She didn’t know how to get it out.
And right on time came Ethan.
She’d worked for him for four years as an assistant producer, hired by him sometime after his own promotion to the top of the ladder, after the old exec ofFoundationsretired from ill health.
Alex didn’t notice him, not like that. He was just her boss. Until she had found herself betrayed and at a low ebb. He seemed to understand something had happened without being told. He became sweeter to her, more complimentary, as though he knew she needed some kindness.
Alex wasn’t stupid. She knew it wasn’t pure altruism on his part. But the flattery pulled her out of a hole. It felt good to feel OK. It made her amenable to him and his eventual, inevitable pass at her.
Alex tried not to feel like it wasjustabout her ego needing that boost. But it was hard not to notice that she didn’t feel ten inches tall anymore. She had risen back to her full height. She was herself again. Alex felt she owed Ethan a real shot for that. And she gave it to him for a month before the whole thing blew up in her face.
But before any ofthathappened, she was being courted, and it was nice. However, she noticed that she never went to his place.
He kept making excuses. ‘It’s being repainted.’ ‘The boiler clapped out.’ ‘I’ve got my cousin staying with me.’
She bought that… for a while. And then she began to worry that a very bad thing was happening. That Ethan wasn’t actually single. That Alex was someone’s side piece.
There had been no other clues to indicate it. He had never talked about a partner in the several years she’d known him. He didn’t have a ring on. But the house thing? It niggled at Alex.
And then, lo and behold, she was invited over on a Friday lunchtime. Kind of weird, but Ethan convinced her it was sexy. They would bunk off work for a cheeky extended lunch break, and he would make her something to eat.
Alex had an idea that it was intended to turn into a nooner, but she’d see about that. She had never really been one for the middle of the day. But she went.
He had a nice house. Tastefully decorated in light and grey, with good furniture, a large, expensive TV, everything she’d expect of him. There were only his shoes by the door, only his jacket on the hanger. No personal pictures, which initially seemed a little strange, but then maybe he considered that unmasculine or some such nonsense? Men could be silly like that.
They were sitting having a drink in his living room when Ethan reflexively checked his phone. He went slightly pale.
‘Are you OK?’ Alex asked.
He glanced past her, looking out of the window. ‘Yeah. Yeah. It’s nothing. But I do have to, um, we need to just, can we… I need to be somewhere.’
‘What? Where?’ Alex asked.
