Page 49 of The Forbidden Fling

After Faye had explained what had happened, from that first night meeting Diana at the bar, and how Molly had approached her wanting to get back together, Quin sucked in a breath. “That’s quite the soap opera. No wonder you’re stressed.”

“Yup.”

“And do you know what you want to do?”

“Yeah.” Her eye landed on Diana again. That had never been in doubt. “I just need time to talk to Diana about it.”

“I’m sure I can help with that. I’ll be your wing-pal. The gender-nonconforming Robin to your Batman.”

The path curved into an incline, winding around a rising cliffside, and Molly grumbled something from the front.

“It’s not much further now,” Ella said. “I promise it’s worth it.”

Molly huffed, her face brightening when she spotted Faye at the back of the group.

Please don’t come over. Please don’t come over.

But Faye’s familiar must’ve been sleeping at their desk.

Molly stopped, waiting for Faye and Quin to catch up. Diana turned around too, but when she caught eyes with Faye, she turned back to the front.

I hope she doesn’t get the wrong idea, Faye thought.

“I feel like we’ve been walking for days,” Molly whined, flicking her hair over her shoulder.

Faye shrugged. “I enjoy it.”

Which was a chronic understatement. Faye loved the outdoors, the fresh air, the feeling of blood pumping around her body. All she needed was a bat detector and a clipboard, and she’d be in her element. She’d missed being outside so much.

Molly cast her a glance. “Don’t you think it’d be better to just use those buggy things and save us all some time? I could be back sunbathing by now.”

“You can’t rush it. It’s all part of the experience.”

“I don’t get it.” She brushed her arm against Faye’s. “You know, we could’ve buddied up for this. Got to catch up properly.”

Faye shot a look at Quin that said, “Help me”.

Quin cleared their throat. “Anyway, we were just talking about cheese.”

“Cheese?” Molly didn’t hide the repulsion on her face.

Is this their idea of being a wing-pal?

“I like fun cheeses,” Quin continued, undeterred. “Babybels, Cheesestrings, those cute little triangles of cheese, you know? But Faye prefers aged cheese, like a good Cheddar or Gouda. Ain’t that right?” They shot her a grin.

I’m going to kill them.

Before Faye had a chance to consider pushing Quin back down the hill, the sound of rushing water filled her ears.

“You hear that?” she asked, picking up her pace. “We must be nearly there.”

She passed Henrietta and Marvin, hoping they hadn’t overheard any of their conversation, and caught up with Ella and Riley as they crested the top. Just below, water flowed between the rocks, cascading down into a deep blue lagoon. The pool split into two sides. A larger, deeper one for swimming, and a shallower stretch sheltered by large boulders. Plants sprouted from every surface, growing up the cliffside and colouring the whole area in a vivid green.

She watched Diana take in the scene. Did she see natural beauty like Faye did? Or a time-wasting excursion like Molly?

Though they were only a few feet away from each other, it felt like miles. She wanted to close the distance between them, to kiss her like she had in her bedroom, to help her understand there was nothing going on between her and Molly, and really, there never had been.

Faye knew that this was all temporary, but she couldn’t bear to waste another second of it. Not when that person was Diana.