Behind me, my mother’s voice rang out.
‘HENRY? IS THAT A WOMAN? WHAT’S HAPPENING?’
Amanda jolted like she’d been tasered, wrapping her hands around herself before tucking into my ensuite.
I lunged for the phone and tripped on the corner of the duvet, which sent me sprawling over the desk chair.
Amanda poked her head out of the bathroom as I went arse-over-tit.
Mum shouted, ‘Henry!’
Dad asked, ‘Is he dead?’
The dog barked with wild excitement, and my sister laughed her arse off. I reached up and grabbed the phone, hitting the red symbol.
Silence.
Mortifying silence.
Amanda emerged from the bathroom, her face nearly as red as the ribbons she wore. Her eyes were saucer-wide.
‘Henry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to hang out in the corridor in case anyone saw me. I shouldn’t have let myself in. This was a stupid idea.’
‘No. Don’t say that.’ It took a moment for me to pull myself back to my feet, double-checking the call had ended before shoving it in a drawer.
‘I don’t know what came over me. I look ridiculous. God, your family saw me like this.’
‘They didn’t see anything, I’m pretty sure they were facing the bed. They will have just heard your voice. And seen my panic.’
‘I just thought I would try being fun, for a change. Do something a bit silly to thank you for being so sweet. Well, and not so sweet too.’
I made my way to her, gathering her up against me and running my fingers over the silk of the ribbons. ‘And I adore it. You look amazing, and I’m very much hoping you might still let me unwrap my gift?’
‘You’re sure I don’t look silly?’
‘Amanda.’ I tilted her chin and brushed my lips over hers. ‘You’re not silly. You’re the most beautiful thing I have ever seen walk through a doorway.’
‘High competition too when you spend every day with a donkey.’
Her joke made me laugh, and reassured me she would be okay. Then her mouth parted, those eyes flicking up to mine.
‘So you like it?’ she asked.
‘I nearly died from delight.’
‘Come here,’ I said, sliding my hands around her waist and guiding her toward the bed, stopping just short as she wrapped her arms around my neck, her throat bobbing when I traced the edge of one ribbon with my fingertips.
‘Let me look at you, baby.’
Stepping away from me, she gave a slow twirl, those ruby ribbons bobbing with each movement.
God damn.
‘You did all this for me?’ I don’t know which god I’d pleased, but whoever it was, I offered them a thank-you.
A nod. ‘To please you.’
To please me. Fuck, that sent shivers down my spine.
