Free A Moral Dilemma: A Romantic Comedy Chick Lit Story by Zara Kingsley Page A

over the back seat didn’t he?”
    “Yes. Yes. That’s right. Some prick from acquisitions. I heard the ladies coach was much more exciting. Wasn’t it Becks,” he winked at me with a wicked grin. Julia nudged him a warning not to tease me about it. We were only in March and already making preliminary plans for Ladies Day at Ascot which was a good three months away. Royal Ascot was the most fashionable date in the racing calendar and next to New Year’s Eve, the highlight of our entire year. We’d been going for the past several years and although it wasn’t quite what it used to be, due to every Tom, Dick, Sharon and Tracey that turned up on free booze day trips, it was still a bloody good day out. I’d have my outfit ear-marked months ahead and hat shopping with Abby and Juju was always great fun – trying to find the largest most flamboyant hat available. Ascot was also one of the few occasions each year where I would allow myself to drink more than my usual one glass of champagne, due to the sheer jubilance of the occasion and the mere fact that everyone else seemed to be downing bottles of it. Unfortunately my one glass rule had been implemented for very good reason – one glass was all I could handle before making a complete and utter arse out of myself. Which was exactly what had happened on the return coach last year, where for some inane reason I had stood up to start a rousing chorus of “ for he’s a jolly good fella ” in appreciation of our driver, when he – not appreciating me standing up whilst doing 70 miles per hour – promptly swung over to the hard shoulder throwing me tits over arse and landing with a bloody nose.
    “What? Oh yars, yars,” Humphrey agreed, “I also heard it was JOLLY good fun on the ladies coach,” and guffawed whilst snorting like a pig at the same time. Seb sniggered, the most he could do with Julia curled up in his arms.
    I rolled my eyes at them both. “Ha! How funny,” I said dryly and saw the smile instantly leave Sebastian’s face, which took on a look of seriousness as he pushed Julia off his lap, straightened up, all the time looking past me in the distance.
    “Oh bloody hell,” he said flatly.
    “What?” I asked as Julia made a ‘ shit, what do we do now ’ face.
    “Alright guys?” a familiar voice said. I immediately swivelled around to face him. He looked like he’d been sleeping rough the past few nights and his usual effervescent quality had been replaced by a far more subdued one. I suddenly realised that this was the first time in two years I had come here on my own, not being part of a couple. And I hadn’t even really missed him. I also realised that this place on a Sunday was as much a part of Jeremy’s routine as it was mine. I wondered where he’d been all day and if he had eaten. He looked so meek I had to stop myself from jumping up and fixing him a plate. I looked over at Julia who was of no help whatsoever, as her facial expression said exactly what she was thinking: Aaah poor Jerrers.
    Abigail appeared out of nowhere and stood in front of him. “What the bloody hell are you doing here?!” she spat at him.
    “Abigail!” Sebastian, being the only person who ever could, silenced her. “It’s not your business. Butt out now!” She opened her mouth as if to protest. “Now!” Then she threw her nose in the air at Jeremy and took a seat, protectively, next to me.
    “Hey guys,” he managed, “don’t worry. I’m not staying. I just wanted to have a chat with Rebecca…and as she’s not returning my phone calls…well, here I am.”
    “Jeremy,” I started, “I’m not returning your phone calls because I do not want to talk to you!”
    “Rebecca! We’ve been together for years! I’ve fucked up! We really do need to talk!”
    A little voice behind me said, “Oh Becky you really do need to talk to him.” Sebastian, Abigail and I all glared at Julia. “Well, you do ,” she pleaded. “You can’t ignore it forever