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Chapter 171
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Miss Goody Two Shoes Chapter 172
Cole had intended to be delightful when Aiden left, sending him across the ocean with the sweetness of her kisses lingering on his lips. Unfortunately, their parting took place at 4 a.m., leaving her mainly half asleep, mumbly, and pathetic. Despite her sleepy state, she tried to convey her message by wrapping her arms around his leg and refusing to let go. “I’ll be back next Saturday,” he said, attempting to sound exasperated but ultimately laughing. “Please let go. I don’t want to be late.” “No. I’m keeping you.” “Cole.” She whimpered tragically. “Promise you’ll come and see me straight away? As soon as you land?” “It’s Eleanor’s birthday. Have you forgotten?” Oh shit. Where had August gone? “Only technically.” “How about…” He gently peeled her hand off his knee and gave it a squeeze. “I pick you up, and we go together?” That startled her almost awake. “You want to take me to…um…a family thing?”
Miss Goody Two Shoes Chapter 173
Fifty minutes later, Cole emerged flayed, dazed, giddy, and job-having.Junior Assistant Editor. She was a junior assistant editor.Truthfully, she was still a bit shaky on what that actually involved. But, whatever it was, it was a real thing and she was going to be paid for it. Not, y’know, much. But she’d never been paid for anything before. Unless you counted that time Aiden had established a scholarship in her name after she’d given him a blow job. She lurched past one of the Pitts and into Hanover Square. Slumped onto a bench, amid the swirling green, and messaged everyone she knew with shaking fingers. Aiden first, of course. And he was the first to get back to her, signing his congratulations off with an x, which was incredibly effusive for him, squeaking in before her family, who sang to her as follows: They knew she could do it / Just call it a hunch / Ardy’s delicious & nutritious / For dinner, breakfast, and lunch. Rabbie an
Miss Goody Two Shoes Chapter 174
Oh God. Cole was dying. An eyelid peeled open, and the immediate regret washed over her as light lanced straight through her skull. What had happened? Had she been attacked? Wait, no. She had spent the evening with Ellery. And now she felt broken. The best course of action, Cole decided, was to lie very still and pretend she didn’t exist. Yes, that would work. The sound of a door opening and closing reverberated through her senses like a stampede of raging wildebeests. Must have been the cleaners. She twitched her fingers in the direction of the pillow and mashed it protectively against her face. “Cole?” Wait, that voice. It was Aiden’s voice. Cole struggled to bring herself back to consciousness. She forced her eyes to work, followed by her brain. A human-shaped figure stood in the doorway. Yes, it was definitely Aiden. Not a hallucination. But a vision, nonetheless, dressed in a chocolate brown pinstriped sui
Miss Goody Two Shoes Chapter 175
“Get dressed. I’ll take you out.” “Um. No? Thank you. I needs to”—Cole made a helpless gesture—“be by myself for a bit. I might go for a swim?” Aiden had become a stranger. Regarding her considerately. “I see. Would you like me to wait?” “Would you like to?” Or maybe they had both become strangers, marooned on islands of courtesy. “I’ll wait.” Cole dug out her towel and a dressing gown, and changed into her trunks. Drank about a million gallons of water, grabbed her phone, and got the hell out of the apartment. Say this for complete psychological devastation: it really put a hangover in perspective. The pool was as serene as ever, the silvery light soothing her gritty eyes. Slumping down onto one of the fancy lounger things, she rang Ellery.No answer. Of course not. She rang again. And again. And again. And again. Until at last, Ellery answered. “Hi, Mum.” “No, it’s me, Ard—oh wait, I see what you did there. A
Miss Goody Two Shoes Chapter 176
“Then that’s enough for me,” Cole caught his wrist and bestowed a fleeting kiss upon his palm. “But you have to do better with Ellery, okay?” He pulled away slightly. “I’m not sure I know how to.” “Oh come on, Aiden,” Cole sat back on her heels. “You’re not a robot or a monster. You know what you did and why it was awful. And I get you were upset, but that’s no excuse.” “Cole is different with you. She never responds well to me.” “That doesn’t mean you get to be… like almost willfully nasty to her.” He sighed. “I have spent my life hurting my sister. I don’t think either of us is prepared for that to change now.” “I think maybe you’re not prepared.” “Shouting at me about all the damage I’ve caused is hardly an effective way to open a dialogue.” “Actually… it could be. You’re the one who’s refusing to listen.” “Cole, you know what kind of man I am. You’ve always known.” “Yes,” Cole gazed at him steadily. “I do. I know how kind you are, for a start. And I know you don
Miss Goody Two Shoes Chapter 177
Saturday dawned shittily for Cole. She hadn’t slept well, and she’d done exactly zero preparation for the phenomenally posh birthday party she would have to attend, whether she went with Aiden or not.Urgh. Aiden. What had she done? She mean, maybe he was right. Maybe she was asking for the impossible. He’d told her about Nathaniel. He’d trusted her with his nightmare. It wasn’t her job to fix his relationship with Ellery. It wasn’t even her business. Back in Kinlochbervie, he’d promised to try, and she’d promised to be patient. And only one of them, really, could be said to have kept their side of the bargain. Clue: it wasn’t her. She’d been greedy, and pushy, and demanding. And not very kind. And Aiden had stuck with her, supported her, done so much for her, both practically and emotionally. And, in return, she’d made him feel like a failure. Like he couldn’t make her happy. When he did. He so did. Obviously, what they had
Miss Goody Two Shoes Chapter 178
She meant, yes, it had an entrance hall, for starters. It was that sort of place. Full of stately rooms that didn’t seem to be for anything. At least, nothing that normal people did like watch TV or wander round absentmindedly while chain-eating Pringles. It was all ornate plasterwork and inlaid panels, curlicues and chandeliers. Those really tall vase things that did nothing except proclaim that her house (and wallet) were big enough to accommodate them. It all left Cole slightly dizzy. Too much light glinting on too many surfaces. And the inescapable truth that the only circumstances in which people like her were expected to visit places like this was with a National Trust membership card. And Aiden had grown up there. This was his. Shit. She was having a Pemberley moment. Cole looked around desperately for Ellery. But unless she was wearing a particularly distinctive and Ellery-ish mask, or a name badge, maybe, she had no way of recognizing her among the
Miss Goody Two Shoes Chapter 179
Cole mustered a pathetic smile, trying to think of something to say to her. Thankfully, the woman was on the case, smiling at her as if this wasn’t potentially excruciating. “It’s so lovely to meet you at last. Aiden has told me almost nothing about you.” Cole should have been all out of hurt for one evening. But, apparently, she wasn’t. Though, this little sting was at least familiar. An old friend. “I guess he wouldn’t have,” she managed, at last. “I raised two extraordinarily secretive children. Aiden, in particular, holds the people he values most very close indeed.” Oh God. Her heart gave a desperate lurch. She wanted to believe her. To take the reassurance she was offering. Take it, grab it. Squeeze it like a small child with a teddy bear. “R-really?” “Yes. And I can see why he likes you.” Her eyes had more green in them than Ellery’s did, but the shape was similar. She couldn’t, however, imagine Ellery looking at anyone with such gentleness.
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