Then I stopped. My feet refused to go any further.
Seph was there, wearing just swim shorts, a glass of what was probably Tom Collins in his hand. And next to him was a beautiful woman with a body only usually seen on models.
“Seph!” Rose sprinted towards him.
He stood up and grabbed her, picking her up and spinning her round. When he stilled, his eyes landed on me and his face lit up, but I was still standing there, looking from him to the woman, my mouth open and tears about to fall.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Seph
At first, I didn't know if I was seeing things. I hadn't heard anything from Georgia since I'd sent those three pictures, other than an emoticon heart to show that she'd receive them. I didn't know if it scared her; I hoped not at the time. Now, I kind of had my answer.
She stood there, her oversized handbag on the ground next to her, having dropped out of her hand, mouth slightly parted. She was wearing shorts and a strappy vest top, her red hair twisted up on top of her head in a messy knot, and she looked sun kissed and healthy.
The only thing the matter with the picture was the expression on her face. Her eyes were glassy and she looked more than slightly shocked, as if she was about to turn tail and run.
“I told Mummy that you thought she was a princess.” Rose’s fingers went straight to my chin where there was a little bit more stubble than usual. She was completely oblivious to what her mother was feeling. I wasn't, but I wasn't sure why either.
“Did you now?” I wanted to give her more attention, but my feet were walking straight towards Georgia, as if she was pulling me there, because I needed to right that look on her face.
I didn't for one minute think she travelled ninety minutes on a baking hot day to finish things with me. Common sense told me it was the opposite, but if that was the case why did she look like she was about to cry?
“You’re here.” I put Rose down as soon as I was within four feet of Georgia. She wrapped herself around my leg momentarily, until Victoria called her over to go and see baby Lucy.
“I got your photos. I wanted to see you in person, and I guess I wanted to be here.” Georgia’s eyes flicked from me to Lainey, who’d just got in here this morning with her new boyfriend. “I didn't know that you had someone else with you.”
Shit. In the six months that we’d been seeing each other, Georgia hadn't met Lainey. My cousin had been starting up her own business in Severton, a riding school and horse training centre that also specialized in equine therapy. I'd only seen her once in all that time, when I headed down there for a weekend.
It was obvious now that Georgia had walked here, seen me talking to Lainey, and assumed that somehow, I was with someone else.
“You haven't met Lainey, have you?” I pointed to my cousin. “She's the cousin with the horses.” I kept my voice a little bit lower so Rose didn't hear the word horses, knowing that would be the only topic of conversation we would have for the next hour.
“Cousin?”
I stepped closer to her, put my hands first on her shoulders and knew I was gazing at her in a way that would have my sisters swooning and my brothers ready to brand me with their “pussy-whipped” stamp. The exact same one that all of them wore.
“Yes, Lainey’s my cousin. I think even if it had been three years since I last saw you, I wouldn't have even considered trying to replace you yet. In fact, you're pretty much irreplaceable.” My hands dropped lower down to her arms and then onto her waist. I felt her start to relax, her breathing seemed calmer.
I was aware that everyone was pretty much around us, including her daughter, and it was the only thing that stopped me from possessing her mouth with mine and claim it back, because I wasn't quite sure whether she was ready for such public displays of affection. So instead, I put my forehead next to hers and gave her a moment to decide what to do.
Georgia’s hands looped around my waist, her soft fingers pressing into my slightly damp skin.
“I want to kiss you,” I murmured the words so no one else could possibly overhear. “But everyone’s watching.”
“I don't mind.”
It was all I needed. It felt like too long since I'd last tasted her mouth like this, without having to hold back, think about keeping things slow. A cheer went up, led by Shay, of course, and I heard Vanessa telling everyone just to get on with their day and leave us to it.
“I'm sorry,” she said. We had finally broken the kiss before it could become anything too inappropriate. Her pupils were dilated and there was a flush to her skin that wasn't caused by the sun. “I should have explained better what I meant.”
“Maybe. And we'll talk about it later, but should we get your stuff inside now. You have brought stuff, haven't you? You are staying?” For a moment I was worried that she had just made the trip down here for a single conversation.
Georgia laughed, that quiet gentle laugh I knew she'd reserved just for me. “If it's still okay, we’ll stay. That's if it's alright with Ava and there's room.”
“There's space in my bedroom. There'salwaysspace in my bedroom.”
Her laugh was louder this time, then she took a slight step back from me. “In which case, is there a small room nearby for Rose?”
