Nothing New for Sophie Drew: a heart-warming romantic comedy, Katey Lovell [booksvooks .txt] 📗

home – deciding not to splash out on a coffee, instead sticking to the complimentary tap water provided. Eve ordered a supersize farmhouse breakfast alongside a large filter coffee, and then I launched right back into the conversation and there was no mincing of words.

“I’ve had it up to here with Tawna. I don’t know what’s got into her. First there was the birthday party I didn’t even want, and now she’s trying to fix me up with Darius when I’ve told her I need time to think. Sometimes I don’t know why we’re still friends with her.”

“I’m sure she doesn’t mean any harm…” Eve surprised me by standing up for our mutual friend when Darius was involved.

“It doesn’t matter if she means harm or not, she shouldn’t be interfering! She doesn’t listen, she bulldozes in as though I’m a kid. I don’t know why you’re defending her.”

“I’m not.”

“It feels like you are.” Everyone in the café turned to look at me, my volume out of control once more. Even Pam, who was probably wondering what was causing a commotion, looked. She’s had all sorts kick off in her café over the years. Fist fights, slanging matches, even the Great Salt Episode of 2016 (where a scorned wife emptied every salt mill in the place over her philandering husband’s head. Talk about a mess, in every sense of the word).

“Ssssh.” Eve brought her index finger to her mouth, as though by treating me like a naughty school kid I’d automatically quieten down.

“Sorry, Eve, but she overstepped the mark.”

A dark thought pushed its way to the front of my mind. “Did she tell you she was planning this?”

“What? No! I can’t believe you’d think that!”

I didn’t believe it, not really, because Eve was one hundred per cent “Team Max”. Plus, with secrets not being her forte, there’d be no way she’d have been able to keep her mouth shut if she and Tawna had been in cahoots.

I let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry, I just had to be sure.”

“You know my feelings about Darius. He wasn’t good for you first time around, so I’m not going to be his number one fan now. If you decide to give it another go then I’ll bite my tongue and let you get on with it, but for as long as you’re asking for my advice it’s going to be a no from me on that one.”

“Simon Cowell had better watch out,” I said, knowing there was no way I could tell her about Darius’s request for a loan. She’d go ballistic. She already hated him. “Eve McAndrew is gunning for the role of the mean one on The X Factor.”

She poked her tongue out in retort. “I just don’t want to see you making the same mistakes again. Tawna’s so immersed in her little wedding bubble that she’s forgotten how heartbroken you were when you and Darius broke up. And I don’t want to speak badly of her, but she’s biased too. He is Johnny’s best friend, after all.”

“Exactly. But that doesn’t mean he’s right for me.” The words came easily because I’d said them so many times it was like reciting lines from a script. If only I was as convinced as I sounded.

“Exactly,” Eve echoed, not picking up on my concerns. Maybe I did have some acting ability after all. “And you did the right thing telling her off. Don’t let her try to push you together if it’s not what you want.”

“Last night, when I was with Max and his friends it was so relaxed and lovely. There were no pretences and it was a laugh, you know?”

My heart picked up pace and although I was trying to play it cool I wasn’t doing a very good job as Eve smiled kindly and said, “That’s what you need, someone you can be yourself with. You shouldn’t have to be someone you’re not, because you’re already amazing just as you are.”

“Now you’re the one being biased.” Her words reminded me of Nick’s comments about how I deserved better than Darius.

“I’m being honest,” she corrected. “The way Darius tried to change you always made me cross, not to mention that he had no respect for you. You didn’t need the fake tans and the nail extensions and the overpriced dresses. You’re beautiful.”

That made me laugh out loud, because I didn’t feel it. My hair desperately needed a wash and lack of sleep had left my skin a dull, washed-out grey. Make-up could probably have fixed it, but I hadn’t had the inclination knowing we were only staying local. The old Sophie, the one Darius had shaped and moulded, would never have left the house without her war paint.

“That proves you’re either blind or lying, but thank you anyway. You’re a good friend. Unlike others who shall remain nameless.”

“Don’t be too hard on her, Sophie. What she did was wrong, going behind your back like that, but it’s done with love. Talk to her. Let her know how you feel and she’ll soon realise how out of order it was.”

“I don’t think I’m ready to speak to her yet.”

“Well, you’d better get ready, because we’re meeting her in…” Eve looked at her watch, “…ooh, three hours’ time.”

I rested my elbows on the table, allowing my face to fall into my hands.

“I’d forgotten about the dress fitting,” I moaned.

“Call her,” Eve instructed, as Pam unceremoniously placed our brunches in front of us. “Eat up, and then do it. Clear the air. You’ll feel better once you’ve talked it through.”

“Maybe. But unless she apologises there’s no way I’m going.”

I flicked back the lid on the brown sauce, flipped open the stottie and smothered the bacon in the tangy sauce. The smell made my mouth water.

“She’ll apologise, I’m sure of it. And we can tell her about her hen night with Patrick Swayze.”

“If it was him she was trying to set me up with it wouldn’t be a problem.” I laughed, pressing the lid of