Just My Luck by Adele Parks (best interesting books to read TXT) 📕

to kiss her lips because he was aware that sleep was a higher priority to her than sex at the moment; if he’d kissed her lips, she might have thought sex was what he was hoping for.

“Who needs the lottery millions when we have everything already?” he asked sleepily. “Great friends, loads of booze, a beautiful baby and each other.”

Lexi lifted her head, met her husband’s slightly unfocused gaze and whispered, “Shag me.”

Their life was perfect.

CHAPTER 20

Lexi

When I’m certain Emily is fast asleep, I pick up my phone and hit Carla’s number. I know I gave Emily the impression that I’d follow her wishes, that I wouldn’t say anything, wouldn’t “make things worse,” but you know what—I’m the adult. I’m the parent. I get to decide what a suitable response to a beating is.

Carla picks up after just three rings. I imagine her in her immaculate Nicholas Anthony kitchen. The tobacco-dark wood units that beautifully contrast with the luminously pale, high-gloss lacquer surfaces. The ultimate in minimalist chic. Her cleaner comes in twice a week. She’ll be holding a glass of wine, perhaps. Red. There will be a bowl of fruit, all ripe and ready to be munched, nothing browning or past its best. I don’t bother with any sort of greeting, I launch straight in.

“In case your lawyers are just thinking about their retainer and not keeping you fully briefed, I thought you should know Jennifer and Fred have changed their stories. Initially, he maintained he and you had recommitted to the lottery. She double-crossed you from the off, said she was in the loo at the pertinent moment. Anyway, now they are both saying that they were present and aware and that they do remember pulling out of the lottery.” I have to be honest, delivering this news gives me a certain amount of satisfaction.

“I see.”

“So, you have no case. They’ve let you down.”

“What did you offer them?” she asks coolly.

“None of your business. I just want you to know, they are not your friends.”

“What happened, Lexi? When did you become this person?”

I ignore her comment. Don’t rise to it. “I had been planning on giving you three million.”

“Patrick and I are due six.”

“Why are you keeping up this pretence?” I ask. “Do you think I’m recording this call?”

“Do you think I am?” she counters. She’s good, I’ll give her that. I sigh.

“Well, I’m not recording it, don’t worry. I just wanted you to know I have been planning on giving you three million for old times’ sake. Jake doesn’t agree, of course, but I thought you were owed it.”

She’s quiet, so quiet I can hear her breathing down the line. It’s crazy to think you can interpret breathing, but I can. I know her that well. I’ve heard her breathless after a hard run, then her breathing is raspy, labored. I’ve heard her breath catch in chortles because she’s laughed so wildly, often at something I’ve said or done. We’d roll around the floor, our stomachs cramping in hysteria, unable to spit out words because we were laughing that hard. I’ve heard her breathing become ragged with shock when she took the call to say her brother had had a stroke. I’ve heard her fall asleep next to me on airplanes and in cars, after late nights out: gigs, parties, childminding. She doesn’t snore exactly, but she breathes heavily. I know how Carla breathes.

Her breath right now is expectant, hopeful. I continue. “With that sort of money, you could do a lot of things, Carla. You could move to a new house, go back to London.” I know she’s secretly hankered after the bright lights of the metropolis for a while now. She’s become bored of the countryside and misses the hit of being at the heart. “You could start up your own business, buy that beauty salon you’ve often talked about.” Carla once put together a really impressive business plan to buy a high street salon, which she insisted on calling a spa. For a time, she was extremely excited about the prospect of working, being her own boss. Patrick vetoed the idea. Wouldn’t even let her petition the bank. He said salons were common. I think he likes having a little wife at home, being the big “I am.” I pause. “You could leave your husband. Take the kids and go somewhere very far away.”

She gasps. Shock? Excitement?

“But I’m not going to give you a penny now. Not one. Go and ask your daughter why.”

Then I put the phone down before she can respond.

CHAPTER 21

Lexi

Thursday, May 2

Neither of the kids are going in to school today. I can’t risk a repeat of yesterday.

“But I don’t need to stay off, do I?” asks Logan. “Ridley and Megan are hardly likely to try to beat me up.”

“We don’t know what they’ll try,” I mutter ominously.

“I’m not scared.” He looks frustrated. He thinks he’s being treated like a baby and he hates it.

“No, I know you are not.”

“I think we are giving Megan and Ridley and their apes the wrong message. You should stand up to bullies, Mum. That’s what you’ve always said. What’s going to happen every time someone crosses Megan? She’s going to think it’s okay to kick the hell out of them. Fail.”

My heart swells with pride. I try to hug him, but he dodges it as he’s annoyed with me. He stares at me with that particular brand of accusation that only children can muster when they quote back to their parents their own words.

“I’m surprised to hear you arguing for going to school.”

“I’m bored of shopping, and that’s what Dad and Emily are going to do today, most likely.”

“Actually, I think they are looking at new schools.”

He sighs. “My friends are not arseholes. I shouldn’t have to change schools.”

“Don’t say arseholes, Logan.”

“Why not? Dad does.”

He walks out of the kitchen. I feel for him. I understand from Emily that Logan’s friends were apparently thrilled for him. He is in a gang