Forever Yours Read online

  “The usual.” I raised my eyebrows at her. “I’m starting over today though, a fresh new me. I will move on. Onwards and upwards.” I smiled.

  “Glad to hear it. Can you try sticking to it a bit longer this time?” Robyn glared over at me accusingly.

  “I will!” I replied feeling hurt. “Are you coming for breakfast/lunch/brunch whatever it is with us?” I tried to swerve the conversation back from my shitty lack of self-control to something more neutral.

  “No I have work in an hour, you guys go and enjoy yourselves…Oh and before I forget Chris’s guy showed up eventually last night. They looked really loved up. I think it’s the real thing this time.”

  “I hope so. What was he like?”

  “Gorgeous and really attentive, you know… considerate of Chris’s feelings. Not what I was expecting at all but he totally got my approval. You’ll love him Ella.”

  I agreed, any guy who put a smile on Chris’s face and cared for him got my seal of approval.

  “Come on, I’m parked outside.” Max piped up, “I’ll take you to a little café I know. It’s nothing special to look at but it does the best bacon sandwiches in the city.”

  “Cool, I need comfort food today and I love a good bacon butty. The diet can wait until tomorrow, one life change at a time hey.”

  “What the hell is a butty?” Max laughed.

  “It’s what we call a sandwich where I come from.” I was shocked he hadn’t heard that one living in the U.K as long as he had.

  “That’s cute, I’ll have to remember that one…a bacon butty.” He shook his head and chuckled as we made our way outside.

  I climbed into Max’s Mercedes. It was spotlessly clean and smelt of lemons.

  “Max, for a man you have the cleanest and freshest smelling car I’ve ever been in!”

  “I get it valeted every week. I hate mess. Not all men are pigs you know!”

  “I know! You won’t want me in here very often, my car is gross.”

  “I bet it’s not that bad.”

  “It is, empty wrappers, old bottles of water and make up everywhere.”

  “I’ll get your car valeted for you if you want.” Max was way too nice.

  “I can’t let you do that. It’s fine, I’ll make more of an effort to keep it clean just for you Max.”

  He laughed and put his hand on my knee and squeezed it then moved his hand back to the steering wheel. Well that felt weird. Was I reading this right, was he being a tad too friendly? Or was I just being paranoid about what Chris had said? I decided to go with the latter, and settled back in the passenger seat singing along to Sia on the radio.

  Max was right, the café was nothing to look at. Old wooden chairs and tables covered in plastic red gingham table covers. The man behind the counter looked like he ate more than he cooked and served, but when the bacon sandwiches or butties as I called them, and cups of tea arrived they smelt delicious and tasted incredible. The bacon was crispy and the bread so soft and fresh. I couldn’t have made better myself.

  “God this is the best, you were right Max. I think we need to make this a weekly thing.”

  “Won’t it spoil your diet?”

  “A girls gotta have a cheat day every week.”

  He laughed, “You don’t need to diet Ella, you always look beautiful and I don’t see an ounce of fat on you, you have a body most women would die for and men for that matter.”

  “Okay, I’m not sure how to respond to that…Thank you I guess?” I felt myself growing shy under his gaze. If I didn’t know him better I would have taken that as a come on. I sipped my tea to hide my embarrassment.

  “So is it over? I mean for real this time?”

  He didn’t need to elaborate, but I was surprised he was being so direct with me.

  “I think so, yes. He did something last night that I’m just not sure I can forgive.”

  Max nodded and focused on his bacon sandwich, I peered out of the window at the shoppers going about their day.

  “You deserve better Ella.” Max said in a hushed tone.

  “I know.” I replied.

