No Other Love Read online

  At first Amber thought she was hearing things. It was only when she heard the clicking of heels that she realised someone else was in the room. She looked up at Sophie who seemed oblivious, obviously still lost in her own private ecstasy, she hadn’t heard the voice.

  It was only when Sophie realised that Amber had withdrawn her head that she seemed to come back to reality. By this time, Amber was in a sitting position staring directly into the eyes of Alison.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  ‘Alison?’ Sophie’s heart lurched as she pulled away from Amber. Although she wasn’t technically cheating, as she had already broken up with Alison, she wasn’t that insensitive to realise how hurtful it must be for Alison to see her in the arms of another woman barely twenty-four hours after their breakup.

  Alison grinned and put one hand on her hip. ‘Well, isn’t this cosy. What was it, get me out of the way so you could shack up with her? First, I catch you chatting on the phone, then this.’ She pointed at Amber.

  ‘How did you get in?’

  ‘I still have a key remember?’

  Why the hell didn’t I insist she give it back? Well it’s too late now.

  ‘I know what this looks like,’ Sophie said quietly.

  ‘And what’s that then? Was she getting something out of your vagina with her tongue?’

  Shit, so she saw her going down on me. This is worse than I thought. The last thing Sophie wanted to do was hurt Alison like this. Maybe things had moved too soon. That she should have given it a few months before getting together with Amber, but that she knew would have been near enough impossible. Sophie had already waited ten years.

  ‘Look, can we talk about this calmly, Alison…’

  ‘Calmly? Do you see me making a scene?’

  ‘No, but—’

  ‘But what, Sophie. You didn’t mean to hurt me but having her in your bed less than twenty-four hours later seems reasonable to you? It’s not even been a day since we broke up.’

  ‘This wasn’t planned—’

  ‘What? She just happened to fall into your bed naked?’ Alison said with disgust. ‘You know what the worst thing is about all this? I actually thought you were a decent person.’

  ‘I am,’ Sophie said weakly.

  ‘No, you’re not.’

  Sophie could hear the anger building in Alison’s voice and knew she had to put an end to this. It wasn’t fair on either of the women to be caught up in this. Alison deserved better than to be humiliated in front of another woman, and Amber didn’t need to be involved in a personal drama that had nothing to do with her.

  Sophie leant over and picked up a shirt from the floor, slipping into it. ‘Can we go outside and talk? Let’s not do this here.’

  Alison glared over at Amber, tears brimming in her eyes. ‘No, I’m done. And just know this Amber, if she can do this to me, she will sure as hell do it to you one day.’

  Alison turned to go, then stopped abruptly in her tracks. ‘Karma’s a bitch, Sophie. This will catch up with you some day.’

  Alison turned again and stormed out of the room.

  ‘Sorry about that, fuck what a mess—’

  ‘This is a mistake, I shouldn’t have come,’ Amber said, climbing off the bed and gathering her clothes.

  Sophie turned to look at Amber whose face had changed from annoyance to being perplexed.

  ‘What? Of course you should have. Alison was just letting off some steam. She—’

  Amber frowned. ‘Letting off steam. Jesus, Sophie, you are so removed from reality, aren’t you?’

  ‘I don’t understand…’

  ‘No, you don’t, do you? You were with her for five years and look at the way you’ve treated her. Like she meant nothing to you. Pretty much what you did to me back at school when you discarded me after our kiss.’

  ‘Come on, Amber, this is nothing like that.’

  ‘Isn’t it? I should have listened to my gut instinct. You’re bad news, Sophie. You treat people like commodities. The moment they’re of no use to you they get tossed aside.’

  Sophie was open-mouthed in shock. She wasn’t entirely sure what had gone on in the last few minutes but apparently it was all her fault? How did that work?

  Yes, she had moved on from Alison, but it wasn’t exactly how Alison made it out to be. They’d been separated for nearly two months. Yes, she had slept with her, and no she hadn’t got around to telling her that she was in love with Amber, but it was none of her business. It wasn’t as if her love for Amber had anything to do with the demise of their relationship. That was down to Alison and Alison alone.

