Fool for Love (High Rise) by Harper Bliss Read Free Book Online Page A

please? Ever since Rita and I broke up, she thinks I’m doomed.”
    Nat shook her head. “For someone who puts so much stock in honesty, I find it extremely surprising you didn’t tell her the truth about your lovely ex.”
    “She worshipped Rita. I couldn’t do that to her.”
    “That’s my point proven again.” Nat slapped Alex playfully on the arm. “You’re crazy. And your mom’s old enough to handle the truth, no matter how vile.”
    Alex froze as she stared at the door. In walked Isabella with Maddie following in her tracks.
    “It’s just two ladies. Good-looking ladies at that. Hardly meriting that expression of utter shock on your face.” Nat instantly waved them over.
    “What are you doing?” Alex had time to flee. Maddie and Isabella were second in line to place their order. “I haven’t seen her in weeks.”
    “Just because you had a little melt-down, doesn’t mean you can’t be friendly to your neighbour. Forget about that.”
    Nat was so easy about these things. Alex guessed that’s what happened when you slept with another girl every week on an overcrowded island with too small a surface. She had no choice but to practice casualness. Alex wasn’t really one for being casual though. And why would she be? She believed in taking things seriously.
    The ladies approached their table and Nat was already pulling up extra chairs.
    “What a sight for sore eyes on this dreary Saturday afternoon.” She kissed them both on the cheek.
    Alex exchanged a shy glance with Maddie. Ever since storming out of the pizza restaurant three weeks ago, she’d declined any offer of Nat to meet up with their neighbours. Apart from feeling mortified, she’d also doubted herself. She feared she couldn’t trust herself around Maddie and the blue-grey stare of her eyes, which, most inappropriately, kept popping up in her fantasies.
    “Hello stranger.” Isabella addressed Alex. “Where the hell have you been? At a certain point, I believed you’d moved out of the building and quit your job.”
    “You know what The Ivy is like. You can go weeks without running into a familiar face.” Alex had been lucky—if that was the right word—to not have bumped into Maddie for a few weeks, but she felt quite flustered to be in her company now.
    Isabella nodded and took the chair next to Nat, leaving the one next to Alex free for Maddie.
    “What about the gym?” Maddie turned to her, fixing those eyes on Alex. “That guy replacing you isn’t half as fun to look at as you.”
    “I’ll be back next week.” The few of her regular classes Alex had taught, Maddie had not attended. “Still going strong then?”
    “Can’t you tell?” Maddie flexed her bicep. “I’ve even started doing weights.”
    Alex couldn’t help but smile—and sneak a peek at Maddie’s toned arm. “Impressive. Looks like you don’t need me at all.”
    “Don’t be fooled by these guns. I did some push-ups this morning and they’re still pumped.”
    “That’s even more impressive.”
    “Not half as much as what you’ve got going on.” Alex remembered the five minutes they’d spent in the steam room a few weeks ago, and how she’d subtly flashed some abs at Maddie. She was also rather stunned to, off the bat, find herself in the middle of a flirty conversation with Maddie. As if her little scene had never happened. As if they’d sat opposite each other in that steam cabin only yesterday.
    “I think I may owe you an apology.” Alex leaned a little closer to Maddie. “For storming out so dramatically.”
    “You were upset. I get that.” Maddie laid three fingers on Alex's arm. “You don’t owe me anything.” The smile she flashed Alex was glorious enough to make her forget about Rita altogether. It was about time for that anyway. A now-or-never feeling descended upon Alex. For some reason, this had turned into a significant moment. A sort of confirmation of that early attraction towards Maddie. The premonition that they could