He smiles and blushes. “Hi, Stella.”
“Better.” She gestures at the two of us. “Was it my imagination, or were you two kissing?”
It’s my turn to blush. “We were.”
“Well, it’s about time.”
“What is?” Hallie, Fitz’s mum, says as she walks into the room.
“These two finally getting together.”
Hallie raises her eyebrows. “Togethertogether?”
“Yes,” Fitz says, holding my hand.
Hallie puts her hand over her heart. “Just when I’d almost given up hope for you two.”
She strides over to us and pinches my cheek and Fitz’s. She’s Amazonian in stature—tall, broad-shouldered, and very domineering. I honestly don’t know how Fitz ended up so short. The pinch hurts, but I make myself smile through it.
“I’m so pleased for you.” She lets go and pats our cheeks. “When are you getting married?”
“Mum!” Fitz objects.
“I asked the same question,” Stephen says, joining us.
“We’re not…” Fitz covers his face with his hand.
“We haven’t been together long,” I say.
Everyone—except Fitz—stares at me like I just said the stupidest thing possible.
“What are you talking about?” Mum asks. “You’ve been a couple for…” She waves her hand. “Atleastten years.”
“Longer,” Hallie says. “I’d say since they were fifteen.”
“Half your lives,” Mum says. “It’s about time you got married.”
“We—we haven’t been together for fifteen years,” I say. “We’ve beenfriendslonger, but—”
“You have. You were just too comfortable to notice.”
“Comfortable?”
Mum nods. “You heard what I said, Adrian. You don’t have cotton wool in your ears. And you know what I mean too. What made you both wake up?”
“Vanessa,” Fitz and I say in unison.
“Sophie was about to stage an intervention, though,” Stephen says.
“Well, I’m glad,” Mum says. “I always knew you’d figure things out, but you probably did need a little push.”
“More like a shove.” Stephen sniggers.
“Who’s shoving who?” Vanessa asks as she joins us.
“You’re shoving us, apparently,” I say.
“Oh! Everyone knows, then?” She smiles triumphantly. “I’m going to be their bridesmaid.”