  ‘I’m sorry but I can’t do this.’

  Amber quickly dressed and headed for the door. Sophie knew there was no point trying to stop her. So she waited until the door slammed for the second time in as many minutes before she buried her face in her hands and cried at losing Amber for the second time.

  Only this time she knew it was for good.

  ‘Well, this is shit, isn’t it?’ Lee said, sitting beside her on the bed moments later, wrapping a welcome arm around her shoulders.

  They sat in silence for a few moments as Sophie continued to cry. She couldn’t believe how quickly the first bit of happiness she had felt in years had so suddenly been snatched away from her.

  How could it have gone so wrong?

  Why had Amber gone all self-righteous on her without even waiting to hear Sophie’s side of the story? More importantly, why had Sophie ever entertained the idea of getting back with that bitch Alison.

  She felt overwhelmed, suffocating in the anguish that was threatening to swallow her whole.

  ‘What’re you going to do now?’ Lee asked.

  ‘I need to think. I need to get away again. I can’t get things straight in my head while I’m here. Too many memories, too many distractions.’

  ‘I’ll try not to whistle,’ Lee said glumly, and for some reason she couldn’t work out right then, she just burst out laughing, much to Lee’s discomfort. He probably thought she was going crazy, or crazier.

  ‘No, Lee, you’re not the distraction. You’ve been fantastic. I couldn’t ask for a better flatmate.’ She reached out and laid the back of her hand on Lee’s cool cheek. ‘Or a better friend.’

  ‘That’s what I’m here for. What am I going to do? Let the world beat you up without doing whatever I can to help you?’

  ‘Thank you. It’s nice to know someone’s on my side. You couldn’t chuck some clothes in my bag again, could you, while I have a shower?’

  ‘You want me to pack your underwear?’

  Sophie smiled. ‘Would you?’

  ‘Just this once,’ Lee said pulling her into a hug.

  ***

  Sophie felt like the worst person in the world and there was nothing Lee could do or say to make her feel any differently. She had made a mess of everything and there was only one place where she felt safe enough to return in order to lick her wounds – her childhood home.

  A sense of comfort enveloped her as she opened the front door and stepped inside. Her mum wouldn’t be arriving home for another three weeks and that was long enough for her to rebuild her strength before she returned to London.

  She needed the alone time to do some self-reflection and see where she’d gone wrong with her relationships.

  Is there a theme? she wondered as she headed straight to the kitchen fridge. Her hand automatically reached for the bottle of wine but she stopped herself. She’d had enough of using alcohol to self-medicate.

  Maybe that’s why she’d never actually addressed the issues she’d faced in her life. Instead of tackling her emotions head on, she had either knowingly suppressed them or looked for the answer in the bottom of a bottle. Neither doing her much good.

  No, it was time to woman up, as Lee said. Look in the mirror and face the truth.

  I’ll go tee-total from tomorrow though. Sophie grabbed the wine bottle by the neck, found a glass and took it into the living room with her. Although it wasn
’t the best way to handle things, it sure did help. And help was what she needed more than ever at that moment. She’d never felt so utterly alone.

  The ring of her doorbell jarred her from her mental anguish and made her jump.

  Was it Amber? Sophie had texted and called her several times during the journey home, but Amber hadn’t replied. For all Sophie knew, she was halfway to the States by now.

  But if it wasn’t Amber, who else would it be? Her heart fell when she pulled open the door.

  ‘Hello, Sophie. I saw the lights on so thought I’d pop by.’

  Sophie looked over the fully made up face and the expensively tailored clothes.

  ‘Helen?’ Sophie said flatly.

  ‘You look… errr.’

  ‘Like shit, yes I know,’ Sophie said.

  Suddenly, Sophie felt the prick of hot tears forming in her eyes, and before she could do anything to stop them, they spilt over, rolling down her cheeks.

  ‘Oh, Sophie,’ Helen said and almost leapt in through the doorway, encircling Sophie in her arms. ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘Everything. My whole life’s a fucking mess,’ Sophie snivelled as Helen closed the front door and led Sophie through to the living room.

