Page 41 of The Forbidden Fling

“So much has happened since then, Molly. We can’t just jump back into things. As much as I appreciate your apology, it doesn’t change what happened.”

“Right. Yeah, of course.” Molly tucked her hands into her lap.

“Maybe we could try being friends, though?”

“Wow.” She scoffed. “Friends?”

“Why not?”

Molly huffed again. “And what, have little tea parties where we tell each other the latest gossip and braid each other’s hair?” Then a small smile crept onto her face, and she glanced at Faye.

Faye shrugged, feeling a grin on her lips as well. “Sounds good to me. If we throw some cupcakes in there.”

“Vanilla ones?”

“Oh, I don’t know, vanilla is quite, you know, vanilla.”

Molly really smiled then, revealing the cute gap between her teeth. “Then I take back what I said before. It must be the island doing crazy things to me.”

“Maybe it’s Princesa Inês Teresa writing you some poetry.” Faye imagined the princess at the window of the belltower, calling out to them below. She grinned, remembering Diana reciting Shakespeare, and how she’d glided around the ruins like she owned every stone. She had the same presence in the bedroom. Another flash of heat jolted through her, and she crossed her legs.

Molly scrunched her face like she’d just bit into a lemon. “Princess who?”

“From the…oh, never mind.” Faye bumped her shoulder with hers. “Really, though. How are things now?”

“I’m here, so about as good as I imagine you are.” She laughed, flipping curls behind her shoulder. “But now I don’t have the university stress, it’s a little better. I never liked law. I only did it because I thought it’d make my mum happy.”

The mention of her mum caught Faye’s attention. Molly had never spoken about her much, and Faye had only met her dad, Jason, the once, and he’d left a lot to be desired. He didn’t even look up from the TV to greet her because a football match was on.

“Have you seen your mum recently?” Faye asked. “I remember you didn’t speak with her a lot.”

Molly sighed. “She’s trying. That’s why we’re here. To work on our relationship and ‘give my life direction’.” She punctuated the words with her fingers and a roll of her eyes.

She’s here? Have I seen her already?

“Speak of the devil,” Molly muttered, casting a sideways glance as someone stepped into the courtyard.

Faye looked up, locking eyes with Diana. She had her hands tucked into the pockets of a mint-green playsuit, the hint of a smile playing on her lips.

What…?

Faye glanced around the stone paving, the fountain, the steps, hoping to see someone else—anyone else—but when she came up empty, her gut twisted.

Diana’s gaze passed between them, curious, before she decided to approach, that flirty swish in her step.

No. This isn’t happening. Nausea tumbled in Faye’s gut, dipping and diving and threatening to erupt. It can’t be her. All the colour drained from her face when Diana stood in front of them. If Faye weren’t already seated, she would’ve passed out.

“Hey, Mum,” Molly said, casually. “Wanna walk there together?”

Chapter Thirteen

Diana

Something was off. Diana knew as soon as she saw them sitting together. But what exactly was off, she couldn’t put her finger on.

Faye wouldn’t look at her. The usual rosy shade tinting her cheeks and chest was now a sickly white. She turned to Molly, searching for any clues in her expression, but she was the opposite. Relaxed. Comfortable. Oddly so.

What is going on?