“You’re doing a very good job of arguing against me right now, sounds like you’ve already made your mind up. So why ask my opinion babe?”
“I haven’t made my mind up, not yet. I just don’t want you to think bad things about me that’s all.”
“I’d never think anything bad of you Ella. If I’m honest with you I don’t want you to move in with him, but that’s because I love you being at Robyn’s. I’d miss you too much. I’m a selfish friend.”
I laughed, “You will never get rid of me Chris, whether I’m at Robyn’s, Joe’s or anywhere else. I’ll always need you to keep me in check, and help me curl my hair.”
“Great, I’m your hairdresser now!”
“And my stylist, don’t forget that.”
“A woman should always keep her independence.” Colin piped up. I had no idea he’d been listening.
“Keep your own place. You never know when you’ll need to protect yourself. Put yourself first Ella, always.”
“Thanks Colin, I will.” I frowned at Chris. I hadn’t taken Colin for a feminist but he seemed against the move. I would sleep on it for a bit longer, but I always missed Joe when we were apart and paying for a room I never used anymore seemed crazy. If I still felt the same in a few weeks I decided I would take the plunge.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“I want to take you away for the weekend. I haven’t pampered you enough just lately.” Joe announced one Saturday morning. I had woken up to a warm but empty bed feeling utterly satisfied and exhausted after another pretty amazing night of hot sex.
“Where are you going?” I grumbled as he adjusted his tie in the mirror before walking over to me. He was wearing a dark blue suit with a white shirt and a tie patterned with different shades of blue check. He looked gorgeous in a suit, it was my favourite look on him, but right now I wanted him out of that suit and in the bed with me. I made a grab for his tie and pulled him down on top of me.
“Take that off and get back into bed, I need you.”
“As tempting as that is princess, I have an 8:30 meeting with a supplier, a 10:30 conference call to the U.S and a million and one things to sort out in between.”
“On a Saturday? Isn’t that what you pay the other people to do so you can spend the day in bed with me?”
“I wish. I have to do some things myself. If you let me go now though I can be back for midday. That’ll give you time to pack a few things and I can whisk you away to somewhere no one will find us and spend the next forty-eight hours in bed with you giving you what you need.”
“I like that plan.”
“Me too.” He pushed himself up and off the bed and pecked me on the lips.
“Do you want me to pick you up from Robyn’s?”
“Yeah is that okay?”
“Of course. Take your time getting up. Use whatever you want, have a shower. There’s waffles, croissants loads of other stuff in the kitchen if you’re hungry, or I can make you something now?”
“I can sort myself out champ don’t worry, you get off and then hurry back to me.”
He smiled and went to leave.
“Oh and Joe, no helicopters, planes or yachts ok. Just you, me and the car. I don’t need anything else.”
He winked and nodded before walking out of the bedroom and out of the apartment.
I took a quick shower and grabbed a chocolate croissant before heading down to the lobby and catching a cab back to Robyn’s. I knew Joe would have insisted I used Sam to drive me, but I always felt embarrassed being driven around. Sam had much better things to do than ferry me about.
I walked into our living room ten minutes later to find Chris and Robyn sat on the sofa looking as miserable as hell.
“Hey guys you okay? You both look miserable as sin.” They looked at me with despondency.
“Sit down Ella there’s something we need to tell you.”
“Jeez guys you’re freaking me out, who’s died….Oh my God is my Nanna ok? Is that it, has my Nan....”