Free A Beautiful Forever by Lilliana Anderson Page A

“How’s Elliot?” she asks,
nodding at my phone.
    “What? Why would I know?” I reply, feeling strange that she
immediately jumped to that conclusion.
    She tilts her head and looks at me like she can’t believe I
think she’s that stupid. “It’s obvious you two are into each other Paige. It
hums in the air whenever you’re around each other.”
    I frown a little, “I thought you were interested in Elliot.”
    She laughs, “I am, of course I am! If he said ‘hey Nomes,
you, me in the bedroom – leave your clothes at the door’ I’d say, ‘hell yeah’
and run in there. However, that’s not going to happen - he’s not interested in
me; he's interested in you.”
    Laughing, I say, “I don’t really think he talks like that.”
    She shrugs, smiling and taking a sip from her beer. “So
what’s holding you back? Why aren’t you making wild monkey love with him every
chance you get?”
    “Because, I don’t know – maybe I think he’s too good for me,
maybe I don’t want to get my heart broken, maybe I don’t want to ruin our
friendship. There’s literally dozens of reasons why it’s a bad idea.”
    “Maybe, but if you like each other, why can’t you have an
amazing couple of months together – even if that’s all it is, it’s better than
doing nothing, watching him leave and then regretting it for the rest of your
life.”
    “He doesn’t really want me Naomi. It’s the unattainable
thing that’s making me attractive right now. He'll find someone else to turn
his head eventually, and this will all be a moot point.”
    “Paige, have a look around this club,” I do as she says and
scan the club taking everything in, “Do you see one guy even remotely as
good-looking as Elliot?”
    “Well… no.”
    “Then why would you knock that back?”
    “Because… I feel like I have to,” I say looking down at my
phone. Naomi looks down and takes it out of my hands reading the message across
the screen. “Hey! What are you doing?!" I grab for my phone as she steps
away, keeping it out of my reach as she types out a message.
    “There, it’s done – you’re welcome,” she says smiling and
heading back over to her dance partner. My phone beeps in my hand and I look at
the message on the screen.
    I’ll b there in 10
    Feeling nervous all of a sudden, I get up and head to the
ladies' room to check my reflection, frowning when I see the painted lady
looking back at me. Turning on the tap, I grab some paper hand towel out of the
dispenser and wipe the lipstick off my face. I look ridiculous. This isn’t me.
    Looking at myself again, I take a deep breath. “Don’t do
this, nothing changes,” I coach myself. I can’t believe I was just entertaining
the thought of having something more with Elliot. Bloody Naomi, I had this all
under control. Didn’t I?

Elliot
    I borrow Shane’s car and drive to the club to pick up Paige.
She's waiting outside with Naomi, who’s leaning up against some guy. When they
see me pull up, Naomi waves at me then nudges Paige towards the passenger-side
door.
    “Have fun!” she sing songs as Paige climbs in.
    “Has Naomi hooked up?” I ask once the doors shut, as I watch
Naomi walk back inside the club entwined with that guy.
    “She has, thanks for coming to get me,” she says pulling on
her seat belt.
    “You rescued me actually. I hate cricket,” I confide in her.
    “Isn’t it blasphemy to say that!” she replies mockingly.
    “It is, don’t tell anyone.” I wink as I pull out into the
traffic and start to make my way through the streets to turn us back towards
the flat, although I’m not interested in returning to watch cricket again.
     “You want a coffee?” I ask when I spot an open café.
    Paige looks ahead to where I’m indicating. “Yeah, I do
actually.”
    We keep our eye out for a parking spot, finding one quickly
and walking back to the café. It’s surprisingly busy, and we have to line up
behind another four people to order.
    “Don’t