  14

  It had been three weeks since Simon’s grand entrance and hideous exit from our favourite bar Après and I hadn’t seen or heard from Joe once. Max on the other hand had phoned, texted or messaged me daily and I saw him for coffee, lunch dates and chats nearly every other day. He was slowly becoming my new best friend and right hand man. He had insisted on taking my car to be valeted and returned it looking sparkling, new and fresh. He would randomly pop into the office with coffee and cakes to give us an afternoon treat. He was like my guardian angel, always there when I needed him. My car broke down on the way home from work one Monday evening. I hadn’t even rung the recovery company when his car pulled up in front of mine and he insisted on taking me home. Then he organised the collection of my car and all the repairs. His excuse was he liked helping out, it made him feel useful. Robyn wasn’t convinced and warned me to be careful.

  “I think he’s getting too attached to you Ella, it’s not gonna end well. What if Joe finds out?”

  “He’s probably doing it for Joe.” I reasoned, “He did last time we broke up.”

  “That was different, he wanted you to get back together with Joe then, I don’t think he wants that now Ella. Just be careful that’s all I’m saying. I love you both and I’d hate to see either one of you get hurt.”

  “I won’t let that happen Robyn, honestly don’t worry. I’m in full control. No one will get hurt. We are just friends.”

  The next day I got a call from Max. He sounded stressed out which wasn’t at all like him.

  “You okay Max you don’t sound yourself, what’s up?”

  He groaned down the phone at me.

  “I’ve got to go to this party, it’s on a fancy boat you know the type, massive thing cruising down the river, dancefloor, DJ and everyone in an annoyingly smug couple. I can’t get out of it, but I don’t want to go on my own… Would you come with me Ella? Just so I don’t look like a fool walking in on my own like some kinda lonely creep.”

  “Max you would never look like a creep. You might meet the girl of your dreams on there you never know.” I tried to lighten his mood but he just sighed again.

  “Is he going to be there?” I asked.

  “Who Joe? No he won’t be there. Anyway he’s got enough on his plate keeping the cops happy. Did you hear the news about the raid?”

  “No what raid?” I was all ears now at the prospect of getting some gossip to pass onto Chris and the team at work.

  “The club was raided the other day, someone tipped the police off saying Joe was using the place as a cover for some huge drugs operation or something. They froze all his assets and everything. He’s been running round like a headless chicken all week trying to get it sorted out and swept under the rug as you Brits like to say.”

  “Did they find anything?” I highly doubted Joe would have anything to do with drugs knowing how healthy and clean living he had been when he was with me, but I had to ask.

  “Hell no! Not even a cigarette. If there’s one thing Joe is its anti-drugs of any kind. You know that right Ella?”

  “Yes I know, but I thought maybe someone else had brought something into the club. Anyway why would a health spa have drugs?” This story didn’t make sense, I was confused.

  “That’s what we all said. Joe thinks it’s linked to his crazy letter writing stalker. He thinks the fire was them too.”

  “Sounds like a holy mess.”

  “It is, I’m glad you’re out of it to be honest.” I was too, but I couldn’t help but still feel nervous and protective towards Joe, I hated to think of him being targeted.

  Max took a deep breath “So anyway enough about him, I didn’t phone to talk about him, this party. Do you think you’d be up for it? I’d be really grateful Ella.”

  I paused for a moment.

  “Okay Max I’ll go with you, but if my dodgy dance moves make a fool of you
in front of all your posh friends I’m not apologising.”

  “Like you could ever make me look bad Ella.” He sounded more upbeat now and I was glad I could help him out.

  “What sort of dress code is it?”

  “Black tie.”

  “I’ll wear a fancy dress just for you Max.”

  “I’ll buy you a new one if you like, to say thank you for helping me out.”

  “You don’t have to do that, I have plenty of dresses to choose from honestly. If you want me to wear a certain colour to match you let me know.”

  “Is that a thing then? Matching colours?”

  “It looks cute, matching colours.” I laughed.

  “I’ll let you know. Thanks again Ella, you’re the best.”

  “No problem. Anything for a friend like you Max.”

