Page 35 of The Grand Duel
“Lissie? Oh, Lissie, hi, it’s Edna Harrison from Charles Aldridge. How are you?”
“Edna.” I smile into the phone as I shimmy up the bed, resting back on the headboard. “I’m good. How are you?”
“I’m in a bit of a pickle.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Those trainers you borrowed from me. I know I said they were old and that I didn’t need them, but I didn’t realise that they were my good pair. My favourites, actually.”
I frown. “Oh, right?—”
“Is there any way you could pop back to the office with them? Say Monday morning at nine a.m.?”
I pull the covers back and open my suitcase, checking I packed them up when I left Ginny’s flat. I spot the toe of one poking out from under my hoodie and breathe a sigh of relief. “Yeah, sure, I can pop them in.”
“You’re a star, Lissie.”
I smile, reaching for my hoodie.
“Any luck with a job yet?”
“Yes,” I say with a smile. “I started at The Nightingale a week ago. Thank you so much for the recommendation.”
“You got the job?”
“Just in the bar,” I add quickly, not wanting her to know what I’ve actually been up to. It’s not a complete lie and Bronwyn knew Edna by name, so she can’t be completely innocent as to what goes on at the club. “It’s fun. I like it.”
“Of course. That’s great.” She goes quiet on the phone, and I frown.
“Is everything okay, Edna? I can get these trainers to you today if you’d rather.”
“No, no. Monday, nine a.m. will be fabulous. I’ll see you then.”
I say goodbye and hang up the phone, tossing it to the bed. My entire body is aching, and I know it’s not because of all the shifts I’ve done this week at the club.
It’s because of him.
Cop boy.
Charlie boy.
I chuckle to myself, my cheeks growing hot at the memories.
I’ve had plenty of good sex in the seven years since I had my virginity taken by George Saddington on the night of our school prom, but last night, withhim, was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life. It was dirty and hot and made me feel so good about myself, my body.
I felt important in his hands.
Even with the outrageous tip, it didn’t feel like a transaction.
It felt like he needed me as much as I needed him.
And I did.
I feel fucking fantastic today.
I pull my hoodie on and drop back to the bed, letting the duvet puff out and mould to my body. I close my eyes and justbreathe for a minute, feeling like for the first time since I lost my job and flat that things are looking up.
I arrive early at Charles Aldridge on Monday morning. I worked until midnight on the bar last night but was sent home by Dan when I started coughing. I feel fine this morning bar a bit of a blocked nose, but with the flu going around the club, management weren’t taking any chances.