Page 5 of The Puck Stops Here
Well, if Sienna had Harvey taken care of then…
‘I’d take your heartbreaker. Any guy who’d just walk out on a sweetheart like you deserves to be played a little.’
‘And I’d take your cheating, married, bastard ex,’ Bella announced, and Astrid wanted to giggle. In the two hours they had talked, watching Bella become a little unglued was fun in an adoring, newfound friend kind of a way.
‘Which leaves you with Olly.’ Bella looked at Paige. ‘And that’s perfect because he slunk back to England after the wedding. To his dad’s place in Cornwall. How’s your sitting schedule for the new year?’
And just like that Paige and Bella started talking deets.Actualdeets!
They werereallygoing to do this…
‘Are we really going to do this?’ Paige’s hesitant voice overrode Astrid’s eager inner voice.
‘Well, I sure as hell am,’ she confirmed, the fire Chase had lit months ago now burning bright with the tales from her friends. And the fizz. And the fondant fancies. ‘I don’t know about you, but I’ll sleep a little better knowing Horrible Harvey is getting his comeuppance.’
‘Look, this only works if we all agree,’ Sienna said, taking a more measured approach. ‘Nobody should feel pressured into doing it if it doesn’t sit right.’
‘God, fuck, yes!’ Astrid plopped a fondant fancy in whole to stifle her loose lips… though they were sinking a few men, not entire ships. ‘The last thing I want to do,’ she said over her mouthful, ‘is browbeat my new co-conspirators.’ She swallowed. ‘Sorry, besties.’
‘I do love a cream tea,’ Paige said, and Astrid blinked. Cream tea?Ah, Cornwall, Cornish Cream Tea. Gotcha! ‘I’d be safe there?’
‘Definitely,’ Bella rushed out. ‘For all his commitment-phobe tendencies, he’s a true gentleman. Painfully polite in that very English way. And I know he feels terribly guilty about the jilting. Which I’m perfectly okay exploiting to get you in there. I still have his number.’
‘Oh yes,’ Astrid said, her pulse picking up again. ‘That’s a great plan. You could text him now.’ She glanced at the trusty clocks. ‘It’s six in the evening over there.’
They all looked at each other, still debating until Sienna declared it a case of ‘kismet’… If Olly replied there and then, the plan was meant to be. If he didn’t, they’d all had a laugh talking the talk without the walk.
So, Bella texted and no one moved.
Astrid wasn’t sure anyone even breathed.
She felt like Hugh Grant stuck in the vanity cupboard while his matefinallygot his end away in – yes, you guessed it –FWAAF. That was until an incoming text chimed sealing Olly’s fate.
The trap was set. Karma was afoot!
Andthatneeded toasting.
‘To just desserts,’ Astrid declared, raising a fresh glass of prosecco to her new besties as ‘Last Christmas’ rang out through the PA system, and they all clinked glasses.
‘Now,’ Paige said to Bella. ‘Tell me more about Olly.’
‘And while you’re doing that’ – Astrid turned to Sienna – ‘you’re coming with me. We have your heartbreaker to discuss…andI need the loo.’
‘The perfect place to talk about him,’ Sienna muttered as Astrid hauled her to her feet and made for the ladies. ‘Aiden belongs in the toilet.’
She laughed. ‘So his name’s Aiden?’
‘Yup. I told you he was a twin, right?’
‘No?’
‘An NHL player, too. Well, they both are…’
Astrid almost lost her footing. ‘Are you kidding me?’
Sienna gave that cutesy hiccough. ‘Aiden and Blake Carter, they play ice hockey for the New York Titans.’
‘What the actual…’ Astrid stopped in her tracks, jarring Sienna back. ‘Aiden istheAiden of the Titan Twins!’
