The One We Fell in Love With (32 page)

God, he’s gorgeous. My vision is right in line with his lips. I inadvertently step closer to him and I notice his eyes widen fractionally. I place my hand on his lovely slim hips, my thumb
brushing over the bare skin under his T-shirt. I feel his stomach retract as he breathes in and then his hands are cupping my face and his mouth is on mine.

I feel giddy as his tongue edges my lips apart, but I’m powerless to stop our kiss from deepening. Desire rockets through me as he pulls me closer, my chest pressing against his ribcage.
Shivers are ricocheting up and down my spine in waves and my legs feel shaky. He breaks away.

No, no, what’s he doing? That was the best kiss of my life and I don’t want it to end, but he takes my hand and pulls me off the dance floor. A moment later, we’re in the dark
against a wall, kissing again.

My head is spinning as I slip my hands around his waist. He kisses my jaw, and I gasp as he nibbles at my earlobe. I feel breathless and jittery and a little beside myself, if I’m being
honest. I’ve had too much to drink and I’m confused about what’s happening. I’m making out with a twenty-one-year-old and my head tells me that’s wrong, despite what
the rest of my body says.

It takes immense –
immense
– willpower to place my hand on his stomach and firmly push him away.

‘We can’t do this,’ I murmur, my heart constricting. ‘I’m too old for you.’

His expression softens slightly. ‘No, you’re not.’ He tries to pull me back against him, but my hand is still raised.

‘Please,’ I beg, trying so hard to be strong and adult about it. ‘I’m leaving on Sunday.’

His hands are back on my hips. ‘You’re making excuses.’

‘If I am, then I am. There has to be a reason for that.’

‘I don’t want you to go,’ he says dully, his fingers slipping underneath my top. ‘Don’t go.’ I jolt as they trace the line of my waistband.

‘I have to.’ I force myself to take a step backward. ‘I need to do this for myself. I’ve spent my life looking after other people. This is for me.’

He leans against the wall and folds his arms, broodingly. We’re now standing a foot apart, still too close, but I don’t want to move away any further.

‘I get it,’ he says. ‘I understand. But you must know that there’s something here.’ He motions to the two of us. ‘I care about you. A lot.’

‘Trust me,’ I say, trying to keep it together. ‘In ten years’ time, you’ll look back and know that I was right. You’ll get so much life experience over the
next few years. We’re in different places right now. You’re barely in your twenties and I’m heading towards my thirties. I should be settling down, not acting like a
teenager.’

‘My parents got together when they were eighteen, and they’re still together,’ he says adamantly. ‘Despite everything, they love each other. My dad works his fingers to
the bone, and it’s all for us. He would do anything for Mum and me.’

The passion in his eyes takes my breath away, but I steel myself to keep my distance.

‘I can’t do it, Toby,’ I say flatly, shaking my head. ‘It doesn’t feel right.’

He stares at me despondently. ‘If this doesn’t feel right, then I can’t imagine what ever will.’

Eliza

‘Are you sure about this?’ Angus hesitates with his key in the lock.

‘It’s a bit bloody late now,’ I snap jokily. ‘We’ve come all the way to Sale. Do you think I’m going to go and crash on Mum’s floor?’

He smiles as he opens the door, flicking on lights as he leads me inside.

Neither of us is wasted, but neither of us is sober, either, which is how we agreed it should be the next time we went to bed together. That idea seems to have flown out of the window. I really
hope Rose doesn’t come home anytime soon.

‘Did Rose tell you I came here earlier today?’ I ask.

‘Did you?’ He looks taken aback.

I remember what she said about him being angry if he discovers she’s reading Phoebe’s diary. I don’t want to land her in it. ‘I was in the area, flat hunting.’ I
look around. ‘This is a great apartment.’

‘Thanks. Do you want something to drink?’ he asks, his eyebrows pulling together.

‘Just take me to your bedroom, Angus.’

He looks amused as he nods, his fingers running slowly down the length of my arm as he comes to stand close beside me. He gazes into my eyes, and my heart is in my throat as I stare up at him.
Then his fingers close around my hand and he leads me into his room. He closes the door behind me and locks it, and then his hands are on my bum and he’s lifting me from the floor. I wrap my
legs around his waist and he presses my back against the door, his mouth finding mine.

I’m glad he’s supporting me because my entire body turns to jelly with his kisses. When he carries me to the bed, I notice it’s still unmade, but then I’m not thinking
about anything other than his lips on my bare stomach and his tongue tracing the sensitive skin around my bellybutton ring.

