Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 133034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
“Yeah, I know that, but it’s ok. I’ll be fine.”
He doesn’t look convinced.
“It’s a quick turnaround. One proposal straight to three when you’re just out of the starting gate again. Don’t try to sprint from the off. Take your time. You don’t need the pressure. You’ve taken enough pressure already.”
I keep my smile at full beam, resolute, because I’m determined. I filled up my calendar for a reason last night, high in the aftermath of User 2644 or not. I’m not succumbing to another bout of nerves bordering on depression. I’ve had enough of that shit.
“I want to do this,” I say again. “Really, Josh. I want to do this.”
“Ok, that’s fine. I’m happy to rearrange Tottenham. My client will rebook for next week, I’m sure.”
I shake my head in horror, because interrupting his schedule is the last thing I want.
“No, no, no! Tiff’s phone will be on, or Eb’s, or Bodica’s. Hell, even Mum and Dad’s, if I need someone.”
Josh shakes his head right back at me.
“Tiff, Eb and Bodica might all be busy on proposals themselves, and your parents are in Australia.”
I shrug. “I can check with the girls, see if their nights are booked up.”
“Or you could rest up a bit. Take it steady.”
I put down my cutlery, because I’m not sinking back into the comfort of nothingness. It would be so easy to fall back into the world of Cake Baker and chocolate chip cookies.
“Josh, listen to me. Seriously. Now I’ve had a taste of what’s been missing, I’m not giving it up. No way. I’ve had way too much time out already.”
We have an unspoken standoff, eye to eye.
And then he nods. My amazing boyfriend nods.
“Yeah, ok. I get it, and I applaud you. Really, Ells, you’re a superstar who deserves her life back. I’ll be supporting you every step of the way, even if it does mean I’m crapping myself with my phone on silent while I’m busy.” He smirks. “I can live with that if it makes you happy.”
“We both deserve our lives back,” I reach over to squeeze his hand. “This is just step one.”
He squeezes mine back.
“Step one, three, seven hundred and eighty-five, it doesn’t matter. You do what makes you happy, whatever road you want to take. I’ll be your biggest cheerleader.”
God, I love that man.
We finish up our bacon and eggs, and I’m clearing our plates when Josh starts scrolling through his phone at the table. His eyebrows are pitted, concentrating, and I get the wriggling worm of nerves in my guts as he scrolls.
I take a breath and force myself to ask the question.
“Anything I should know about? Anything… scary?”
I’m relieved as all fuck when he grins.
“Nah. Just thousands of people arguing over whether Katie and Connor make a good couple, or whether they’re a couple of coke snorting, fame hungry cunts. I haven’t seen your name mentioned once so far. Not in any of the fresh posts.”
I raise my eyebrows.
“Not once? Are you serious?”
“Deadly. Check for yourself.”
I take his phone and scroll back through the feed he’s just been looking at. He’s right. There is a load of Connor-related bitching amongst the latest political crisis posts, but every scrap of trolling I see is all about Katie and their antics together. For once, there’s nothing about me.
It’s insane when I think back to the early days after Cannes. When everyone was trying to find me, to talk to me, to bitch about me, or make deals for gossip. There were nasty memes all over social media, and we love you, Connor threads of support for such a bitch leaving him. Now, just like that, the rumours about me have been buried under all the fresh drama.
“Wow,” I say. “It’s crazy.”
“It’s fucking brilliant more like it. The cunt had it coming.”
So, the storm clouds of trolling have blown right on over to Connor and his latest conquest. I hope the asshole has an umbrella ready.
Actually, no, I don’t. I hope he gets soaked right through.
“I saw nothing on the news pages, either,” Josh adds. “And even Juicee Goss Queens have removed your story from the top of their feed.”
“Hell. That really is something.”
The cow bags at Juicee Goss Queens have been milking my story for likes and comments ever since the drama first kicked off. They got thousands and thousands of followers off the back of it. Over five million views on one single post. Ella Edwards, the cheating whore who created an idol!
I did help create an idol, over seven years of hard work, but that means nothing to anyone. Especially not them. Not in the way they think it does. Connor’s stupid wallowing song about me may have gone viral and propelled him into the public eye, but that wasn’t my doing. Far from it.
Maybe his bullshit antics with Katie will at least add some shade to his holier than thou status.