  When Max’s big night out came I stood waiting for him in the living room dressed in a full length black dress with thin straps at the shoulders and pretty much backless down to the base of my spine. I wore my hair down but clipped back at the sides in case it was windy tonight. I didn’t want to have my hair flying into my face constantly. I wasn’t quite sure what I was picturing when Max mentioned a boat, but the prospect of speeding down the river, wind flowing through our hair was one I couldn’t rule out. I kept my make-up natural apart from my favourite smoky eye shadow. Funnily enough I didn’t feel any nerves, not like I used to when Joe was taking me out somewhere posh, I knew I wouldn’t really be on show tonight with Max. It was all totally platonic and I was excited to have a night out without any dramas.

  Max knocked the door and I answered with a huge cheeky grin on my face.

  “Will I do?” I asked stepping back and giving him a spin on my heels excitedly.

  “Wow. You’ll more than do Ella…just…wow.”

  I grabbed my black clutch from the table by the door and slipped my hand through Max’s.

  “You look very handsome tonight Max. I’ll make myself scarce if there’s anyone there that catches your eye.”

  “I don’t think you’ll need to do that.” He said and I noticed he was starting to blush.

  Bless him he seemed nervous, I’d have to try really hard to put him at ease. I was used to putting shy guys at ease now after all the practise I’d had with Simon.

  We walked down the path looking like a proper couple, Max in his black suit and tie, me in my black dress. He opened his car door for me and helped me into the passenger seat, making a fuss of sorting out my dress for me and checking I was in okay.

  “Blimey Max, you are laying on the charm tonight. Is there anything I need to know about this party?”

  “What do you mean?” He said looking panicked.

  “I mean is there going to be any scary people there, or someone I need to impress for you. I’d hate to balls this up for you.”

  He smiled with relief and explained that there would be no one there to worry about. Old friends he met when he first moved here were organising the party, he hadn’t seen them for some time and was just nervous about seeing them again. Oh, and they hated Joe hence the reason why he wasn’t invited.

  When we got closer to the place where the boat would be picking everyone up I could sense Max growing tense, so I leaned over and grabbed his hand in a friendly squeeze.

  “Relax it’ll be fine. We’ll have a great time. I’m really excited to be out tonight, plus the water surrounding us means certain people who might usually gate-crash can’t just join the party and spoil our night.”

  Max squeezed my hand back then lifted it up and kissed it. Woah I wasn’t expecting that. Okay I could overlook that one, he was agitated at the moment and probably not thinking straight.

  He parked up and we got out of the car. I walked round to meet him and link arms with him again. It wasn’t like Max to be so edgy, he was always so chilled. These friends of his must be pretty important to him, either that or they were mega judgemental. It’s probably the latter I figured. We turned a corner and saw the boat, if you could call it that, it was more like a floating hotel on the river. It was lit up on each level and looked beautiful twinkling and sparkling on the water.

  “That’s one cool boat.” I said looking up in awe.

  “It’s even better inside.” Max said grinning over at me now.

  He held my hand like a true gentleman as we climbed aboard using the sturdy walkway and then wrapped my arm under his as he led me further into the boat. The wooden floors were highly polished and subtle blue lighting set the ambience for the quieter bar that we approached first.

  “It’s a free bar tonight.” He whispered to me.

  “Even better!” My eyes sparkled and he chuckled at my reaction. “Don’t worry I’ll behave.”

  “Well that’s no fun!” He winked.

  We ordered our drinks and then headed out to explore. There was a nightclub on the second level complete with kick ass DJ and a decent dancefloor.

  “This boat is awesome.” I said.

  “The view from the top is incredible but we can head up there later, it’ll look better later on when it’s really dark, plus it can be our escape from any weirdos who we can’t shake off.” Max replied.

  Soon the dancefloor started filling up and everyone knew Max. How he thought he would be a lonely creep here on his own was beyond me. He was surrounded by men and women all vying for his attention, asking him what he’d been up to, where he was living now. Each time he spoke to someone new he proudly introduced me as his beautiful guest.

