Trophy Life by Elli Lewis Read Free Book Online Page A

wedding.' Seeing Amy’s indignation, he added, 'But don’t forget, she’s practically German royalty.' He was referring to the minor aristocratic title held by Giselle’s father. Her features must have betrayed her feelings of nettled dismay because Harry changed tack. 'Mummy loves you,' he crooned. 'It was probably just an oversight. What are we having for din dins by the way?'
    Amy decided to accept this well timed change of subject. 'Good question. Fancy ordering in?'
    They ordered a Chinese takeaway and watched a DVD of The West Wing , one of their favourite shows. Harry made comments about the American political system every few minutes and she listened with interest to what he had to say, adding her own views.
    'Oh hold on, this is Hoocho,' Harry said as his mobile rang at the same moment that a soaking President Barlet faced a vast press conference. Hoocho was an old university friend of Harry’s and one of the ushers at their wedding. He was in fact called Francis Hetherington, but, like many of Harry’s friends, had acquired a nickname the provenance of which dated back to some unremembered time and could only be traced through some obscure story of which Amy had heard several. She had no idea where the name Hoocho had come from, but no doubt it was the subject of a hilarious ‘you had to be there’ anecdote.
    She looked longingly at the screen where a series cliff hanger was in the process of being solved. She honestly didn’t mind that Harry was on the phone, even at the beginning of a good West Wing episode. After all, he was so busy, he deserved time to relax and catch up with friends. In fact, as a quieter, more shy personality than him she often relied on his social butterfly skills to bring her out of her shell. Thanks to the combination of Harry’s work nights out and his social commitments there was hardly a week where they didn’t have at least two nights out and she enjoyed this. Nevertheless, she did relish these rare evenings in.
    Harry spent the next hour on the phone uttering exclamations such as 'No! The bastard!' and 'You would never sail that time of year in the Bahamas'. By the time he’d finished, Amy had cleared the dinner and given up on finishing the episode they had been watching. Finally, she motioned to him that she was going up to bed. He held up a finger as if to say 'one minute', before returning to his conversation.
    Sighing, she walked up to their master bedroom, with its huge walk-in wardrobe that Lucy always said she 'would die for' and located her old pyjamas, a Guns ‘n’ Roses t-shirt that had been washed so many times it was gaping with holes and a pair of shorts. She got ready for bed slowly, taking her time, brushing her teeth carefully, cleansing and moisturising at a leisurely pace in the hope that Harry would be able to catch up with her. Yet, she was under the sheets and asleep before he had even made it up the stairs.
     

Chapter 4
    As Amy stepped out of the car, she breathed in the fresh spring air, embracing the thrum of anticipation. She had seen this scene in so many movies, the new student moving into their dorm. It really was a great way to start a film. After all, nothing said new beginnings, infinite possibilities, like starting university. All around her amidst the muted colours of autumn leaves and a pale blue sky were other young, excited and anxious guys and girls, each emptying overly filled cars with fussing parents or disinterested siblings nearby. Nobody knew what the year would bring. It was like watching a collective mass of sheer, unexplored potential. This was the start of something. For better or for worse.
    Her mum was chatting to one of the student coordinators while her boyfriend, Will took her suitcases out of the boot.
    'Remind me again why you’ve brought everything you own?' he grumbled affectionately, kissing her on the forehead. He wasn’t starting university until next week so he was helping her move in and was planning on