Page 23 of It Was Always You

‘Yeah, but I know you can’t resist my Aussie charms.’ He was right. But it wasn’t really his charms. It was his body and what he could do with it. Pure and simple. He was a player, not boyfriend material, and she knew this.

They made the short journey to the beach where the sun had begun its descent, casting a golden glow over the sand. They strolled together in silence for a while until Bodhi grasped her hand and pulled her to a stop in front of him. She turned to face him and wondered why his brow was furrowed.

She pulled her brows inward to mirror his. ‘Bodhi? Are you okay?’

‘No. I mean… there’s something I want to say. You’ll think I’m a total drongo but just hear me out, okay?’

Intrigued, she cocked her head to the side.

He inhaled deeply and his nostrils flared. ‘Okay. Look, I know I haven’t known you for that long, and I know you think I have this bad rep like I’m a womaniser or whatever and that I have some kind of… I don’t know, notching system or something on my bedpost but… well… sorry, I can’t get my words out.’ He ran his hands through his hair and looked skyward as if to compose his thoughts. ‘It’s just that… aww, shit… look, I think I have feelings for you. And I know that it’s ridiculous. We have amazing sex. And I can’t get enough of your body, but I can’t stop thinking about you either. I want to go to New Zealand with you next month. I want to spend some time with you, you know? See if this is going anywhere.’

She stared at him, open-mouthed. Her heart was hammering its way out of her chest. To say she was shocked would have been the understatement of the year.

He reached out and stroked his thumb over her cheek. ‘Lily… please say something, eh? You look like you’re catching flies.’

She bit her lip and then released it with a sigh. ‘Bodhi… I… I wasn’t expecting this… I was… I thought…’

He huffed out through puffed cheeks and rolled his head back, placing his hands on his hips. ‘Fuck. I’m a fucking idiot.’

She snapped out of her trance-like stupor. ‘Bodhi… hey, no… you’re not an idiot. Not at all.’ She grabbed his hands and pulled them down, wrapping them around her. Deep down she knew this relationship could never go anywhere. He was gorgeous. He was ridiculously talented in the kitchen as well as in the bedroom. He had the body of an Adonis and, boy, did he know what to do with it. But love? Love wasn’t something she could foresee in their future. She couldn’t imagine ever falling in love with anyone else. Adam was the only man she could ever imagine truly giving her heart to. But Adam wasn’t hers. And he wasn’t here. Bodhi was. Where would be the harm in seeing where it went? Maybe she was wrong? Maybe if she just let her guard down…

She pulled his face down towards her. ‘I was just shocked, that’s all.’

Bodhi’s face lit up with the most beautiful smile. ‘So, is that a yes? I mean, will you give us a chance?’

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment, wishing on every star in the sky that she could fall for him. ‘It’s a yes.’

He scooped her up in his arms and swung her around.

TRACK 10

‘THINKING OUT LOUD’ (ED SHEERAN)

July 2016 – Scotland

Lily arrived home from New Zealand towards the end of July. The country had been amazing and definitely somewhere she would love to spend more time. The lush green of the forests and the majestic mountains painted a backdrop in her mind that would stay with her forever.

Bodhi had stayed there, reluctantly, even though he had begged Lily to let him accompany her home for a while.

He had caressed her cheek as they lay naked in bed for what would be the last time in a while. ‘It’d be good for me to meet your friends and family, Lily. I think there’s a real future here, don’t you?’

‘Yes… yes, of course there is a future here, Bodhi. I just think maybe I need to go home alone this one time. I’m coming back to New Zealand in a month. I’m only going home to help my best friend celebrate a new job.’

‘Yeah, well, I hope she appreciates you going all that way, Lil. She’s a very lucky girl to have such an amazing friend,’ he had said as he’d nuzzled her neck. ‘I’ll miss you like crazy when you’re gone. I hate to be without you, you know that, Lily.’

‘I know.’

She had kissed him deeply, trying her best to reassure him of something she hadn’t even really decided. His assumption that her best friend was a girl showed just how much she had allowed him to get to know her. Would she return to New Zealand? Possibly not. Did she see a future with Bodhi? She really, really wished she did.

It was strange to be back at her parents’ house in Jedburgh again, but her mum was so happy to have her home.

‘El desayuno está listo, mi dulce niña!’ came her mother’s voice from the bottom of the stairs, pulling her from her memories as the aroma of fresh baking wafted through the air. What this visit home was going to do to her waistline was a serious concern.

‘Gracias, Mamá! Bajo enseguida,’ Lily replied with a fond smile. It was the day of the celebratory meal for Adam’s new job and even though jet lag was kicking her bum she was looking forward to seeing him.

Adam had booked a few tables at Glitterati, a posh new restaurant on George Street close to the city centre of Edinburgh. He was so excited he could hardly contain himself. To top it all off, Lily had flown across the world just to be there. The night was going to be fantastic. The job was such a huge deal to him, and he couldn’t wait to share the celebrations with close friends and family.

Eve’s parents had come down from Skye for a wee break and so this had been the perfect time to get together and celebrate. Tables were booked for eight that evening, and Eve was making her way there with her parents.