Page 115 of The Stranger

“I like them!”

“Thank you, Lavender,” she complains. “Thank you for spending time thinking about me and thank you for sneaking some stylish pieces of clothing into my summer wardrobe.”

I make a noise of displeasure but mutter thanks anyway. Not just because it’s the right thing to do but also because I look better in the clothes than I ever could’ve imagined.

“God, Raif was so miffed that I hadn’t bought the bikini for myself.”

“It’s defo more you than me,” I say, ignoring the tiny pang of something that’s not quite jealousy. I’m happy she’s found her champion, but I can be a tiny bit dejected that my own Prince Charming is still imaginary. Not that lust is terrible. Just terribly inconvenient.

Raif is twelve years older than her.

The thought pops into my mind, though I quickly push it away. So M. LDH is older than me too. Big deal! How much older, I don’t need to know, because our connection has been chasing happy endings, not a happily ever after.

Except, come to think of it, he hasn’t once… Wow. The pleasure really has been all mine.

Maybe that’s his kink. And maybe mine is being with an older, slightly dominant man. The forbidden aspect of it all, the windows and being watched. The heady allure of being seen. Desired. Coveted. Or maybe my kink is being shagged by a man I actively dislike.

“I might get a boob job after I’ve had the baby.”

I drag my attention back to my sister’s petulant expression. “No, you won’t.”

“I might.”

There is nothing wrong with having a boob job if that’s what you want, but if she was going to, she would’ve done so by now. “You won’t because you look amazing, and you have a husband who’d crawl over hot coals just to get a peek at your bra strap.”

She sets off giggling. “I’m so gonna tell him you said that.”

“He’ll think it’s a cunning ploy on your part. That you’re pregnant and horny and making excuses to get him into bed.”

“Maybe. But Raif also knows you’re not as sweet as you seem.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Lol,” she says without any kind of laughter at all.

I’m extremely fond of my sister’s husband, even if he was the kind of surprise none of our family could’ve anticipated. Raif is staid, serious, on the surface, I suppose. He’s also practically a father to his late sister’s daughter and more than a little scary. But when we got to see how happy he makes Lavender—a person who doesn’t come to that state of being easily—nothing else seemed to matter. One minute she was stroppy and single, and the next, she was announcing her surprise marriage to this bloke we’d never heard of.

I’m only very slightly envious.

“What was that?” Lavender’s gaze narrows as my attention snaps back to her.

“What?”

“You were all smiley-eyed, but then your expression turned down,” she demands like a terrier with a rope toy.

Same as in the kitchen, I force a yawn like my face is just malfunctioning. “Just a bit tired.”

“Too much excitement in your life?” she deadpans. “Oh, the fam asked me to ask when you’re going to join them on the boat. Given Emmy isn’t around.”

“I’m not sure,” I hedge.

“You should totally tell them to get lost and find yourself a man for a torrid summer affair.

“T-torid?” Why do I suddenly sound like Minnie Mouse?

“Y-y-yes,” she stutters back, far too entertained. She says nothing else though her head very slightly quirks to one side. “Why, Primrose, my darling sister. Are you having relations with a man right now?”

I scoff. “You know you’re not meant to drink when you’re pregnant, right?” Ignoring the fact that my face feels like its overheating, I bluster on. “Right now?” I glance down as though expecting to find Luc between my legs. “I mean, I know I’m pretty good at multitasking, but…”