Scandalous by Tilly Bagshawe

slurped Ed.
    “No. Go on.”
    Ed did, but Theo was beginning to find it hard to concentrate. The text was from Sasha, her third today. Even without the added pressure of the theory (mentally Theo had stopped referring to it as
Sasha’s
theory), strains in the affair were starting to show. In the beginning Sasha had been wonderful, adoring in the way that only very young women ever were. The sex had been incredible too. That combination of innocence, desire, and total malleability were a huge aphrodisiac, especially for an ego as rampant but fragile as Theo’s. But as time wore on, the dynamic between them inevitably shifted. Sasha might be young, but she was far from stupid. Recently she’d started to question him more and more about Theresa, the state of his marriage, and the future—
their
future. It had reached the point where Theo had been actively looking forward to the summer break. Not that he wanted to end things with Sasha. At least, not until a more attractive prospect came along.But the last thing he needed in his life was a second “marriage,” the sort of complicated, emotional relationship he had with Theresa.
    Oddly, things were better with Theresa sexually than they had been in years. Perhaps it was his affair with Sasha that had given him a new lease of life? Or perhaps agreeing to IVF had unleashed a passionate gratitude in Theresa that translated to a whole lot more fun between the sheets? Either way, Theo found himself irritated by Sasha’s endless, needy phone calls from Sussex, and actively looking forward to going home tonight and sharing today’s triumph with Ed Gilliam with his wife. Theresa’s body might not have the youthful perfection of Sasha’s, but she knew what turned him on. Sometimes it was a relief not to have to be the teacher.
    “So you can make it? Tomorrow afternoon, Berkeley Square? To meet with the lawyers? The press release?”
    With a jolt Theo realized that Ed Gilliam was still talking.
    “Oh, yes, yes. Of course.” He smiled. “I’ll write something up tonight.”
    I’ve waited so long for this. My entire career. It’s time to get this show on the road.

    A week later, Sasha was sitting on the sofa in her parents’ living room flipping through yesterday’s copy of the
Sunday Times
’s style magazine.
    Mrs. Mills answers your problems
    Dear Mrs. Mills,
    I’ve been seeing a married, older man for over a year now. He claims he loves me, but during a recent separation he’s barely returned my calls. What should I do?
    Yours,
    Desperate of Frant
    Dear Desperate,
    If he loved you he’d call you back. Or even visit. Why are you being such a moron? Why are you letting this man take over your life? If he cheats on his wife he’ll cheat on you. Once a liar, always a liar…
    As hard as she tried to shake them, the voices in Sasha’s head would not go away. Something was wrong. She’d dreaded the long summer holiday for ages, but not even in her worst nightmares had she pictured such a rapid unraveling of whatever it was that she and Theo had together. They used to
talk
at Cambridge, about everything. Life. The universe. She could live without the lovemaking. But the lack of communication was killing her.
    “Are you sure you won’t try the blue one? It’s a perfect color on you, Sash.” Her mother had tried vainly to interest her in a shopping expedition in Tunbridge Wells that afternoon. They were in Hooper’s department store, looking for a dress for Sasha’s cousin’s wedding.
A wedding. That’s all I bloody need.
    “Sure, I’ll try it. But you pick, OK, Mum? You know I’ve got no head for fashion.”
    In the changing room, she jumped for joy when she got a new text from Theo. But as soon as she read it: “Cnt tlk now. 2mr, OK?” she was plunged back into depths of despair she hadn’t known she was capable of. She’d tried everything to put him out of her mind: going riding, spending time with school friends who knew nothing about her Cambridge