Page 91 of Defying Ella
“Well, I’m fucked clearly.” Sophie slapped the table and sat back, crossing her arms.
We all glanced at her, confused by the sudden shift in conversation.
She stared back at us with fire in her eyes. “What? If someone could stand up someone as incredible as Lily flipping Tyler, what chance do the rest of us have?” She waved her hand at us and continued, “minus you lot of course. You’re all golden, you lucky bitches.”
Sophie reached for a wine bottle while we watched her in silence. My mind worked overtime trying to catch up, but although I considered Sophie and Nia friends, I’d always been the kid sister. Whatever bothered Sophie, I wasn’t party too. Her expression darkened when no wine poured from the bottle.
“She’s right,” Lily said, startling me.
I turned back to find her wearing a fierce and slightly terrifying expression.
“I am incredible. He’d be lucky to get even five minutes of my time, let alone an entire date.” She shoved her chair back and stood, grabbing her phone. “Thanks, ladies. We’ll catch up soon. I’ve got to teach a man a lesson.”
She scooped up her satchel bag, flung it over her shoulder and marched towards the corridor, her heels clattering on the scarred hardwood floors as she went.
I wonder if she’s noticed her own picture papered to the walls in there…
I shook my head. Totally irrelevant.
Silence descended as we all stared at the exit like it would make sense… any moment now.
“Nope.” I turned away, shaking my head. “Still not understanding what just happened.”
“Me neither.” Sophie’s brow furrowed. “Did she mean the date?”
“Possibly,” Alys said, sliding back into the booth.
“But how would she find him?” Sophie asked.
Everyone around the table shrugged but Jared.
“Do you have any idea how much money she has?” Jared asked. He chuckled at our blank expressions. “You’re women, don’t you read all those wealth lists?”
Sophie glared at him. “Got any more generalisations to share with the group, Jared?”
He smirked. “I’m just saying she’s fucking rich.” He rubbed his jaw, barely displacing his amusement. “The poor bastard is going to wish he’d never messed with her.”
Nia laughed. “She does hold a grudge rather well.”
“Not unlike another woman I know.” Jared nudged me, grinning wide.
“I resent that.”
“But he’s not wrong,” Mel, Nia and Sophie said at once.
They all shared a look and doubled over laughing.
“Some friends you lot are.” I couldn’t say it with a straight face with them losing it.
They’d spent weeks worrying about me. I couldn’t begrudge them enjoying lighter times. Even if it was at my expense.
Jared wrapped an arm around my waist and tucked me into his side. I gazed up at him, promising retribution with my eyes alone. It didn’t faze him, his grin only grew.
“Don’t worry, Sparky, it’s one of the many things I love about you.”
I pursed my lips despite the fluttery feeling that filled my chest hearing him say that in front of an audience, even an audience of friends. It would never get old. Every time he said those three words felt like the first time.
Jared nodded. “Okay, I see how you’re going to play it.” He leaned in and whispered in my ear, his voice teasingly hot: “How about I show you your gift now?”
