Coco Pinchard, the Consequences of Love and Sex: A Funny, Feel-Good, Romantic Comedy Read Online Free PDF Page A

chance?’ she asked pointedly. I was dying to tell Marika everything. But for the first time ever I felt I couldn’t. I’ve known her for twenty years; she’s been a confidante for nineteen of them. Back when I was married to Daniel, things were always a bit ropey between us, so very little was sacred. With Adam, this was different. It wasn’t only my secret to tell.  
    ‘Just, stuff,’ I said feeling super guilty. Marika regarded me for a minute then, noticing that the guys and Rocco were far across the field, pulled a lighter, a pack of slim cigarettes and a yellow washing-up glove from the pocket of her jacket. She pulled on the glove, lit two cigarettes, and put one in my mouth.
    ‘That’s better,’ she said exhaling. ‘I hate running.’
    ‘Why did you tell Milan you love it?’
    ‘Are you going to smoke that?’ she snapped. I put the cigarette to my lips and inhaled. The foul smoke surged into me, and I pictured the baby inside also inhaling. I exhaled feeling ten shades of guilt and bit my lip to stop myself from crying. Milan and Adam were now charging round the park competitively.
    ‘Why the hell do they bother?’ asked Marika. ‘Look at them… tearing around like prats. They want to beat each other. They want to win.’
    ‘That’s blokes for you.’
    ‘But it’s ridiculous,’ said Marika. ‘We don’t want to race each other.’
    ‘No, we don’t.’
    ‘We can deal with our emotions on a sensible level. We can be honest about our feelings.’
    There was an awkward pause.
    ‘Is it going well with Milan?’ I asked.
    ‘Yes. Amazing. Although he thinks I love running, and watching ‘Top Gear’and ‘Match of the Day’ , andI told him I’ve only slept with a couple of guys… He doesn’t know I smoke. ’
    ‘Hence the rubber glove,’ I said. ‘Do you have to pretend you like washing up too?’
    ‘He happens to have a dishwasher in his big house, which he owns.’
    ‘He’s a man of means.’
    ‘Yes. And more importantly he’s a lovely, funny, sexy guy. He’s given me a whole drawer, half the wardrobe, and a shelf in the bathroom cabinet. Oh Cokes, I’m going to blow it.’  
    ‘Maybe it doesn’t matter. Just tell him.’
    ‘Come on Coco. Wouldn’t it be lovely if it were that simple? No, I’ve lied and I’m going to have to live with it.’
    ‘So you’re going to keep running and wearing one oversized rubber glove?’
    Marika flicked the ash off her cigarette gloomily.
    ‘Why do they offer so many degrees in women’s studies at university?’ she said. ‘Women I get. I know the rules. It’s men’s studies they should offer.’
    ‘I’d pay those tuition fees,’ I said.  
    ‘Coco are you sure you’re okay?’ I went to say something but the guys suddenly turned and came thundering towards us. Marika dropped her cigarette, whipped off her glove and wrestled an extra strong mint out of a tube in her pocket.
    ‘Do I smell of fags?’ she said sucking madly on the mint. I shook my head.
    Milan and Adam slowed and came to a stop in front of us, out of breath and covered in sweat. Rocco ran up too and barked happily
    ‘Adam narrowly beat me,’ grinned Milan. ‘How’s your disystolic heart rate mate?’  
    ‘I dunno,’ said Adam.  
    ‘I can tell you. I’ve got a blood pressure monitor here,’ said Milan pulling a little box out of his jacket. He and Adam spent the next ten minutes bonding over their blood pressure, then the blood pressure monitor. Milan invited us for dinner at his place next week and Adam instantly said yes.  
    ‘Cool, we’ll look forward to it,’ said Milan. ‘Shall we go Marika, we’ve still got seven miles to go.’  
    ‘Call me, Cokes,’ said Marika, still not convinced I was okay. I promised I would and they ran off towards the Sports Hub.

    ‘Milan is a vast improvement on the last few,’ I said when we were walking back with Rocco.
    ‘He is really cool,’ said Adam. ‘He runs his own boat-building business and