‘Anita?’ The familiar arrogant tone of my brother travels over the phone.
‘Sorry for bothering you, Ollie.’ She hangs up.
Skimming my hands over the sheets I’d been examining before the interruption, I take a deep breath and exhale slowly. Without a shadow of a doubt I know Luke is up to his old tricks again. He’s always been one for a conquest. In his mind that’s probably all Anita ever was and now he’s moving on to the next one, even though he’s outwardly committed to the first. A leopard never changes his spots.
Another sliver of annoyance flickers through me, but I can’t work out who I’m annoyed with more, her for calling me, him for being a prat, or me for taking her call in the first place. Picking up the mint bed set in king size, I find matching curtains and take them to the till to pay, pushing all thoughts of anyone but Amy out of my mind because at this point in time, I’ve never been surer that she’s the only one that matters.
ChapterTwenty-Three
AMY
On my twenty-fifth birthday we’re summoned as a couple for the first time, even if it is only to fulfil our bridesmaid/groomsman duties. It’s the best gift my brother could have given me – even if it was unknowingly – dinner out with my boyfriend instead of hiding behind our front doors. Not that I mind being holed up with my number six, quite the contrary in fact, but it will be a nice change.
The wedding is barely five months away. Emma wanted a December wedding, after the Autumn Internationals, but before the Christmas rush. They booked Adare Manor, an exclusive, luxurious castle in County Limerick, and now the preparations are well under way.
‘Are you all set?’ I turn to my boyfriend, fixing his shirt collar for him so it sits in position, smoothly around his strong neck. We’d spent the afternoon curled up in his bed doing unspeakable things to each other, before snuggling under the covers to watch a re-run ofDexter. Turns out we have the same taste in TV shows, as well as Asian cuisine, ice cream and chocolate.
‘Ready as I’ll ever be,’ he says with a half-smile. I know him so well already, easily able to read those eyes and most of the thoughts that pass through them. He’s nervous. He wants to come clean.
‘Not tonight. Let’s get the wedding out the way in case there is a major fall out.’ In case. I know as well as he does, it’s not a matter of if, but when.
‘Their wedding? Or ours?’ Grabbing my waist, he pulls me towards him, enveloping me in a tight embrace, one that I’ve grown to love. I do love him, though I haven’t yet had the courage to say it out loud. It’s a first for me, like everything with him. I’ve never previously given anyone the chance to stick around long enough to see if I love them. With Ollie, there’s no question.
‘You’re not still harping on about that, are you?’ He’s previously only mentioned it when he’s buried deep inside of me, insisting no one else will ever get the pleasure of doing so. He may well be right. He ruined me for anyone else the very first night he touched me.
‘I am.’ His face tilts backwards and his eyes find mine, thoughtfully searching for something. ‘We have an agreement.’
‘We need to agree that if we don’t get out of here in the next five seconds we are going to be late.’ I push against his strong chest but he refuses to budge, instead reaching into his pocket.
‘Wait a minute.’ His eyebrows crease together in a serious expression.
‘What is it?’ Taking a step back, I automatically anticipate the worst.
‘I never gave you your birthday present.’ His right hand slips into his pocket and he pulls out a tiny velvet box. He must have noticed my widening eyes. ‘It’s not a ring, don’t panic. Not yet, at least.’
If he hears the tiny gasp that slips from my lips he ignores it.
‘I know it’s kind of hard, sneaking around. In other circumstances I would love to bring you out and show you off to the whole of Dublin. I long to bring you to every Indian restaurant in the country instead of hiding you away in my apartment. I wanted to get you something special to show you how much I care.’
‘You don’t have to get me anything. You are the gift.’ He hands it to me and watches as I open it.
Trembling fingers struggle with the opening but eventually it clicks and inside the box sits the most beautiful platinum necklace with two interlocking diamond-encrusted hearts. Inscribed on the back of the first heart is the word Finding, on the second is the word Forever. No one has ever bought me jewellery before. Let alone something so stunning and sentimental.
‘Ollie, it’s absolutely beautiful. I love it, but it’s too much.’
‘It’s not too much for the woman I’m in love with.’ It’s the first time he’s said those words out loud, though I feel them radiating from him every time he moves in me, every time he holds me protectively in his arms. It’s the best birthday ever.
I don’t hesitate to say it back to him; it’s been bursting to escape from inside of me. ‘I love you too.’ A blush of pure pleasure flushes in my cheeks. ‘The second I saw you on the pitch your card was marked. I just thought it was marked for the fantasy bank and my vibrator.’
His lips crush mine deliciously for about three seconds before he breaks our kiss, the words I said after the ‘I love you’ seeming to sink in.
‘You have a vibrator?’ His eyes widen incredulously. ‘I thought I told you, you were all mine?’
‘I haven’t looked at it since The Spicy Affair. And I only got it that week. Where would I get the time now?’
‘Hmm. I’m not sure how I feel about this, but I definitely want to see it. I need to check out the competition.’
‘There is no competition, nor ever will be again. Not with the things you do to me.’
