«Youre so lucky with your bloke, Sophie,» sighed Natalie wistfully. «Picks you up from work every day in the car. Just had the flat done up. And now youve got that promotion. Honestly, makes me a bit jealousbut the good kind, you know?»
Sophie kept packing her bag. Andrew was due to pick her up in five minutes, and she hated keeping him waiting.
«Oh, come off it, Nat. Weve had our rows toonearly split up during the renovation. And that promotion? Five years of grinding for it. You werent even at the firm when I started eyeing that role. Grass isnt always greener.»
Natalie pouted like a kid. «You dont see how good youve got it, Soph. My husband? Lazy, messy, and blows his wages on rubbish! Six months Ive been nagging him to get a proper job. And dyou know what he says? Im tired of working for someone else, wanna start my own business. With what money? The cash he burns on video games? Bloody entrepreneur»
Sophie studied her friend. Theyd only known each other a year, but shed grown close to Natalieknew all the dirt about her marriage. Michael really did give her grief daily, with no signs of stopping.
«Itll work out, Nat,» Sophie said as her phone buzzed on the desk. «Oh, Andrews here. Gotta dash. See you Monday, yeah?»
Natalie nodded, watching Sophie leave with a strange, calculating look she didnt catch.
In the car, Andrew noticed Sophies frown. «Rough day?»
She shook her head. «Just Nats stuff. Michaels driving her up the wall. Dont think shell stick it much longer.»
Andrew shrugged. «Not our problem.»
Sophie shot him a look. His bluntness grated sometimes, but she let it slide. Nats drama wasnt worth an argument.
Turns out, she was right. A month later, Natalie showed up to work red-eyed. «Were getting divorced,» she blurted. «And hes kicked me out. Me! Like some stray! Where am I supposed to go?»
Sophie hugged her. «Stay with us for a bit. Sort the divorce, find a place, yeah?»
Natalie sobbed into her shoulder. «God, Soph, Id be lost without you.»
Sophie patted her back, already dreading breaking the news to Andrew.
He wasnt thrilled, but played polite over dinner while Natalie waffled between slagging off Michael and gushing over the flat. «Michael never lifted a finger in five years. But this place? Stunning. You can tell youve put your heart into it.»
Sophie glowedmost of the decor had been her vision. The praise warmed her.
Natalie turned out to be the perfect guest: quiet, tidy, and by day three, she took over cooking to spare Sophie after work.
«Making a stew tonight,» Natalie chirped from the backseat. «Got everything in. God, its lush not taking the bus anymore. Proper upgrade.»
Sophie smiled. Natalie had settled in fast but made it clear she wasnt overstayingalready flat-hunting.
Dinners became livelier. Turns out, Natalie and Andrew shared a music taste, dissecting albums for hours. Sophie watched, amused, as her introverted husband actually opened up. Nat had cracked his shell.
Or, as Sophie realised one evening, watching them snog like teenagers in the car parkmore than just his shell.
«Couldve at least picked a less public spot,» Sophie deadpanned.
They sprang apart like schoolkids caught out. Andrew stammered, «Soph, listenits not what it»
«Exploring each others fillings, were you?» Sophie cut in. «And you, Nat. I took you in, helped you through your divorce, and this is how you repay me? Some friend.»
Natalie jutted her chin. «Whats the big deal? Weve fallen in love! Andy said himself he hasnt felt like this in years!»
Andrew paled. «Nat, what the hell? Sophie, love, I»
«Save it,» Sophie snapped. «Im staying at Mums tonight. Pack your things. And take the beddingdont even want to imagine what youve been up to on it. Keys.»
Andrew mutely handed over the car keys. Sophie drove off, gripping the wheel.
Dont cry. Dont give them the satisfaction.
Natalies voice trailed after her: «Why should we be the ones to leave?!»
At her mums, Sophie drowned in tea and tears. «Why did I even help her? This is all my fault!»
Her mum rubbed her back. «Love, you couldnt have known. You were being kind.»
«And now Ive lost my husband and my friend,» Sophie hiccuped.
«Itll get better,» her mum soothed.
Sophie didnt believe it, but nodded anyway.
Next morning, dragging herself to work, she found Natalie lying in wait.
«We need to talk! Why should we move out? Youre the one who should go! Theres two of us!»
Sophie kept her voice cool. «Not discussing this at work.»
She dodged Natalie all day, but at home, there was no escaping. Andrew was packing the last of his things.
«Soph, maybe we can fix this? I swear itll never happen again»
«No, Andrew. I wont spend my life wondering if youre cheating. Is that what you want?»
He hung his head. The doorbell rangNatalie, fuming.
«Why are we leaving? This is your shared flat! Andys entitled to half!» She whirled to Andrew. «We were supposed to live here together!»
Sophie barked a laugh. «Oh, I get it now. You were jealousthe husband, the flat, the car. Thought youd nick half by stealing my man. Right, Nat?»
Natalies silence said everything.
«Small flaw in your plan. The flats in my namebought it before we married. The cars mine too, inheritance money. Andrew only drove it because I hate to. So all youve won is him. Congratulations.»
Natalie gaped. «This isnt your joint flat? You lied!»
«I called it ours because it was our home. But waitdid you even divorce Michael, or was this all a setup?»
Natalie flushed. «You flaunted your lifeof course I wanted it! What did you expect?»
Sophie laughed hoarsely. «Love, you shouldve done your homework. But too late now. Both of you, get out.»
Natalie hurled curses as Andrew dragged her away. His last glance begged forgiveness, but the ashes of their marriage were already cold.
