“So... you and Sean. What’s going on there?” Her eyes twinkle with amusement and I know full well she’s heard about him dropping me off at the lodge.
I shrug, trying not to smile.
I fail spectacularly and she grins.
“Oh, that good, huh?”
“We’re just casual. You know...” I rub the back of my neck, avoiding her eyes.
“But you’re fucking?”
“Shh.” I glance at the door to make sure Joe isn’t anywhere in sight. “Jesus, Hails.”
She rolls her eyes. “He’s in his room with the door shut. Calm down.” Her eyes narrow. “And you didn’t answer my question.”
“Once.” I hold up a finger. “We’ve fuckedonce.”
Her eyebrows shoot up and I realise she was only fishing before.
Arse.
“Wow, Marlow.” She lets out a low whistle. “You don’t waste any time, do you?”
I wince, can’t help it. “You think it’s a mistake?”
“Was it good?”
My smile returns in an instant. “Yeah,” I murmur, flushing at the memory. “So fucking good.”
Her soft laughter is accompanied by a nudge. “Then no, Vic. I don’t think it was a mistake.”
We’re silent for a moment.
Hailey absently rubs her belly as I stare off into space, trying not to overthink what me and Sean are doing.
She nudges me again and says softly, “You never got over him, did you?”
My head snaps round. “Hailey, I never?—”
“That’s not what I mean.” Her smile is warm, if a little wry. “We gave it our best shot, Vic, I know that. But you and I were never meant to be.” She shakes her head a little. “I meant that you and Sean never got to find out whatyoucould be together.”
“No, I guess we didn’t.”
I know what she’s going to say before her mouth opens because I’d had the exact same thought.
“Maybe now you can.”
I suck in a breath. “We’re just casual. Feeling our way, I guess.” I don’t want to think further ahead than the next few days. Call me overly cautious, but I don’t want to jinx anything.
“Okay.” She pats my arm. “I’ll keep my nose out of your business. But for what it’s worth, I always thought you’d make a lovely couple.” She disappears out the kitchen door before I can reply, already shouting up the stairs for Joe to get ready.
I lean against the kitchen counter and stare up at the ceiling. Try as I might to not get ahead of myself, I can’t help but imagine having Sean in my life for longer than the festive season.
Not gonna lie, it’s a nice thought.
But I have no idea whether it’s a possibility or not, for either of us.
Casual, I remind myself.
