Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
“You need to settle down, or we won’t be invited here again!
” Alba whisper-yelled as Colin dragged her through Ellie’s front gate.
His excitement was almost contagious as his entire body vibrated with anticipation, his nails scraping against the path as he tried to pull ahead, desperate to reach the front door as quickly as possible.
Alba tightened her grip on the lead and dug her heels into the pavement.
“I was the one invited here. You’re just my plus one.
If you don’t behave, you’ll be watching us enjoy our dinner through the window. ”
Colin plopped down on the path as though he understood every word, panting happily.
His tongue lolled from the side of his mouth while his eyes remained fixed firmly on the front door.
Alba knew exactly what he was planning. The moment Ellie opened the door, Colin would attempt to bulldoze her straight onto the hallway floor.
She would not be allowing that. Still, she had no doubt he would try.
Colin looked up at her, then back at the door.
“Yes, I know I haven’t pressed the doorbell yet. But you have to promise me that you’ll be the best boy tonight.”
“This is entertaining,” Ellie said, even though Alba couldn’t see her. “Hi, Colin.”
Colin’s head snapped around immediately as he tried to locate the source of Ellie’s voice, confusion flickering across his expressive face.
Then Alba remembered. She glanced up and spied the video doorbell. “If you don’t answer this door, I’m going to flash my tits. Imagine what your neighbours would say then!”
Ellie laughed through the speaker. “Maybe it would loosen some of them up. Miserable bastards.”
Alba leaned closer to the tiny camera and grinned mischievously. “Should I? Just because I can.”
“No, you should not!” The red light dimmed a moment later, and Alba took that as her cue to tighten her grip on Colin’s lead.
He might want to greet Ellie enthusiastically, but Alba had spent years teaching him manners.
The door opened suddenly, and a slightly red-faced Ellie stood in the doorway, her eyes bright.
“Hi. Come in. I can’t trust you not to cause mayhem! ”
Alba smiled as she stepped over the threshold, gently guiding Colin inside. To her surprise, he behaved impeccably, trotting forward with far more restraint than she’d expected. Maybe he had simply wanted to see Ellie’s face.
You and me both, Colly. You and me both.
“I wouldn’t flash anything. Don’t worry. To my other friends, absolutely, but not to you.”
Ellie frowned at that. “Why not with me? Am I that uptight?”
“No.” Alba rolled her eyes playfully as she unclipped Colin’s lead.
“Best behaviour, Colin. Don’t let me down.
” He trotted straight into the living room as though he owned the place, and as Alba peeked inside, her heart softened.
He’d already curled himself up on the rug in front of the glowing fireplace, looking utterly content. “Oh, look at him. He just loves you.”
Ellie leaned around the doorway and smiled at the sight. “He’s welcome here any time he likes.”
Alba held up the bag of takeaway she’d had delivered just before walking over. “Can you take care of this while I keep an eye on him?”
“Of course.” Ellie took the bag from her and moved into the kitchen. “Make yourself at home. I thought maybe we’d just enjoy it at the coffee table. It all seems less formal then, don’t you think?”
Alba shrugged as she stepped further into the living room. “Whatever you prefer. I usually eat on my knee in front of the TV at home. It’s better than sitting at the dining table alone.”
“God, it’s depressing, isn’t it?” Ellie groaned as she moved through the kitchen. “But neither of us have to worry about that anymore. It’s nice having company.”
Alba felt that truth settle deep inside of her.
She agreed completely, she just wished the person she was enjoying this company with wasn’t so frustratingly beautiful.
Why couldn’t Ellie have been intimidating?
Or unpleasant? Or even a little bit arrogant?
Life would have been far easier if the headmistress of her new school had been someone people feared.
Instead, she was warm, kind, and funny…and Alba found herself drawn to her in ways she wasn’t entirely comfortable with. If Ellie had been a difficult person, Alba probably would have kept her distance. But she wasn’t, and that was the problem.
Alba settled onto the rug beside Colin, scratching behind his ears.
“You behave yourself now, okay? We’re not at home.
If you sit like a good boy, maybe I’ll save you a very small piece of chicken.
” She leaned forward and kissed the tip of his nose.
“But no sauce. I don’t care how much you like it. Your arse doesn’t agree.”
