Miss Spelled Read Online Free PDF Page A

blood stops moving and my throat swells so much it’s impossible to breathe.
    ‘And then you can try to tempt him under a bus,’ he laughs.
    I may have to throw myself under one before then.
    * * *
    Later in the afternoon, Aiden has a shower and although he does his best to tempt me in there with him, I decline because I desperately need to ring Mel and tell her about Hunter Wincott.
    ‘I’m just going to get something from my car. Be back soon,’ I yell out, heading out the door and into the elevator, ringing Mel’s number on the way. I get out on the pool level and wander around the perfectly maintained gardens while we talk.
    ‘Hey, engaged woman. I thought you’d be too busy celebrating to ring me again,’ she answers.
    ‘It’s an emergency, Mel. I need your help.’
    ‘Is your Mum taking over already?’
    ‘Mum’s over the moon, she’s going into hyper-drive. Even Dad’s excited, probably because they love Aiden more than me.’
    ‘Has he told his parents yet?’
    ‘No, not yet. We’re going over there for dinner tonight, so…’
    ‘What’s your mantra?’ Mel coaxes.
    ‘I am more than good enough.’
    ‘Yes, you are. It’ll be okay, they’ll come around.’
    ‘It doesn’t matter what they think anyway. I’m marrying their only son, not them.’
    The reality of the situation is brought into daylight and the heaviness hits me. The burden of living in a family that will never accept me or deem me good enough, will be tough and probably take its toll on Aiden’s relationship with them. I never wanted to be the cause of family trouble and can’t help but feel guilty about it already.
    ‘What’s wrong? It sounds like your sparkle is fading.’
    ‘There’s a problem,’ I say. ‘An enormous problem.’
    ‘Already?’
    ‘Do you remember Hunter Wincott, from London? Our gap year?’
    ‘Are you insane? How could I forget that rat bastard? He cheated on you three times.’
    ‘Three times that I knew about. God knows how many more.’ A violent shiver works its way up my spine. ‘Anyway, he’s back.’
    ‘Back where?’
    ‘Here, now. He’s come to do the restructure at Aiden’s work.’
    ‘Oh,’ Mel pauses. ‘So you’re worried that they will meet up and…compare notes? We’ve all got past lovers. Aiden will get over it.’
    ‘It’s worse than that. They already know each other.’ I feel pale just thinking about it.
    Another silence, then she asks, ‘Do they know they have you in common?’
    Suddenly the agapanthus to my right becomes a fascinating plant to look at. A moment’s distraction.
    ‘No, not yet. Oh God, I feel so sick, Mel.’
    I explain the relationship between Hunter and Aiden, after which Mel is silent, except for her breathing.
    ‘But it gets worse because I’ve got to attend a cocktail party with Aiden on Monday night and Hunter is going to be there. He’s going to remember me and blab his mouth off and ruin everything. Aiden isn’t going to want to marry me after he finds out I had a six-month, practically live-in relationship, with the man he despises most.’
    ‘But Aiden loves you. He’s just proposed to you. He’s not going to take that back just because of something in your past, is he?’
    ‘Do you think Harry Potter would have married Ron’s sister if she’d had a semi-serious relationship with Draco Malfoy?’
    Mel is a Harry Potter fan. Putting it in her own language will make her understand the dilemma I now face.
    ‘Well, Harry is very mature for his age—’
    ‘Mel!’
    ‘Listen, Aiden is not Harry Potter and Hunter is not Malfoy. This is a very awkward situation to be in, but I really don’t think Aiden is going to leave you just because you had a relationship with Hunter Wincott 11 years ago. You need to have more faith in Aiden.’
    Her words provide a small level of comfort but unfortunately, my brain is in such a whizz that it’s in danger of turning itself into a hamburger patty.
    ‘I just don’t know what to do. Do I tell