Page 28 of Brighter Together

You are fucked.

I stare at the screen.

Yes.

Yes, I am.

Chapter 4

Ella

Ican’t remember the last time I laughed this much over lunch.

Christina is halfway through telling me how she pursued Phil, or Bambi, as she insists on calling him, and Emma has already buried her face in her hands twice.

“I still maintain he loved it,” Christina says.

“He did not,” Emma replies.

“He absolutely did.”

Charlotte takes another spoonful of spotted dick and looks at me across the table.

“So what about you?”

I blink. “What about me?”

“Are you seeing anyone?”

“Oh.” I shake my head. “No. I’m single.”

The sigh slips out before I can stop it.

Christina notices immediately.

“Ah.”

I narrow my eyes. “What does ah mean?”

“It means you’re single, but you don’t particularly want to be.”

“Well…” I stir the custard around my bowl. “I wouldn’t say no if the right person came along.”

Unfortunately, the right person my brain supplies is six foot four, permanently overworked and currently somewhere in this hotel.

Warmth creeps into my cheeks.

“The right person like a certain hotel owner?” Christina grins.

My head snaps up.

“No,” I say far too loud.

A couple at the next table glance over.

I lower my voice and repeat, “No. He’s my boss.”

Emma smiles into her drink. “I know that blush.”