“First tits and now arses. You’re just full of surprises tonight, aren’t you?” Ellie laughed as she carried the dishes into the living room on a tray. “And you didn’t answer my question. Not really. Why are you happy to flash your tits to friends but not me? I’m a friend, aren’t I?”
Alba stared up at her, momentarily stunned.
“I, uh…” Why did Ellie almost sound offended?
Did she want to see Alba’s tits? Jesus Christ. For probably the first time in her adult life, Alba found herself completely lost for words.
“You are my friend, of course you are, but you’re also my boss.
One who works in education, as do I, and that’s not the type of friendship we’ll ever have. ”
“Charming!” Ellie scoffed as she settled opposite Alba on the floor, crossing her legs beneath her. She was clearly joking, but Alba suddenly found it very difficult to focus on anything other than the ridiculous mental image of lifting her shirt in front of Ellie Hamilton.
“You may want to check yourself there, boss. You almost sound disappointed that you’ll never see them.
” Alba grinned, and a second later they both burst into laughter.
Colin sighed dramatically from his spot by the fire.
“Yes, I know you’re sick of looking at them, but you live rent-free, have multiple meals a day that I fund, and several beds…
including mine, that you sleep on.” She gave him a pointed look.
“You don’t get a say in any part of this conversation. ”
The laughter gradually faded as they turned their attention to the takeaway spread across the coffee table.
The scent of sweet and sour sauce filled the room, comforting them both.
If the food tasted half as good as it smelled, Alba hoped it would distract her from their earlier conversation.
More importantly, she hoped it would distract her from Ellie.
She kept reminding herself of one very important fact.
Ellie Hamilton was her boss. The headmistress.
She was the reason Alba had a job there at all.
Then Ellie looked up and caught her watching. “Can I just say something?”
Alba’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “Of course.”
“If this is happening, if we’re going to be friends, can we lose the whole ‘you’re my boss’ thing outside of school?” Ellie pushed her fried rice around the plate, her gaze steady. “The two are entirely separate as far as I’m concerned.”
Alba looked down at her plate. “I’m sure the longer we know one another, the less I’ll think of you as the boss.” She paused briefly, trying to decipher Ellie’s tone. “But yeah, okay.”
“Thank you.” Ellie reached across the table and rested her hand gently over Alba’s.
That simple touch sent a ripple of heat straight through Alba.
“I know it seems silly to bring it up, but all my other friends work with me, and that’s the way it is with them, too.
You know, never quite knowing what to say around me.
” Ellie sighed. “I used to be so much fun. I used to laugh at anything and everything. But I don’t know…
work has always been different. I know that in order to maintain the position I’m in, I have to be mindful of what I say, but outside of work, I’m just me.
I just want to enjoy myself the same as everyone else. ”
“I understand completely.” Alba nodded slowly. Being in Ellie’s position couldn’t be easy. “I’m sorry for not realising that sooner.”
“No, no. Please don’t apologise. I just feel far more comfortable saying it to you than anyone else.”
“I appreciate that.” And she did. Ellie had trusted her with something personal more than once now.
Eloise…and now this. Still, Alba wasn’t exactly an expert at being a ‘normal’ friend.
She cleared her throat and attempted to lighten the mood.
“So, did you want me to flash my tits now…or when we’ve finished eating? ”
Ellie squeezed her hand and beamed. The warmth of that smile stole the breath straight from Alba’s lungs. “You see! This is exactly what I need. Normal bloody people.”
“Oh, I’m afraid I’m going to disappoint you if you see me as your normal friend.” Alba snorted. “I’ve been known to have conversations with my ironing pile before today.”
Ellie swallowed her food, but to be honest, she was barely tasting any of it now.
Her focus had drifted again, inevitably, to the woman sitting across from her.
The light in the living room caught in Alba’s dark hair, illuminating the warmth in her features and the ease with which she seemed to occupy the space.
It was becoming increasingly difficult for Ellie to stop looking at her.
She’d come home from work that afternoon feeling something she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Anticipation. The kind that sat beneath her skin and made the hours of the day pass a little faster.
She’d caught herself checking the clock twice before leaving the office, already thinking about the evening ahead. Another night in with Alba.