I wish I could capture this moment, this blip, and keep it forever.
I cross over to her, my own heart pounding, and lift her into my arms. She wraps her legs around my waist as I take her mouth in a deep, hungry kiss.
“Atta boy,” Will says, giving me a hearty smack on the back as he walks past. I laugh into April’s mouth, and she smiles against my lips. Gently, I lower her to the ground, pulling her close as I tangle my fingers in her soft curls.
“Sweetheart,” I murmur, cradling her cheeks.
“I love you,” she blurts out.
The words scorch themselves into my brain, and my heart stops. I swear it actually stops.
I move my hands to her neck, pulling her in closer, and place a tender kiss along her jawline. “Tell me it’s true,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s true,” she says.
A tear slips over her lashes, and I gently kiss it away, tracing a path down her cheek. I kiss her forehead, then her nose, and finally, her mouth.
“I love you too. So fucking much.”
I wrap her tightly in my arms, breathing her in, feeling her heartbeat against mine. This memory is already etched into my mind, a moment I’ll replay forever. I’m so certain of this woman, of us. I feel it, deep down, right to the marrow of my bones.
Chapter 47
April
Three months later …
Basil lets out a long, mournful howl from the back seat and I turn, reaching an arm around to settle him. I poke my fingers through his carrier, scratching his chin through the bars.
“It’s alright, buddy. We’re almost there,” I reassure him. He looks up at me with those wide, adorable eyes, thumping his tail against his plastic prison.
“What’s that God-awful smell?” James asks, steering the car with one hand while covering his nose with the other.
“Oh no.” I squint, trying to peek inside Basil’s carrier. “I think he’s done a poo.”
James groans, his eyes narrowing as he glares in the rearview mirror. “I swear, that cat has a serious shitting problem.”
“He’s sensitive,” I say, defending Basil’s honour. I swivel in my seat, laughing at James as he gags, winding down his window.
“It’s freezing, James! Don’t put the window down!”
We’re currently en route to Caroline and Peter’s home in Toton for Christmas. We decided to head over on Christmas Eve so we can wake up together on Christmas morning, instead of spending most of the holiday stuck in horrendous traffic.Caroline is completely obsessed with Basil, so I can’t wait to reunite them—he stayed with her and Peter often when Lucas and I went on holiday. Speaking of Lucas, I believe he’ll be there when we arrive.
As awkward as it might be, it’s time to face things head-on and get it over with. James and I are in love, and we’re together. That won’t change, and Lucas will just have to get used to it. He made his decision, and now he has to live with the consequences.
He’s alone.
At his parents’ house.
On Christmas.
“But it stinks!” James fires back.
“We’re almost there. It’ll be over soon,” I say. After a beat of silence, we give in to the laughter. James is laughing so hard he almost steers the car off the bloody road. I pull my jumper sleeve over my hand and rest it against my nose, breathing the sweet scent of my perfume clinging to the fibres.
After a half hour of basking in shite, we arrive.
Fairy lights line the windowsills, and giant candy canes protrude from the garden beds, making the house look warm and inviting with holiday cheer. James pulls up to the kerb, and we both race to unbuckle our seat belts, eager to get out of the car. I swing my door open, taking in a deep breath of the fresh, crisp winter air.