  Helen helped lower Sophie onto the sofa.

  ‘Well, drinking won’t help, you know?’ Helen said pointing at the full glass of wine.

  Sophie looked at the glass. ‘I know. I don’t really want it. I thought it would make me feel better.’

  ‘And did it?’

  Sophie sniffed. ‘No.’

  ‘I didn’t think so. I’ll get rid of it for you,’ Helen said kindly, before leaning over, picking up the glass, raising it to her mouth and draining every drop in one go. She smacked her lips and put the glass back.

  Sophie looked at her open-mouthed.

  ‘Believe me, you’re not the only one with a shit life!’

  Sophie stared back at Helen, not believing her own ears. ‘You? But you’re life’s perfect…’

  ‘Is it?’ Helen said, refilling the glass. ‘A sex-crazed husband who thinks affection means groping my tits at every opportunity, kids who think I’m nothing more than a maid and their personal chauffeur. The school committee who thinks I have nothing better to do than bake cakes and smile until my face feels like it’s going to crack. Yeah, just fucking perfect.’

  Helen took another mouthful of wine. ‘Now, enough about me. What’s got you in this state?’

  After hearing that from Helen, Sophie didn’t know where to start. What kind of a world did they live in where everyone had to pretend to be living the perfect life? That the heavy weight they bore on their shoulders was something they shouldn’t talk about. That to reveal their suffering was taboo. She was just as bad as the next person, Sophie realised with a start. When she had met up with Helen again, Sophie thought she was the woman who had everything going for her. The life that mere mortals would give their right arm for. How different things would have been if they’d both been their authentic selves instead of presenting a façade. It was no wonder more and more people were suffering from depression. The world they now lived in was one where to be yourself was frowned upon.

  ‘I’m sorry to hear your family don’t appreciate you, Helen,’ Sophie said, not wanting to lose the connection they had just formed.

  ‘Me too. But like they say, nothing lasts forever. I’m making plans for once the kids have gone to university.’

  ‘Another ten years?’

  ‘It’s better than a lifetime. Now come on, out with it,’ Helen said, taking another sip of wine. ‘A problem shared is a problem halved and all that bollocks.’

  Sophie laughed before sharing her problems for the next half an hour.

  When she finished, Helen leant back and blew out her cheeks.

  ‘Well, three things spring to mind. First, I’m glad I drank that wine, second, you really have got it bad for Amber, haven’t you?’

  Sophie nodded.

  ‘And third,’ Helen continued, ‘this might just be your lucky day. I saw Amber when I was on my way over here.’

  Sophie sat bolt upright. ‘What?’

  ‘Yep. Look, why don’t you call her and see if she’ll meet up and maybe you two can get this sorted out?’

  ‘I tried. She won’t pick up or answer my texts,’ Sophie said, elated that Amber hadn’t hightailed it back to America, and that she wasn’t far away from her. This alone gave her hope that she still had an opportunity to make things right with her. Even if it meant hanging around outside her parents’ house until she came out.

  Helen leant down and picked up her expensive looking handbag, then pulled out her phone. ‘Well, she might not answer for you, but she’ll answer for me.’

  She waved the phone and grinned as she scrolled through her contact list.

  ‘Are you two friends?’ Sophie asked, wondering how Helen had got Amber’s number.

  ‘I wouldn’t say friends exactly. More like acquaintances. She said her company would sponsor a charity of mine.’

  ‘Oh right.’

  ‘Give me a minute,’ Helen said and headed for the kitchen. Sophie could hear the beep of her dialling as she went.

  ‘Hi, Amber? It’s Helen. Helen Worth. Yeah, hi…’ Her voice faded away as she closed the kitchen door behind her.

  Sophie waited nervously on the sofa.

  When Helen reappeared, she walked over to the sofa and picked up her bag, dropping her phone inside.

  Sophie could barely contain herself but at the same time didn’t want to hear bad news. Mentally, she crossed her fingers.

