“You okay?” A more than familiar voice came from the darkness.
I turned around. “Why are you outside? It’s not warm?”
Payton shrugged. ‘I saw you rush out and I wanted to check you were alright.”
“For fuck’s sake. I’m fed up of people thinking I’m not okay. I’m fine.”
“You know it’s in the Guide to Women that when someone says ‘I’m fine’ they’re really not?” She moved to lean her back against the wall and stared at my glasses, the shards of broken glass glinting.
“I’ve fucked up.”
“You won’t be the first of us to fuck up. Why?”
“Because I’ve made a stupid decision.”
“Is this to do with Georgia?”
I groaned. “Does everyone know?”
“What’s there to know? I’m just going off that you were talking one minute then you looked like someone stole your puppy and you stropped off like a teenage girl who’d been told she couldn’t wear lipstick.”
“That bad?”
“Not really, but getting there. You like her. Do something about it.”
Things were so simple in the world of Payton.
“I’ve fucked it up.” I briefly ran through all the ways I’d been a cock.
“You’ve not done yourself any favours, but my guess is that she likes you and she isn’t after Mr Perfect because she’s already learned he doesn’t exist. Be friends with her, or friends with a side of something steamy.”
I stared at my sister. “Are you still reading those books?”
“Of course.”
She had a thing for romance novels.
“But Seph, don’t pursue her if she’s just going to fill a need for you to be with someone. Only do it because ofher.”
I stilled and leaned my head against the wall. “I know. I know I hate being on my own; I like noise and family, but if I just wanted to be with someone, she wouldn’t be the easiest choice, you know.”
“I know. And I trust you.”
“To do what?”
“To know what’s right for you.”
“And her.”
She shook her head. “Only Georgia can decide what’s right for her. Get back inside. Go congratulate Eli. He’s getting a round in.”
Which was something that only happened once every blue moon. I wasn’t missing that.
Chapter Fourteen
Georgia
“Mummy, Seph’s at the door.”
