Love Is a Four Letter Word Read Online Free Page A

dreadful: in a couple, like in prison, in detention, in a mess – she would shun smugness. How can you be so ungenerous about other people’s happiness? she reproached herself. She lengthened her stride and resolved to be more positive. Things were fine. Time for herself so she could concentrate on her house. She could slump about all weekend in slobby clothes. Go out with lots of different men. No need to keep tidying the towels because he couldn’t grasp the concept of folding. No need tobuy that ridiculous, expensive, three-fruit marmalade just because he liked it.
    But I grew to like that marmalade too, she reminded herself. And I don’t seem to be going out with lots of men, do I? That was true, she admitted. But she could if she wanted to; it was the principle that mattered.
    Lying in bed that night, Bella thought about Viv and Nick. Strange how seamlessly Viv had gone from being Viv to being Viv and Nick, as if he had always been there. He was unmistakably a fixture, built in to Viv’s life, and Viv to his. Wouldn’t be Bella’s choice, of course. Hair had evidently been on strict rations when Nick reached the head of the queue. He had soft, malleable features that looked as if you could squish them out of position and they might stay that way, like plasticine. And his devotion to his car, a pale blue Karmann Ghia, was a bit sad, especially since it was overfond of the hard shoulder, tending to break down on any journey over twenty miles. Still, he and Viv obviously loved each other to pieces. She could certainly think of worse matches. Her own parents for a start, her father so mild, so eager to please, her mother … well, at least she wasn’t like her.
    Perhaps Viv was at that same moment thinking about Bella. Was she lying there in bed, snuggled up to Nick, saying to him: ‘Poor Bella seems to have thrown in the towel. No sex for more than a year. Probably never find anyone half as nice as Patrick again. Still, should be over him by now.’
    Bella could hear it cycling round and round in her head. Should be over him by now, should be over him by now …

3
    Beneath the two words ‘YOGHURT – IDEAS??’ on her notepad, a sketch of Bella’s new boss was taking shape nicely. The gap between her neck and her shirt collar, the glasses propped on top of her head apparently watching the ceiling. As if it were a thing apart, Bella watched the line of her pencil recreate the angle where Seline’s chin jutted forward in eagerness, a chicken heading for corn.
    â€˜Bella?’ Seline raised her eyebrows at her.
    Bella clunked her coffee mug down on top of the sketch and tried to look thoughtful, as if weighing up all the various options before giving her opinion. Could they possibly still be talking about the yoghurt campaign or had they moved on to the corporate design deal for the country-house hotel? She felt like a schoolkid, about to be told off for not paying attention. Bella Kreuzer! Are you daydreaming again?
    â€˜Erm …’ she volunteered, trying to peer sideways at Anthony’s pad to read the note he was scribbling for her.
    â€˜Lifestyle Yoghurt?’ Seline prompted. ‘Any more thoughts on the redesign? The focus groups research suggests it looks too healthy. The client wants a new look.’
    â€˜Yes, I’ve been thinking.’ Bella nodded wisely, every inch the creative director, keen to consider yoghurt-carton design very seriously indeed. ‘I certainly think we could strengthen the idea that these yoghurts are fun and sensual, too. The customer – consumer – wants to feel that she can be healthy yet self-indulgent and just a bit sinful at the same time. I’ll do some roughs tomorrow, with a sexier typeface.’
    â€˜Great!’ Seline clicked her pen against her teeth, pleased. ‘Anyone else?’
    The inside of Bella’s lower lip was sore where she had been biting it. She had only been in