Nothing New for Sophie Drew: a heart-warming romantic comedy - Katey Lovell (best english novels for beginners .txt) 📗

country. It was all nonsense, of course, but highly entertaining and just the tonic I needed to take my mind off Darius’s presence.

I should have known my fun evening was too good to last. When my ex-boyfriend appeared at my side as the bowls were being cleared from the table it was impossible to get away from him. I’d been physically boxed in by serving staff.

“Nice to see you again, Sophie. You’re looking gorgeous tonight.” Darius smiled, but discomfort took over me. As he continued talking it became apparent why. “I was sure I was meant to be sat next to you.”

He threw a glance of disapproval in Max’s direction. Seeing the two of them side by side only highlighted their physical differences. Darius’s dark hair was slicked back, the tooth mark tracks of his comb visible in the hardened gel, where Max’s blond locks were brushed to one side but left to their own devices. Darius’s suit was well cut, his shirt unbuttoned to reveal a few curly tufts of chest hair. Somewhere, in what felt like a different lifetime, I used to fall asleep nuzzling against that chest, the wiry hairs acting as my pillow. Max wore a white shirt and smart navy cords, but everything about his look was relaxed in comparison to Darius. And that was without mentioning the difference in emotions that being near them instilled in me. When I’d been alone with Max I’d been laughing, comfortable in my own skin. Darius’s approach set me on edge.

“I saw. I assumed it’d been put there in error, which is why I moved it.”

His jaw dropped. “Didn’t you want to sit with me?”

I tried to remain patient but clear. “This is supposed to be a nice social event, and you’re my ex.”

At this revelation Max quietly slunk off to where his brother stood at the bar. Max said something to him and then, in unison, they looked over, both wearing stony expressions that made me feel uncomfortable.

“That’s no reason for us not to get along, Soph. We got on so well at the trampoline park. Summer’s been talking about how wonderful you are ever since. She’s still your number one fan. Speaking of that day, have you made a decision about the loan yet? Nadia’s breathing down my neck.”

His flattery wasn’t enough. I was annoyed that Darius coming over had pushed Max away when we’d been having such a fun night, and angry to be back on the subject of the money. It felt like days of old.

“I really don’t want to do this now.” The room was airless, and that combined with the mention of Summer sent my head whirring like a fairground waltzer. “I told you I’d think about it, but I need time.”

“I know you’ll do the right thing, Sophie. You’re a good girl.”

What with the patronising comment and my dizziness, I couldn’t be in the same room as him a moment longer. I pushed through the crowds of people mingling near the door that led to the rooftop terrace, using my elbows to move anyone in my path to the exit out of my way, desperate for freedom.

The sky was dark as an onyx but the moon hung full and low, just beyond the glitter ball armadillo of the Sage. Normally the view of my hometown would be enough to calm me – ground me – but I couldn’t relax for fear of Darius cornering me again.

I stumbled clumsily down the steps as I left the restaurant, tripping on the bottom one. I grabbed hold of the closest thing I could, one of the topiary trees lining the entrance, to stop myself crashing to the ground.

Relief coursed through me. I’d not thanked Johnny for the invite, not said any goodbyes, but none of that mattered. I could finally breathe again.

Chapter 14

“Did you have a good time at Johnny’s party, pet?” Dad asked, eager for the gossip. With the football season over for another year he had no social life of his own so he was keen to live vicariously. “Fancy do, from what I’ve heard?”

“It was nice.” I tried to add a cheery lilt to my voice, hoping it’d fool him. “You know what Johnny’s like, he doesn’t do anything by halves.”

“Bri was there too, did you see him? Told me all about it when I ran into him at the newsagents. He didn’t get home until four in the morning! I hope you weren’t that late.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I was home well before that,” I mumbled. Truth was, I’d been tucked up before eleven o’clock, Darius’s proposition ensuring I’d fled the ball and made it back to my bed earlier than Cinder-bloody-ella.

“Are you all right?” Chantel asked through a mouthful of Mum’s legendary strawberry trifle. It was as much a part of her traditional Sunday dinner as roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings, and a particular favourite of my sister-in-law’s. “You don’t seem your usual self.”

“Just a bit hungover and headachy,” I lied. I’d had plenty to drink, but I’d not been drunk. Coming face to face with Darius had been a sobering experience. “At least that’s not something you’ll be needing to worry about for a while.”

“Oh, it’s fine to have the odd glass of wine when you’re pregnant, I just don’t fancy it. It was the same when I was expecting Noah. My taste buds have changed and it’s just not as nice, somehow.”

“I’m not drinking today either,” I pointed out, digging into my second portion of trifle. I’d made sure to get plenty of custard, my favourite layer. It was Nick’s favourite too, so it was always a battle between us to see who could eat their first portion the fastest and call shotgun on second helpings.

“You probably had more than your weekend quota last night,” Mum chipped in, and I detected a sliver of judgement. Nick jumped unexpectedly to my defence, but Mum didn’t apologise, instead pressing on by asking, “So, who was there? Anyone we’d know?