Page 6 of Ask Another Day

‘Not the guy for me,’ Holly confirmed, refusing to be pulled into a conversation she didn’t want to have.

‘He must have really messed up at your 21st birthday.’

Holly gently bit into her bottom lip to stop herself from rising to the bait. She had to give Rose credit for her tenacity when it came to this, even if her stomach dropped every time she was reminded of that night.

‘Nice try, Rose, but I’ve told you. We don’t talk about my 21st.’

‘But why?’ she quietly wailed, ‘Luke still won’t tell me anything.’

‘What do you mean still?’ she quizzed, mimicking the stress Rose had put on that word. And then it dawned on her. ‘Urgh, you mean he didn’t tell you in a post-sex haze? Jeez Rose, I’m all on board with your ship, but please refrain from any references… explicit or otherwise. I cannot deal with that.’

Rose had the good grace to look a little sheepish. ‘I didn’t mean post-sex per se… I meant now we’re together, I thought he might have told me.’

‘Well good. I’m glad the Loxley Sibling Code remains firmly intact.’

‘The what?’

‘The Loxley Sibling Code. 1. We keep our secrets. 2. We come when called, no questions asked, no matter what’s going on.’

‘That’s a pretty short code,’ Rose said, her eyes crinkling in delight, ‘I assumed you were going to add more to that list. Do two things even constitute a code?’ Rose screwed her face up, her scepticism visible through the set of her mouth.

‘It has served us well over the years.’ Holly shrugged, before shouting out, ‘Hey Luke?’

‘Yeah?’ he called back from the dartboard.

‘Loxley Siblings–’

‘Do not let each other down,’ he responded, with a hint of reluctance, that Holly reveled in. She knew she was embarrassing him, and she loved it. It served him right for all the embarrassment he had caused her over the years.

‘Oh God. You two are the cutest,’ Rose squealed, her eyes gleaming.

In three quick strides, Luke joined Rose, and slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him, peppering her neck with light kisses.

‘Urgh. Get a room,’ Holly groaned, her earlier delight at embarrassing him gone.

‘What’s with the Loxley call out?’ Luke asked, ignoring Holly’s brusque tone.

‘I was just explaining it to Rose here. She asked me again about my 21st.’

‘My lips are sealed.’ At her hard stare, he added, ‘I mean it, Holly. Rose caught me off guard when I mentioned it before. Won’t happen again.’

‘Make sure it doesn’t.’ She pointed a finger at him. ‘Now take my friend home, I’ve had enough sickly sweet, loving glances for one night.’ She smiled warmly at Rose though, to make sure she knew she wasn’t actually cross. She loved Rose for her brother.

‘You don’t need to tell me twice.’ He grinned at his sister before tugging Rose away towards the door.

‘Text me in the morning? We need to go shopping for swimsuits.’ At Luke’s confused face, she whispered, ‘I’ll tell you later.’

And then they were gone, and Holly was left alone at the bar, the only other customers still in the pub were Tony and Lucy who were still in a deep, hushed conversation by the window. Without Rose to chat with, Holly could now make out the excited tone of her daughter as she continued to natter away to Seb. Her heart ached.

The sound of glass hitting the floor and a ‘Shit!’ from Lucy, snapped Holly’s attention away from the kitchen. Holly looked to the ground, to see Lucy’s wine glass in pieces on the stone floor. She had jumped up, moving away from the table.

‘Leave it, Lucy. I’ll sort it,’ Holly called over.

‘I’m so sorry, Holly. I’ll pay for the damage.’ Lucy rushed the words out, her left hand shaking a little as she cradled it in her right.

‘Don’t be silly! Happens all the time.’ Holly dismissed Lucy’s offer with a wave of her hand.

‘It was my fault,’ Tony added from where he sat at the table, ‘I forget how much I move my hands when I talk.’