  ‘So, she’s heading back to New York tomorrow afternoon, but she’s agreed to come to my place this evening to talk about my charity. Be at mine for seven this evening. When she turns up, I’ll disappear. After that it’s down to you. My tip, for what it’s worth?’

  Sophie nodded, eager to hear it.

  ‘Be the Sophie you were at school. I know you played to the crowd a little bit, but deep down everyone knew you were a good, bright person. Be that person again, okay?’

  ‘Thanks, Helen,’ Sophie said, ‘I’m really grateful.’

  ‘You owe me,’ Helen said with a smile. ‘Matron of honour will be just fine.’

  ‘Deal,’ Sophie said with a wry grin.

  ‘Seven. Don’t be late. I’ll supply snacks. See you later.’

  And with that, she was gone in a cloud of expensive perfume.

  Sophie checked her phone. Five hours to prepare for the most important meeting of her life.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Amber was no stranger to luxury, but when she arrived at Helen’s house her jaw dropped.

  If it had been any bigger, they could have used it as a historical drama set, a la Downton Abbey.

  It was, in simple terms, a mansion, and not only did it make her own apartment seem miniscule by comparison, which it was, but it also made Amber wonder exactly what Helen had done since school, just those few years earlier, to warrant living in such a house.

  Had she married into money? The odds seemed to favour that as Amber’s memories of Helen didn’t include her being a nerd in the classroom.

  Amber remained standing at the foot of the drive, wondering if she’d made a big mistake taking up Helen’s offer of a quick drink to discuss plans for the launch of her new charity. It wasn’t that she was going back on her promise to help, it was simply that her head was still in a mess over what had taken place earlier that day. She cursed herself for being so impulsive. What had she been thinking, flying all the way back to the UK on a whim? On top of that, leaving one of the most lucrative deals of her life in jeopardy.

  All because she had lost her mind in the pursuit of love. As much as she tried to get Sophie out of her mind, she couldn’t. Maybe she had been harsh, but the whole sorry episode had served only to solidify that they couldn’t work. Too many lies, too much deception… on both sides. How could they trust each other?

  In her defence, Amber knew
a large part of her reaction had been triggered by the memory of catching Sophie kissing the boy whose name she couldn’t remember. Memories of the hurt and pain had coursed through her and at that moment, she stood shoulder to shoulder with Alison in her pain.

  It would never have worked out between them. Amber was convinced of that now.

  Reaching the front door, she pressed the bell and waited a few moments before Helen appeared, looking stunning and expensively dressed, greeting her effusively with an air kiss either side, then grabbing her hand and dragging her inside before she had a chance to say hello.

  ‘I’m so glad you could make it, Amber. Can I take your jacket?’

  ‘Thanks,’ Amber said.

  Amber slipped off her coat and Helen opened a hallway door, hanging the coat on a hook then turning back to face Amber.

  ‘It’s lovely to see you again, Amber.’ Helen seemed to raise her voice when she said the name, almost as if she was letting other people know Amber was there, although Amber hadn’t seen any cars parked outside and she was a few minutes early.

  ‘Come on through and grab a drink, then I’ll give you the tour if you like?’

  ‘Great. It’s a beautiful house,’ Amber said, looking around at the luxurious interior. Inside was just as perfect as outside. Nothing out of place, everything perfectly coordinated, and at the same time classic and understated.

  ‘It’s been in my husband’s family for a long time. It was a bit old-fashioned when I moved in, but we’ve had it all redone since then,’ Helen leant in to whisper, ‘it’s been like living in a bloody building site for the last couple of years.’

  Amber wondered how bad it could have been, given the size of the place, but kept that thought to herself.

  ‘Right, come on through,’ Helen said and set off down the hallway, passing two closed doors before pushing down on the handle of the next door and swinging it open.

  Helen walked through with Amber just behind. She stood by the door as Amber passed. A jolt of excitement and anger shot through her as she jerked to a halt. Standing by one of the three cream sofas that surrounded a glistening glass-topped coffee table was Sophie.