Wishful Thinking by Lynette Sofras Read Free Book Online Page B

get enough of his films. We’re longing for him to sing in one of them.” She released a long-suffering sigh. “But she and Christian just can’t leave each other alone. They need closure, so they can move on. But I think they’re in each other’s skin.”
     
    In each other’s skin . The strange expression made Jess shudder slightly. It created an image of Lady Macbeth scrubbing away at the imaginary blood-stain on her hands.
     
    “So is he the one you had facetime with? I need you to dish the dirt so I can blog about it.” Katya said forcefully, interrupting her thoughts. “It could be the exclusive of the year for me!”
     
    Jess shook her head. “No, it was just someone like him. It wasn’t him, I’m afraid.”
     
    Katya gave a contemptuous little snort. “I didn’t think so. I knew that silly little boy was wrong.”
     
    All Jess’s old irritation with the precocious child re-surfaced. “He’s not often that wrong, Katya. If you took the trouble to get to know him, you’d find out.”
     

6
     
     
     
     
     
    Although Adam supported Christian in trying to persuade Amber to stay in the clinic, she insisted on leaving, against the advice of all the staff. She claimed she felt ‘marvellous’ and didn’t want to miss the remainder of the Christmas festivities. After all, the band had made a special effort to get together for the celebration at Christian’s house, whether or not Christian could be bothered to join them for the whole holiday.
     
    He’d returned from his parents on Christmas night to find her busy on the phone tipping off her sleazy press contacts. He guessed that meant she was hoping for the red carpet treatment when she exited the clinic. Amber was only ever happy when she was in the spotlight – a real press-darling. She had probably tipped them off about her intended overdose too – day, time, location, etc.
     
    Once again he berated himself for his cynical thoughts and felt immediately guilty. His pity for Amber always overrode his anger with her. Outside of the band, very few people knew what a terrible life she’d had before being catapulted to fame in Wishful. He thought of her now much more as a sister than an ex-girlfriend. They’d come through such a lot together. He still loved her, but not in the way he once thought he did, when they were both so young and naïve. He knew her good points and her bad points and neither made any difference to their friendship.
     
    When she started seeing Adam, he felt a great sense of relief. There was no better bloke in the world than Wishful’s lead guitarist and of all the band members, Christian felt closest to him. Undoubtedly the most talented, he worshipped Amber and seemed absolutely right for her. Amber knew that on her better days. But on her bleaker days, could be just too much for the sensitive Adam to handle.
     
    Adam arranged to meet them at the clinic at 10 am, but he didn’t show and Christian couldn’t raise him on his mobile. He called Justin at the house who questioned the others but no one had seen him since the night before. It was a big house – easy to avoid people if you wanted privacy. Whatever Adam’s reason, Christian felt pretty sure it must be a good one.
     
    But that left him in the lurch, with no choice but to escort Amber out alone. He’d pleaded with her to leave by the back door but she would have none of it. She’d called her beautician in at eight and felt no inclination to waste all that make up. Although she smiled in a bright and brittle way, she appeared far too unstable for his liking – but she’d made up her mind. They needed to get the ordeal over and done with as quickly as possible.
     
    At least she’d agreed to cancel her commitments until after the New Year – which explained why her manager was stuck in his office on Boxing Day, sorting everything out. She would go straight to ‘Westacres’ where two nurses were awaiting her. That was the best compromise he could