The Ex Next Door by Jo Platt

Author:Jo Platt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo
Published: 2023-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

‘Jesus, I’m only asking what you’re going to wear tomorrow night,’ said Cass, fetching some ice from the fridge for her gin and tonic before returning to the small kitchen table. ‘Don’t be so tetchy about it.’

‘It just felt like a very loaded question,’ I said, lowering my voice and glancing towards the gallery where David was cashing up. ‘It sounds like you think I’m going to dress to impress – which I’m not.’

‘Hmm,’ she said, smirking and raising her eyebrows sceptically.

‘I am not!’ I insisted.

‘Oh, of course I know you’re not. As if I’d think you’re the kind of woman to go after someone else’s man.’ She laughed dismissively. ‘I’m just trying to lighten the mood. You’ve been miserable about this ever since she invited you.’

‘Yes, well, it’s not like it’s going to be my most comfortable evening ever, is it? Watching my neighbour get cosy with my ex.’

‘She doesn’t strike me as the type who’d touch him up over the main course,’ said Cass, tutting at the idea. ‘And you got on really well with her when she came round for drinks. The only difference this time is that he’s going to be there too. And he won’t want anything to kick off, so I’m sure he’ll be civil. Just let him chat to Dave.’

‘I’m not worried about anyone being uncivil,’ I said, swirling my gin. ‘I can just about handle it when I see them separately and we stick to talking about work and the weather. But seeing them together is different. I just wish she knew about my relationship with him, because you tread carefully when you meet your partner’s ex, don’t you? You rein it in.’ I looked to Cass for understanding, but instead she frowned and her lips thinned – a sure indication of disapproval. ‘What?’ I asked, holding out my hands. ‘What? What have I said?’

‘You told me,’ she began slowly, ‘and I quote, that it was “shit” when you and Elliot went for a drink a couple of months ago.’

‘Well, it was.’

‘But now you say that “it’s fine” when you see him separately. It’s almost as if you’ve been for more drinks since the “shit” evening you told me about.’

‘How’s Kevin’s foot?’ I asked.

‘Come on then,’ she said, putting down her glass. ‘How many times have you been out with him?’

I sighed. ‘A couple of. Three at most. And we were just catching up. Nothing happened.’

‘Nothing down there, maybe,’ she said, pointing between her legs. ‘But what about up here?’ She tapped the side of her head. ‘That’s why you were all breathless and shifty when he came round to your place looking for Morgan, wasn’t it? Looking for Morgan, my arse,’ she added. ‘I knew something was off.’

‘Nothing whatsoever is off, except the fact that tomorrow I have to attend a birthday party that I’d rather swap for a dental appointment.’

‘Well, you signed up to it, so you’re just going to have to suck it up,’ she said unsympathetically, picking up her glass and waving it.

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