Page 25 of Brighter Together

Then at Christina.

Then Charlotte.

Then back at Emma.

She is already blushing.

Yeah, it was definitely Alex who couldn’t keep his lips zipped.

Possibly Nick too.

“What are you three doing here?”

Christina beams.

“Phil’s sister has Lilly, so Mum has been released into the wild for the afternoon.”

She points at herself.

“And obviously I needed company.”

Her eyes slide straight past me towards Ella.

No.

“You must be Ella,” Christina says.

Ella looks at me.

I look at Christina.

Christina looks delighted.

This is going to be a disaster.

“We’ve heard so much about you,” she adds.

Ella’s eyes snap back to mine.

Shit.

“Ella, this is Christina, Charlotte and Emma. They’re with three of the idiots I volunteer with.”

Emma raises an eyebrow.

“Partners,” I add quickly. “They’re the partners of three of the idiots I volunteer with.”

“Lovely save,” Charlotte chuckles.

Ella smiles. “It’s nice to meet you.”

All three women return a smile. But not a polite one. A knowing one.

Subtle. Very fucking subtle.

“Are you from around here?” Charlotte asks.

“Manchester originally. I moved here when I got the job at Greenview,” Ella sounds a bit unsure about the sudden interrogation.