"So, how long have you two been courting?" Lily asks with a bright smile.
My voice gets lodged in my throat, and my eyes fly to Olly, who laughs and shakes his head. "Mum, behave," he says, but doesn't correct her.
I cross my arms, wanting to be anywhere but here. Joshua slings his arm over Lily's shoulder. "Yes, wife, behave." She swats his chest as they turn and walk out the back door.
"She's winding you up," Olly says with a smile. I cover my face with my hand and let out a breath. "Come on. I'm not that bad," he whispers and pulls my hand away, linking our fingers before leading me the way his parents just headed.
I take in their back garden. It's beautiful, almost in three tiers, with a summer house right at the very end. Guilt consumes me. I want Molly to have a garden like this. Living in a flat has been an adjustment for me, and now that she's getting older…soon, she'll notice all of the things her dad can give her that I can't. "Sorry, can I use the bathroom?" I croak.
Olly raises an eyebrow and hooks his thumb over his shoulder. "There's one just back through there and to the right."
I avoid eye contact and dart off. Inside, I lock the door and cover my face with my hands before sitting on the closed toilet lid, willing the tears away. Ever since Marcus dropped the bomb on me about Dubai, I've been a mess. I take in a few deep breaths and flush the toilet, trying to sort out my face.
When I open the door, Olly is standing opposite, arms crossed, staring at the floor. His eyes move up when I walk out. "Weird much?" I say.
He pushes off the wall and steps into my space. "You all right?" he asks.
I nod and look away—anything to avoid his probing eyes. But his finger hooks under my chin, bringing my face up to meet them anyway. "I'm fine, Oliver," I say.
"I think you're lying, Princess, but I won't push. Are you hungry?" he asks.
I can't hide my smile. I hate being called Princess, and he bloody-well knows it… But when he says it, there's nothing facetious in his meaning. "I am.”
"Good, because my parents kind of went overboard when I told them I was bringing someone over for lunch."
"Why would they do that?"
"I don't bring people home, and then when they found out you were the opposite sex, my mum practically started naming our babies." My mouth gapes open, and he laughs, his finger tapping my nose. "Don't worry. I told them I'm not good enough for you, but this is my mum we're talking about, and she kind of gets a little kooky."
"Why would you say that?" I ask.
"What? Sheiskooky," he replies with a lopsided grin.
"No, before that?" His lips pull into a straight line, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallows and shrugs. "You're a good guy, Olly," I say, reaching up, tugging on his wrist. "Come on, let’s go eat before she thinks we're back here making babies." I smirk and walk past him, heading back into the garden.
"And she's back," he says, his laugh echoing behind me as I make my way to join his parents.
I can't remember the last time I ate so much barbecue, or had so much fun, for that matter. My face and sides hurt from smiling and laughing. His parents are so down to earth. They told me about the number of children they've fostered; they have hearts of saints to see that many children through their doors.
"Next time you come, be sure to bring your gorgeous little girl," says Lily as she kisses me on the cheek goodbye.
"Mum," Olly groans, grabbing my elbow and ushering me out of the front door. "Are you trying to scare her off?" he says, kissing her on the forehead as he passes. What does he mean by scaring me off? We're just friends…
He doesn't let go of my arm until we round his car and he's opening the door, giving his mum one final wave. "Quick, get in before she changes her mind and makes you go back inside."
I begin to climb in when he leans down and grazes my ear with his soft lips, his breath warm. "Thank you for coming," he says. I peer up, caught in the violet hues of his stare, and then without forethought, I lean up and press my lips softly against his.
I pull back just as fast and fumble with the seat belt. When he gets in, I pretend to be overly interested in my phone.
Chapter Fourteen
RACHEL
Olly pulls up outside the entrance to my flat. I notice all the workman milling around, unsure what’s going on and why it seems so dark. Olly turns the engine off, peering through the windscreen, no doubt thinking the same thing.
I jog over to one of the guys in a hi-vis jacket. “Excuse me… I live in the flats here. Is everything okay?”
He shakes his head. “Power outage. Doesn’t look good—we don’t think we can get it back up until the morning. We’re doing everything we can, miss.”
