Edel’s eyes are pinned to me. I give her a shrug.
Nora unlocks the door and steps inside. It’s a nice size with two bedrooms, as well as a small lounge area and kitchen adjoined. It’s decorated in warm creams and blacks. Modern but cosy at the same time. Nora gives us a quick walk round before she disappears.
“This is nice,” Edel says, pushing her suitcase towards the bedroom.
“Yeah,” I admit, walking forward and looking out at the view.
“So, I’m assuming you’ve been uninvited to the race.”
“Seems that way,” I say nonchalant, my gaze still locked on the busy streets of Monaco.
“Screw him.” Her words catch me off guard and I scoff a laugh, letting my eyes gaze over my shoulder to my best friend. “Honestly, fuck him.”
I shake my head. “I can’t be bothered,” I admit, sighing. “I’m just going to continue as normal until I am done.”
“Good plan.” She beams at me, the quiet sound of her footsteps approaching. “Shall we go and get your clothes?” she asks.
I look down at myself. I am dressed in grey cotton sport shorts and a fitted white tee with my trainers. My hair is pulled into a messy ponytail.
“I suppose I better.” I sigh, tearing my eyes from the views below.
Linking my arm through Edel’s, we walk towards the door. I swipe the keys from the small side table before closing it behind us.
“Is this Royce’s apartment?” she asks as I let myself in.
“Not sure, I know the one next door is his dad and Anaïs’s. Not sure on this one.” I lift a shoulder up, then push the door open.
It’s immaculate. Everything is in its place. Walking through the door with a heavy sigh, I glance around the apartment that I shared with him. Silly really, it’s been a week and I feel like I have lost a part of me.
“This is real nice.” She whistles through her teeth, her eyes bouncing around the room.
“Yeah.” I clutch onto the keys a little tighter as I reluctantly move towards the bedroom.
As soon as my foot crosses the threshold, I can smell him. My chest caves and my throat burns. What was wrong with me? Edel isn’t far behind me, knocking into me so I have to step inside the room.
“You okay?” she asks me as she makes herself comfortable on the edge of the bed and I nod.
“Come on, let’s get packed. I’ve got work to do,” I push a smile onto my face as I move to the drawers and start folding my clothes up and placing them on the bed.
It doesn’t take us long and before I know it, we’re sitting inCaffé Milanoeating lunch and catching up.
“When do I get the meet the infamous Royce?” Edel asks, her eyes skating to the marina overlooking the boats.
“Not sure, some point over the weekend, I am sure. I have to put on the show for certain things so…” I push my plate away and puff my cheeks out.
“Does Royce own a yacht?”
I shrug. “Don’t think so. His dad did. We were meant to go for dinner and onto a friends yacht the other night before he broke off our”—I lower my voice—“fakerelationship…” I lick my lips. “Only to put it back on again.”
“Did anything happen to make him switch it up?”
“Nope, he was a little distant, but I thought we were good, you know?” I reach for my Aperol spritz and take a large mouthful. “Kind of like roommates, I suppose.”
“Right.” She looks at me suspiciously. “Did you sleep with him?”
My eyes widen and my nostrils flare as I sit forward. “No,” I whisper shout, covering my mouth.
“Okay, just asking, ‘cause you know… that’s when things could have started to get messy.”
