Ella extended the phone. “He called me, remember?”
The pinch in Daffy’s belly sharpened. “What can I say? What canhesay?” She heard the words in his bass voice.“Then you should probably go.”
“I’ll call him tomorrow.” She tossed the phone back to Ella.
“Fine. Then I’ll call him.”
“Ella, no, don’t.” Daffy launched from the bed and tackled her sister to the floor with a thud. “Give me that phone.”
Ella waved her hand up, down, back, forth, until Daffy caught her arm and yanked the phone away. “This is my life, my relationship. Let me handle this my way.”
Sitting up, Ella brushed her hair out of her face. “You never go to the gym. How are you so strong?”
“How do you know I never go to the gym?”
“Do you?”
“No.”
Ella jumped up, tugging her pajama bottoms into place. “I’m not letting you give up on him.”
“It’s not your choice. Or mine. He won’t choose me over his family.” Daffy crawled back to her pillow. “You should’ve seen Prince John’s face, Ella. Like someone smacked him with a cricket bat.”
“But, Daffy,” Ella said, sliding onto the bed next to her sister. “You love Gus and he loves you.”
“Oh, Ella, what am I going to do?” She pressed her hands to her face. “I love him so much it hurts.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Gus
Maybe it was stupid. Even a bit over the top, but he returned to Daffy’s flat one more time after Pub Clemency. He knocked softly. No need to disturb finance guy and lawyer girl across the hall.
Taking out his phone, he scrolled past the missed calls and messages from his new and even more frustrated protection officer, Ollie, and rang Daffy again.
He made a face, lowering the device as he heard a chime from beyond the door. Perfect. She was either inside, refusing to answer, or she’d left her phone behind.
Gus slipped down the wall to take a seat on the floor. Head back, eyes closed, he’d wait. She had to come home sooner or later. Or go out.
The hard floor reminded him he had a lovely apartment a few miles away at Perrigwynn, but he’d remain camped, not willing to miss her coming or going.
For the first time in his life, he wished he had social media accounts. He had a secret Instagram for posting pictures he took of the beach. And Adler. He followed a few uni friends, but no one knew he was the man behind the @name.
If he were active on other accounts, he might know where she went. He’d discover her friend circle. He could stalk her.
Ella.Of course. When he popped by Daffy’s folks’ place, they said she and Ella had recently departed. Maybe they were together.
He searched his recent calls only to remember he’d called Ella from his Hadsby office. How could he be so last century?
All right, back to Plan A. Shifting his position, he made a bed of the wall and floor. He’d slept on worse during his stint in the Army. And Daffy was more than worth a hard night’s sleep.
Because when she finally came home or stepped out her door, he’d be here, waiting, heart in his hand.
* * *
Daffy
After breakfast, Daffy and Ella spent a bob or two at the paint store, loaded down Ella’s tiny sports car, and headed to Daff’s place.
