Page 81 of The Heartbreak Hotel

She guided Riley back against her door, her heartbeat racing in her chest. With a shaky hand, she produced the key from her pocket and unlocked it, and they stumbled into her apartment. Riley pressed her up against the wall, her mouth nipping at hers and drawing a groan from her throat as she wrapped her arms around her shoulders. Her hands swept Ella’s body, already pulling at her dress and sliding it up over her hips. Ella’s lips parted to welcome her tongue, and everything pulled taut, hot, burning heat slipping between her thighs.

Riley’s palm pressed her clit through her underwear, and Ella gasped. “God, yes, Riley. Take me right here.”

An ear-shattering wolf-whistle pierced the air, and the two of them jumped apart.

“I really wish you wouldn’t,” a familiar voice said.

No. It couldn’t be. Ella peered at the figure lying on her bed and let out a loud squeal. “Winnie! What the hell are you doing here?”

Winnie jumped up, blonde hair in disarray like she’d been caught in a hurricane, wearing a white tank top that was at least two sizes too small. “Bitch, I’m here for your graduation thingy. Surprise!” A moment later, Ella was crushed between her best friend’s boobs, suffocating on a mix of her expensive perfume and a lingering whiff of plane alcohol.

“Oh my god! I can’t believe you’re here.” A swell of emotion rose in Ella’s throat, and she squeezed Winnie a little tighter.

“Want me to pinch you to check you’re not having a wet dream?” Winnie pulled back and looked at Riley, who was turning red at an increasing rate. “Oh, hello.” Winnie let out a low whistle as she took her in, peering over her glasses. “And this must be the lovely Riley, I assume. Good job, Ella. Really good job.”

Ella nudged her. “Stop looking at her like that!”

Winnie raised her palms and shrugged. “What? I have good eyesight. A girl can appreciate.”

Unbelievable.

Ella readjusted her damp underwear and sucked in a breath to calm her racing heart. She took Riley’s clammy hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. “Riley, this is my best friend and favourite worst nightmare, Winnie.”

“So nice to meet you.” Riley offered her free hand. “Ella’s told me a lot about you.”

“The pleasure’s all mine.” Winnie looked between them and raised her eyebrows. “Now, where’s the tequila?”

* * *

Winnie took a sip from her glass and grimaced. “It tastes funky.”

“That’s probably because it hasn’t got any vodka in it.”

Riley had left the two of them to catch up, so Ella had taken Winnie on a quick tour around Sandy Springs. They’d only got as far as the food hall, where Winnie had been sure she could find some booze to celebrate. Now, her pouting mouth said it all.

She raised her glass to Ella’s. “Well, you look fucking fantastic. Maybe they’re onto something with the no alcohol.” She nodded. “Apart from that awful scarf, though. What is that?” She reached out, but Ella knocked her hand away.

“It’s good to see you too, Winn.” Ella gave her friend a squeeze, ignored the raised eyebrow at her scarf, and they both took a seat on the bench overlooking the cliffs. Birds were ferrying back and forth, and the late afternoon sun was still warm above their heads. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

Winnie laughed. “Between me and Chezza, I thought you’d prefer my surprise arrival. I hope so anyway.”

“Of course. Though I do need to speak to her and thank her for all of this.” Ella felt Winnie’s gaze on her. “What?”

“Holy mother of moly. Have they spiked the water? Chopped up some funny mushrooms in your food?” She made a show of checking Ella’s pulse and temperature, and Ella batted her away. “Or did you really just ignore the Chezza comment and say you wanted to thank your mum?”

Ella bit the inside of her cheek. “Fuck off. I’ve got a thank you for you too.”

“Oh, boy, this should be good.”

“You’re the worst.”

“That’s an unusual thank you.”

Ella jostled her, and they both broke into a grin.

“Really, Ella. How’s it been?”

Ella noted the concern in her eyes. “It’s been…challenging, but necessary, I think. As much as it pains me to admit it, you and Mum were right.”