‘I like this top,’ he murmurs. ‘I’ve wanted to kiss you here all night.’

I shudder with longing and claw at his T-shirt. He straightens up and tugs it over his head, revealing his leanly muscled, honey-coloured chest.

He lifts my top over my head and unclasps my bra, skimming his fingers over the curves of my body. I frantically reach for the buttons on his jeans, but I’m too clumsy and he takes over
instead.

I want him on top of me. I want to feel the weight of his body pressing into mine. I want to feel consumed by him, so I pull him down, gasping as our skin collides. We kiss passionately, and a
minute later we shed the last of our clothing and he takes me completely.

Afterwards we lie in the dark, side by side, staring into each other’s eyes.

‘We were supposed to be sober,’ I remind him.

‘What are you doing tomorrow night?’ is his response, accompanied by a cheeky grin.

‘Working,’ I reply with a smile.

‘Bunk off,’ he urges.

‘I can’t. It’s our busiest night of the week.’

‘Sunday, then?’ he suggests. ‘We’ll go on a proper date.’

‘Really?’

‘Yeah.’ He kisses me gently. ‘How do you think tonight went?’

The corners of my lips tilt downwards. ‘Okay, I think.’

He props himself up on one elbow and stares at me gravely. ‘What is it?’

‘Joe introduced me to two men from Red Vox Records,’ I reply weakly.

‘And?’ he prompts.

‘The head guy left straight after meeting me so that was a bit gutting, but his second-in-command stayed and talked to me for a bit.’

I’m still trying to come to terms with what he said. The man, Sean Nottingham, reminded me of Dad, quite fatherly and nurturing, and his advice was kind, but truthful.

Angus looks concerned as he reaches over and runs his fingers along my arm, from my shoulder to my wrist.

‘It’s okay,’ I tell him. ‘I’m okay.’

Deep in my heart, I knew it already. The record industry is a tough place and labels are only taking on bright young things. No one else is getting a look in. But Sean asked me if I had
considered other roles within the music industry. He said that his boss, the head of the label who had already left, needed a new PA. They hadn’t advertised for the position yet, and he said
that they could do without the stress. It would be a junior role and I’d be an all-round dogsbody, starting at the bottom and hopefully working my way up.

‘What do you think?’ Angus asks tentatively after I fill him in.

‘I think that I love you for always believing in me.’

He leans forward and plants a tender kiss on my lips. When he pulls away, I have tears in my eyes. ‘But I also think that it might be time to try something else.’

‘You don’t have to give up on your music,’ he says seriously.

‘I know. I’d like to still do gigs, but God...’ I shake my head as the reality of what Sean is offering starts to sink in. ‘It would be pretty amazing to be able to leave
waitressing for a job in the record industry.’

He nods, impressed. ‘I’ll say.’

‘Sean said there’d be perks. I’d be able to go to gigs, and sometimes I’d get to go on album shoots and that sort of thing.’

‘It sounds right up your street.’

‘Yeah.’ I smile at him, feeling a belated bubble of excitement.

Dad always used to say that we needed to discover our passion in life and then find a way to do it. He said that we’d meet like-minded people, doing what we love. This is my chance to meet
people in the music industry, and who knows what the future might hold? Maybe one day I’ll get to write songs for the next big thing, or even sing backing vocals for another artist. I’m
not set on being the front person – I just want to get by, doing what I love.

The more I think about it, the more at peace I feel.

Angus kisses me again. ‘I’m so proud of you,’ he murmurs. ‘Your dad would be proud, too.’

‘Thank you,’ I murmur, my nose prickling.

The sound of a key in the lock makes me start.

‘It’s just Rose,’ he whispers.

‘I hope she’ll be okay about me being here in the morning,’ I whisper back, fretting as I listen to her go into her room and close the door behind her.

‘She’ll have to be.’ He kisses the tip of my nose. ‘Everyone will have to be. I don’t want to be apart from you again. From now on, we’re in this
together.’

Rose

The next morning, my headache feels like the least of my problems. I lie there for a while in bed, contemplating the events of the night before. I can’t believe I kissed
Toby. What was I thinking?

Eventually I get out of bed and go into the kitchen to fill up the kettle. I’m just downing a glass of water and a couple of headache tablets when Angus walks in.

