The Awkward Truth by Lee Winter

Author:Lee Winter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ylva Publishing
Published: 2021-10-25T21:28:13+00:00

Chapter 9

The Last Time

Felicity didn’t spend a great deal of time thinking about her apartment. It was where she slept, ate, bathed, and worked on weekends. It was all sleek lines and polished floorboards, brushed aluminum appliances, timber and cream accessories, and top-line fittings. Essentially, it was a showroom of good taste, an ode to swanky executive dreams. The view was to die for, too, when Loki wasn’t destroying her topiary.

But now, looking at it through Cooper’s wide eyes, Felicity was reminded of a few things. She was wealthy, and it showed. Felicity was how the other half lived. Well, not half. She was how the top one percent lived.

Cooper, looking dazed, had barely moved from the moment she’d crossed the threshold.

Brittany adapted a great deal better, running around sniffing everything before bolting up to the glass balcony doors and barking in excitement.

That drew Cooper’s eye, and she finally focused. “Um, Felicity, do you know there’s a kitten in your tree?”

“No, there isn’t,” Felicity said firmly.

“So it’s not yours?”

“That’d be out of character, don’t you think? And there’s nothing out there.”

Cooper pointed at the bright blue eyes surrounded by white fluff peeking out of the leaves. “You don’t see a Siamese kitten about eight to ten weeks old looking right at us? Cute enough to be plastered on the side of a tissue box?”

Felicity merely lifted an eyebrow.

“Is this one of those denial things of yours? If you don’t see it, you won’t befriend it? Or worse, cuddle it?”

“Don’t fall for that pom-pom. She’s pure devil spawn. There’ll be no cuddling from me.” Felicity glared at Loki. The kitten glared right back. “Ever.”

Cooper smiled. Her eyes drifted back to the expansive city view. She stilled and suddenly seemed adrift.

Brittany padded back to the lounge, having lost interest in tree kitties, and selected a designer armchair. She leaped on it, stalking around it in circles before settling.

Felicity winced and prayed her nails were clipped.

It was a sign of how out of it Cooper was that she didn’t order her dog off the furniture. Not that Felicity had the heart to budge Brittany, who looked so happy, her soft brown chin plopped on an armrest, watching them both.

Cooper’s eyes remained fixed on the Manhattan skyline. She finally spoke. “How did you do this at your age? You’re not even forty, are you? How could you have afforded all this, in New York? I’m betting you own it, too.”

“I don’t rent, no. And I worked hard for what I have.” Felicity met Cooper’s eyes evenly. “I didn’t have vacations or weekends for years—you know how focused I am on my career—and that sacrifice paid off. That, and good fortune; being noticed by Elena. That was the biggest factor. And I’m definitely inching closer to forty.” She drew in a breath. “Today I turned thirty-seven.”

“Wait, it’s your birthday?” Cooper’s eyes widened. “And this is how you’re spending it? Putting the fear of God up a charity director?”

“No, I’m spending it with my lover, who I’ve skillfully lured back to my place in the middle of the afternoon.

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