Why do you need to?I want to press.And why all of a sudden?
“It’s just that, you don’t seem that comfortable.” I step lightly, feeling like this is a minefield waiting to explode. “And I kinda miss you in sneakers and my shirt.”
She softens, a sad-looking smile on her face. “You’d be the only one.”
What does that mean?
Frowning now, I follow her into our room, watching as she’s drawn to the large window taking over almost one entire wall. We have the perfect view of the Danube and the pinky-red Parliament house from up here; a view that will get more spectacular as the sun sets and the city lights up.
“What do you want to do tonight?” I step up behind her and wrap my arms around her small waist, revelling in the way her slight body melts back into mine. “We can go out.”
She tenses and I bite back a curse.What’s going on?“Or we can stay in? Get room service, get into some comfy clothes, and binge-watch some shows.”
She’s nodding now, slipping away from me to sit on the edge of the bed. I watch her moan softly as she slides off her heels—heels she’d informed me this morning were the latest Jimmy Choos, like that meant something to me. Crossing over to her, I sink to my knees and rub the balls of her feet. I don’t want to upset her again by bringing up the shoes she’s now glaring at with utter hatred, but it all seems to be linked with a bigger problem. Something that started in Zandvoort and has only gotten worse.
“Why don’t you jump in the shower and I’ll order up some food?” I offer. She’s purring as I massage her feet, while pulling at her clothes. Today she’s dressed in a long, slimline silk dress with spaghetti straps and a low neckline. The dress is a muted shade of green, a colour I’d heard her tell Serena worked well with her hair and her skin tone. She looks stunning in it. But she also looks borderline uncomfortable as well.
“Sounds like the best plan.” Her voice is soft, her tone muted like the colour of her dress, and I search my brain for the last time I’d heard her animated. Or seen her excited; filled with joy. That I can’t recall it in recent memory has my blood running cold.
She presses a light kiss on my lips and limps over to the bathroom. When the door closes behind her, I pace around the room, determined to get to the bottom of what’s going on with her. Once I know what it is, I can fix it.
Digging my phone out of my pocket, I scroll through my contacts, stopping when I get to the one person who may have some answers.
Nicky
Hey, it’s Nicky. Can I ask yousomething?
I hold my breath as I wait for her response. Please don’t be out partying with the team, with your phone somewhere out of sight.
Serena
Sure. What’s up?
Breathing out a sigh of relief, I ponder how to word my concerns without betraying Cherry’s trust.
Nicky
Is there something going on with Cherry that I’m not aware of?
Serena
Can you be more specific?
Nicky
The clothes. The shopping. The hair?
This has been one of the most obvious changes since our relationship went public. Along with the designer clothes and shoes, Cherry now spends an hour getting ready in the morning. Making sure her make-up is perfect and her hair is straight. These days, her hair is always, always straight.
Serena
I’m as lost as you. In Zandvoort, she asked me if she needed a makeover. I said no! But I don’t think it got through to her. The day we spent in Vienna, shopping for new clothes for her… she looked miserable the whole time.
Zandvoort.I knew something happened there. Ever since that race weekend, there’s been something almost broken in her eyes.
Nicky
And she hasn’t said anything to you about it?
