Crystal by Katie Price Page B

replied, but Rosie was having none of it.
    ‘I’ll make you a hot chocolate and brandy; that should knock you out. You need to sleep!’
    Ten minutes later Crystal was lying in bed convinced that she wouldn’t sleep a wink. She picked up her mobile, hoping for a text from Max, knowing that there wouldn’t be one. There was nothing. She finished her drink, switched off the light, and lay back. The next thing she knew it was morning.

Chapter 6
Tahlia’s Secret
    CRYSTAL PULLED AN old dressing gown of Tahlia’s on and, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, wandered into the kitchen where the others were having breakfast and Tahlia was listening to Leticia read. Rosie jumped up out of her seat to pour Crystal a cup of tea and insisted on making her a bowl of porridge.
    Crystal pulled a face; she almost never had breakfast. But once Rosie had set her mind to doing something it was almost impossible to stop her, so she gave in. To her surprise when the bowl was placed in front of her, she realised she was starving and she ate the lot.
    Rosie looked at her with satisfaction. ‘That’s better; you’ve got a bit of colour in your cheeks now, honey.’
    ‘I’m taking Leticia ice-skating if you fancy coming, Crystal,’ Tahlia said.
    ‘Sure,’ Crystal answered, not wild about the idea of falling over all day, but wanting to spend a day on her own brooding about Max even less. ‘I’ll just have a quick shower.’
    She had a better day with Tahlia and Leticia than she’d had in a long time. It was great because she was enjoying herself and the enjoyment was guilt-free. They had such a laugh ice-skating and it was lovely being with Leticia who was so innocently excited and enthusiastic about everything they did. After they had all careered round the ice for a couple of hours they were ready for a drink. Crystal could have done with a vodka but knew Tahlia wouldn’t take her sisteranywhere near a pub so they ended up in a café drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows.
    ‘I wonder what Belle’s doing?’ Tahlia asked. Crystal pretended to be helping Leticia scoop out her marshmallows to avoid looking at her.
    ‘Probably having lunch somewhere flash, you know what Max is like.’
    Tahlia didn’t sound impressed. ‘Um, what do you think of him, Crystal?’
    Bloody hell
, she thought. Max was the last person she wanted to talk about.
    ‘I like him. Why? Do you think there’s a problem?’
It would be good if Tahlia thought there was something wrong with Belle and Max’s relationship. It would let her off the hook a little bit, wouldn’t it?
    ‘I’m not sure. I just sometimes think he’s a bit too smooth, a bit too much of a charmer. And once or twice . . .’ Tahlia hesitated, looking embarrassed.
    ‘Go on,’ Crystal urged her. ‘What is it?’
    ‘I don’t want you to think I’m being big-headed or anything’ – Crystal couldn’t help smiling. Tahlia wasn’t the slightest bit big-headed – ‘But I’ve sometimes felt as though Max is coming on to me.’
    Crystal’s smile vanished. This was not so funny.
    ‘I know you think I’m being stupid, but it definitely felt like that.’
    ‘I don’t think you’re being stupid. I’m just surprised, that’s all.’
    ‘Oh, you mean he’s never done that with you?’
    Crystal shook her head, but she still couldn’t look at Tahlia.
    ‘Maybe I did imagine it then,’ Tahlia said, looking puzzled. ‘I was sure it would have happened to you as well.’
    ‘Oh, you know Max, he is such a charmer. What with working in the club and everything, he probably doesn’t realise he’s doing it,’ Crystal said breezily, desperate to change the subject, and fast.
    ‘Hey, Leticia, do you want some of my marshmallows?’ The little girl nodded and Crystal handed them to her.
    ‘Don’t say anything to Belle, will you?’ Tahlia whispered.
    ‘Of course not! And just forget about it, Tahlia.’
    Later, as they caught the bus back to Tahlia’s, Crystal found herself