  “See you’re the most popular guy here.” I whispered in his ear. He put his arm around my waist and pulled me a little closer.

  “They’re good people but I think I’d rather spend my night with you.”

  “Aw Max, you big old softie.” I laughed and kissed him on the cheek. He took a deep breath in and then pulled me onto the dancefloor. Oh no Max wasn’t known for having the best dance moves, this could be painful I thought, but a few glasses of wine later and neither one of us could care less what we looked like. Our uncoordinated moves only made us laugh more. I flung my arms around Max’s neck and gave him a massive hug.

  “Thanks for inviting me tonight, I can’t remember the last time I laughed this much.” I spluttered over the music.

  “I wouldn’t want to be here with anyone else.” He said kissing my forehead. He really was the sweetest guy in the world.

  15

  I made my excuses and zig zagged my way to the ladies to freshen up before the next dancefloor workout.

  “You’re a lucky girl, Max is one in a million.” An old lady powdering her nose remarked.

  I smiled back at her politely. “I know he’s the best but we’re not together. We’re just friends, really good friends.”

  “It didn’t look like that from where I was standing dear.” The old woman said, looking right at me now.

  “We don’t see each other that way.” I was getting irked by this woman, she needed to keep her nose out.

  “You might not but he certainly does. You mark my words. You’ll break his heart you will.” She snorted rudely and flounced off out of the ladies.

  “Charming!” I knew some older people got ruder with their age, but she was a piece of work.

  I finished up and stomped out of the ladies feeling affronted by the old witch and ready to fly at anyone else who wanted to take a pop.

  “What’s up, you look pissed off.”

  Max was outside in the corridor by the ladies, looking suspicious.

  “Just had a run in with a granny in the ladies.”

  “Usually I’d say beware grannies they can be vicious, but judging from your face right now I’d say you gave as good as you got.” He said cheekily mocking me.

  “I always give as good as I get.” I winked, then blushed realising how bad that could be interpreted. “Why are you loitering out here like a creep?”

  He beckoned me to him with a finger and whispered in a drunken silly voice, “I feel like misbehaving and I found a
secret door shall we explore?”

  “Hell yeah, what mischief do you have in mind?”

  “Oh I don’t know whatever comes to mind when I think of it.”

  I loved playful Max, he didn’t let loose very often but when he did the results could be spectacular, hilarious and sometimes dangerous. I could see why he was still good friends with Joe, they both had an adventurous, rebellious side to them.

  We crept down the hallway and towards the door in question. When Max opened it we saw a narrow less elegant hallway with another door at the very end.

  “Maybe it’s the emergency exit, I don’t want to end up falling into the river on the other side and swimming home tonight Max.”

  “Come on, it could be a secret sex room or…”

  “Or the store cupboard, very exciting!” I raised my eyebrows at him but he couldn’t be deterred.

  He held my hand and walked forward keeping me behind him like we were spies on a secret mission. When he pushed open the door he laughed. I couldn’t see what he’d found so I pushed him forward into the dark room so I could get around him.

  “Jet skis?” Why have they got jet skis hidden in here?” I was perplexed.

  “It’s probably for rescue or safety, I don’t know. Shall we hop on them and ride off?”

  “Err no!”

  “Why not? It’ll be hilarious to see their faces as we take off.”

  “Yeah and then get pulled over by the cops. Great end to our night.”

  Max started walking further into the room then called out, “bingo! This is where they keep the good stuff.”

  In front of us were rows and rows of bottles of alcohol and boxes of brand name beers.

  “What, they hide the good stuff for the paying bar and the free bar gets the shit?”

  “Exactly!” he stated grabbing a bottle of whisky and opening it to take a sip, and then swallowing a huge gulp down.

  “Now that’s a decent whisky. Want some?” he offered me the bottle and I took a swig. It burned my throat and made me splutter, adding to Max’s amusement, but I had to agree it was good stuff.