‘Are you making filtered coffee?’ he asks, sleepily planting himself on a stool at the island unit. He’s wearing low-slung PJ bottoms and nothing else, but I’m unaffected
by the eye-candy moment.

‘Yeah, you want one?’ I ask.

‘Please,’ he says, and suddenly he looks awkward.

‘Am I making two or three?’ I ask pointedly.

‘Three, please,’ he replies sheepishly.

‘
Okaaay
then.’ The words come out sounding a bit arsey, and as I turn around to get out the cups, I hear him sigh.

‘Rosie, please don’t—’

‘It’s fine,’ I interrupt, glancing at him over my shoulder. ‘I won’t give her a hard time, I promise.’

His shoulders sag with relief. ‘Good. Thank you.’

‘Is it safe to enter?’ my sister calls from the doorway, seemingly naked except for the T-shirt of Angus’s she’s wearing.

‘Yes, there was no need for his big brother pep talk,’ I reply wryly.

She grins as she ambles over, hopping onto a stool beside Angus. They exchange intimate smiles.

It’s eerie seeing them together like this. I guess in some ways it’s good that they hooked up before I went away. It would be harder to come home to them already being a fullblown
couple.

‘So,’ Eliza says, leaving a significant pause before continuing. ‘How was it with Toby last night?’ She raises a knowing eyebrow at me and my face heats up in response.
‘Rose!’ she admonishes, a grin splitting her face.

‘What? No!’ I want to tell her that she’s got the wrong idea. In fact, how did she know to ask her meaningful question about Toby in the first place? ‘We’re just
friends!’ I insist.

‘There is nothing platonic about the way you two look at each other,’ she says. ‘Tell me what happened!’ she urges, and it’s obvious that whatever denials I issue
will be ignored. ‘Did you kiss him?’

I groan, hiding my face.

‘You did!’ Eliza exclaims. I don’t deny it.

‘Wait, you kissed Toby?’ Angus interjects with confusion.

‘Yep,’ Eliza gleefully confirms.

Angus gawps at me. ‘
Noooo!
’

‘What’s the big deal?’ Eliza brushes off his horrified reaction.

‘He’s practically a teenager!’ Angus exclaims.

‘He’s twenty-one, almost twenty-two,’ I find myself correcting him. He still looks taken aback. ‘I know, I know.’ I press my fingers to my flaming cheeks.
‘You don’t have to tell me. I made a mistake.’

Eliza shoves Angus’s arm. ‘Back in your box, big brother. This is sister territory.’

Angus looks put out as he sits back on his haunches.

‘Why was it a mistake?’ Eliza asks me. ‘He’s an adult. You’re an adult. Plus he’s sexy as hell.’

‘Oi!’ Angus butts in, outraged.

‘And he really, really likes you,’ Eliza continues, ignoring Angus. ‘Plus, the feeling is mutual. I can tell,’ she adds as I stare at her. ‘You’re stupid if
you’re going to pass up a hottie like that. He won’t stay single for long.’

I gather myself together. ‘No, he won’t. And I need to be okay with that.’ I try to project the tone of a mature adult, something I’m supposed to be. ‘I want to
settle down, get married and have kids. I want what my friends have, what you two will no doubt have in the not too distant future.’

They both shift on their seats like two peas in a pod, but neither of them denies it.

‘You’re still looking for Prince Charming,’ Eliza states, matter-of-factly.

‘Yes,’ I confirm with a decisive nod.

‘Well,’ she says, ‘just remember that he might not come in the package you’re expecting.’

Last night, the taxi journey home was unbearably tense. I didn’t want to talk about what had happened, so Toby just sat there on the other side of the car, staring humourlessly out of the
window. It was only when we arrived at my place that he met my eyes.

‘Come and say goodbye tomorrow,’ he said.

I nodded and climbed out of the car.

‘Rose,’ he called after me, so I turned around and looked back in at him. ‘I mean it,’ he said. ‘Don’t go without saying goodbye.’

‘I won’t,’ I vowed. He seemed to relax marginally.

Now I can’t believe I made such a promise.

Surely it would be better for both of us if we had a clean break? But no, I do want to stay friends, and anyway, there’s something I’ve been meaning to give him.

Toby is behind the counter with Vanessa when I walk into
Jennifer’s
. He takes one look at me and jerks his head towards the bakery, holding the door back to let me go through. Out
in the garden, I notice the windows to the café area are closed and the frosting is still in place.