Page 43 of Brighter Together

Warm.

Close.

Dangerously distracting.

I lean back slightly.

His fingertips brush my shoulder properly this time.

He doesn’t move them away.

Neither do I.

A little while later, conversation splits into smaller groups.

Alex and Phil are arguing about football.

Olivia and Suzie are discussing something involving baby clothes.

Rob is listening to Nick tell a story with the expression of a man who already knows it ends badly.

I sit back and take it all in.

“You’ve gone quiet.”

Tommy’s voice is close to my ear.

I turn towards him.

His face is much nearer than I expected.

“I was just watching all of you.”

“Should I be worried?”

“Probably.”

His mouth curves.

I look around the table again.

“I was thinking how lucky you are.”

His expression changes.

“To have this,” I explain. “All of them.”

He glances towards his friends.

“They’re a pain in the arse. But yeah,” he says quietly. “I got lucky.”

I smile. “It feels more like a family than a group of friends.”

“That’s what they are.” There’s something warm in his voice now.

No sarcasm.

No teasing.