Heather Booth.
Julian pushed her to the back of his mind. He’d deal with her on Monday. She was the only part of his life he didn’t want to complicate.
Chapter Two
Heather rolled over with a groan. Her head ached from the tequila she’d drunk the night before. The sun was glaring in from her window. She wanted to throw her pillow at the light. How dare it look so damn cheery?
Pulling the blanket over her head, she groaned as the littlest movement made her head feel like it was exploding.
“Juice?” Connie said.
Heather peeked over the edge of the blanket to see one of her friends holding out a glass of juice and two aspirin tablets. Nodding her head gently, she sat up with a moan. “I promised you I’d make it up to you.”
“I’ve known you my whole life, Heather. I knew you wouldn’t be in any fit state to cook me breakfast.” Connie sat on the edge of the bed in a pair of her pajamas. They all had something of each other’s at their apartments. Stopping by and having a sleepover always happened at some point. Keeping a closet full of each other’s clothing was the simplest solution.
The tablets were down with a huge swig of cool juice. “I needed that. Why did I drink so much?”
“I have no idea. You’re not happy at work?”
Before Heather had a chance to answer her doorbell sounded.
“That’s the reinforcements.” Connie rubbed her head making Heather groan. She sipped at the juice, scared to even look at her hair. Then she remembered Connie showering her and putting her to bed.
Several minutes later, Ashley and Amber jumped on the bed with bags.
“I thought you had to work,” she said.
“We did. It’s two in the afternoon. You look like crap,” Amber said.
The scent of baking invaded her senses. “You brought breakfast?”
“You didn’t give us much of a choice. You’re the best cook, and it doesn’t look like you’ll be able to hold a frying pan let alone make croissants.” Ashley handed her a white box.
Heather pushed her hair out of her face. She knew it would be matted, but she didn’t care. Leaving the house wasn’t required until Monday.
“Wait, it’s two o’clock? As in, I slept past breakfast and lunch?” she asked her friends. Connie walked in chuckling with a mug of what smelt like coffee in her hands.
“Yes, you were snoring, and I didn’t want to wake you. You looked so cute. Plus, you were snoring really loudly.”
Heather threw a pillow at Connie but laughed. Her headache began to ease, the juice and tablets doing their job.
“This is what I needed. Thank you.” Heather pulled out a buttery croissant taking a huge bite. She moaned as the explosion of flavour invaded her senses.
The other kicked off their shoes and ate their own pastries. They were all bigger girls, their figures being one of the things that drew them together. When they shopped they were a similar size and could swap and change clothes without embarrassment.
“Are you going to tell us what the tequila episode was about?” Amber asked.
Heather moaned as Julian entered her head. She hated the fact he was invading her time with her girlfriends.
Her three friends looked at one another, then at her. “Guy trouble,” they all said in unison.
Heather reached over for a clip and tied her head on top of her head. “It’s not guy trouble. I’ve just realised falling for a guy you can never have sucks. Do you have any idea what it’s like to be in love with a guy who gets you to pick out trinkets for his current model girlfriend?” She rubbed her hand over her face.
“Julian? Seriously, you’ve still got the hots for your boss?” Ashley asked.
The heat bloomed in Heather’s cheeks. She nodded her head unable to voice the words. “I haven’t stopped.”
“Wait? You’re in love with him? I knew you were hot for him, but love? Come on, Heather. You’re not that stupid,” Ashley said while the other two stared at her.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Heather asked. There was no way she’d defend her boss against her best friends.
“He’s a horn dog. There is no way any woman could be happy with him. He uses women, Heather. Don’t allow yourself to be lost to him.”
Heather stared at Ashley shocked by the vehemence on her face. “Do you guys think the same?”
Connie looked down, but Amber nodded her head. “You would be unhappy. Look at what happened last night. You haven’t drunk like that in years. No guy is worth this.” Amber pointed at her face and body.
Frowning, Heather climbed out of bed then walked to the bathroom. The shower the night before hadn’t been great. Connie followed behind her. Heather looked a mess. Her mascara had run down her face, the smears showing where someone had tried to wipe it away. She looked awful and felt much worse.
“I tried to clean you up as much as possible. You’re heavy when you’re not helping,” Connie said.
“You shouldn’t have had to clean me up. I never wanted this to happen. I’m sorry.”
Her friend wrapped her arms around her. “We love you, Heather. We don’t like to see you hurting.”
“I don’t know how to stop feeling this way. I’ve tried, and it gets worse. Yes, I had the hots for him, and now I know I love him. What do you think I should do?” she asked.
Amber and Ashley stood in the doorway. They looked sad for her, and she hated that.
“Please, I don’t want your sympathy. I can’t cope with that right now.” Heather grabbed her toothbrush, put some paste on, and began brushing her teeth.
They stayed with her as she washed her face, brushed her hair and generally freshened up. Within minutes she felt a million times better. Together they walked back into her room, took the pastry boxes then moved into her sitting room. Connie came back with a tray filled with mugs of coffee.
“You’re a goddess,” Heather said, taking a mug of the steaming brew and inhaling the musky caffeinated scent.
They sat in her sitting room sipping their drinks. None spoke for some time, but then Ashley squealed. “I have an idea.”
Her ideas were not always brilliant, but they all listened. “Why don’t you seduce him?”
“Seduce my boss? Seriously? That is your brilliant plan?”
“What’s wrong with it? It’s perfect,” Ashley said.
“No, it’s not.” Heather sipped her coffee waiting for the hum it would give her.