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

“He knows how to pull strings to get what he wants,” she said with a scowl. “I found that out the hard way.”

“I can’t wait to have it out with him.” I was aware of my blood pumping around my body, my racing heart working overtime. “He must have thought he was so clever playing me like that.”

“You’ll have to wait. The rehearsal is about to start.” Her teeth gleamed as she smiled, her pearly-whites shimmering as much as her coffee-tint lip gloss. “See you later, Sophie, yeah?”

“Yeah.” I smiled, walking to where Eve and Tawna were waiting for me. I threw imaginary daggers at Darius, who looked decidedly uncomfortable after seeing me talking with Nadia. If looks could kill…

“So-So!” Summer bundled into me at such a pace that I feared I might be bowled over like a bowling pin. A human strike. “I’ve got something to tell you.” She cupped her mouth and, in the loudest whisper ever, said, “I’ve got a boyfriend at school.”

I laughed. “Aren’t you a bit young for that?”

“Lots of my class have boyfriends or girlfriends. Melody Jones kissed her boyfriend at the end of term disco. On the lips!”

“You’re definitely too young to be kissing,” I said seriously. “There’s plenty of time for that when you’re older.”

“Are you going to get back together with Daddy?” The question came out of the blue and her face was so hopeful, so earnest, that part of me wished I could give her the answer she wanted to hear.

“No,” I replied gently, reaching out and touching her arm. “I’ve got a new boyfriend now. He’s called Max and he’s really lovely.”

“Can I meet him?”

“Of course you can. He’ll be at the wedding tomorrow and I know he’d like to meet you too. He’s heard all about you.”

“What have you told him? Did you tell him I’m really clever? Because I got ten out of ten in every maths test last term,” she said, proudly puffing out her chest. “I was the only person in the class to get them all right.”

“Well done. And yes, I have told him you’re clever. And that you’re funny and kind and generous…”

“And really good at hula-hooping?”

“I don’t know if I did tell him that, but I can. I’ll make sure to mention it when I speak to him, in case there are any hula hoops at the wedding. Wouldn’t want you to show him up.”

“There won’t be any hula hoops at the wedding!” Summer laughed, a loud belly laugh of complete joy and amusement.

“You never know. There might be.”

“You’re so silly, So-So,” she said through her giggles, “but I love you.”

“I love you too.” I planted a kiss on top of her fine dark hair. “I love you too.”

The rehearsal had all gone smoothly, with the “I will”s coming in the right places. Everyone left feeling clearer about the parts they had to play in proceedings, which was the whole purpose of it, after all.

I’d been determined not to cause a scene despite having to walk down the aisle alongside Darius. The fire in my belly following my conversation with Nadia hadn’t subsided though, and it took a lot of effort not to erupt when I found myself directly opposite him when we sat down to eat. I was biding my time, waiting for the right moment.

As I studied him, his features seemed to have shifted, as though he was a different person to the one he was when we were together. Whatever spark had once been between us was gone, stamped out for good, only the smouldering embers of our relationship left behind.

“You’re looking good, Sophie.” He slurped at his tomato and basil soup. It was annoying. “Have you lost weight?”

“No.”

“Maybe it’s your hair. It suits you longer.”

“Thanks.” My voice came out curt and clipped, especially annoyed that one of the reasons I’d not grown it before was because he had always said long hair was for slappers. When we were together I’d changed my image to fit with his ideals because I was petrified he’d leave me for a more glamorous model. It hadn’t just been hair dyes and a wardrobe full of designer clothes I’d splashed the cash on either: I’d gone as far as having Botox because he’d suggested it might help me “look my best”. Eve had been horrified when I’d told her I’d let someone pump my face full of poison to keep a man.

“Is everything all right between us, Sophie?”

“Don’t push me,” I spat, fighting to keep my voice low. “I know what you did. You asked me for money to fund your lifestyle and made out it was for Summer. What kind of sicko does that?”

He didn’t try to deny it. He didn’t even look ashamed. “You’d never have even considered it if I hadn’t mentioned Summer,” he said, glancing across the table to where his daughter was sitting next to Johnny.

“And making out that Nadia was bribing you, what the hell was all that about? She’s not moving to Devon at all, she told me earlier that she would never move Summer away from her friends and her routine.”

His jaw twitched. “My credit cards are constantly up to their limit. I’ve got a bank loan that I’m struggling to pay back and I owe money left, right and centre. I had to get Johnny the final payment for the stag do before we flew out to Vegas, I was desperate.”

“My heart bleeds for you.”

“I’m in a real mess, robbing Peter to pay Paul each month.”

“If things are that bad, you need to get some professional help… counselling or financial advice.”

“I can’t do it,” he said, resting his spoon on the cream tablecloth. The orange of the soup spread through the fibres like ink on blotting paper. “It’s an addiction. As soon as there’s money in my bank I see it as a licence to spend.”

“Even more reason for you to get