I don’t know if I like this Rowan, now that I’ve put her back on. She no longer fits, like a dress that has shrunk in the wash.
Mason scoff. “The farm’s not so big. They’ll get us if they need us.” He looks me up and down. “Nice to meet you. I’m Mason, Angus’ other brother. And you already know Ross.”
“We’ve met.” My cheeks heat.
“I’ll scooch down if you fancy a perch,” Mason adds, moving further along the sofa.
I pause as my heel sink into the dense carpet, bending down to undo the clasps and take them off. I breathe a side of relief.
“That is a lovely dress,” Lila says warmly.
“Go on! Give us a twirl!” Ewan, the last person I expect to admire my outfit, says enthusiastically.
I do as he asks, the slitted skirt flaring, striking a pose as I complete the turn, one hand at my hip, the other thrown up over my head, and this time my laugh is a little more genuine.
“Thank you,” I say, collapsing on the sofa next to Mason. “I’d almost forgotten what it feels like to wear clothes that aren’t made of Lycra.”
“You’re telling me,” Lila plucks at her trousers. “First thing I’m doing when we get home is having a long, hot bath, and getting straight into my cozies.”
“You look beautiful,” Priya tells me earnestly.
I reach out my hand for hers and squeeze. “You’re fantastic. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.”
“I know,” she says, squeezing back. “Mum tells me every day.”
“And maybe now you’ll listen, hmm.” Lila grabs her daughter in a bear hug and pulls her back onto the sofa. “When I tell you that you’re the most amazing, stupendous perfect child there ever is. My wunderkind.”
“Mum! You PROMISED.”
“I think we established that is a lie, and I have no control when it comes to praising my daughter.”
Ewan reaches over and plucks the controller from Priya’s hand. “This is, like, cute and whatever, but can we play the game now?”
“Oh, you’re going down.” Ross leans forward, eyes intent on the screen. “Scotland for the win.”
“We’ll see about that.”
My spine relaxes inch by inch as Lila and Priya bicker quietly on the big sofa, and Ross and Ewan trade insults as they drive their brightly coloured cars around the screen. This is what I need. Gentle company. No one shouting at me, or telling me off. Only the calm background of other people having fun.
“Didn’t fancy talking to another Oxford arsehole?” Mason asks quietly from beside me, his eyes also fixed on the TV.
I shoot him a glance. “You noticed that?”
“Hard to miss when they’ve got their noses so high in the air they’d walk into a canyon without noticing.”
I laugh. He isn’t wrong. Henry’s friends are some of the poshest people I’ve ever met, and Sophie went to Cambridge, so I’ve been introduced to more than my fair share of her wealthy friends.
“It’s… family, you know?”
“Oh, aye?”
Mason fixes me with a level stare, as if daring me to go on. He’s quieter than his twin, and I feel calm around him. I bet he’s the kind of guy who hears all his friends’ confessions, the ones that come out late at night when the pub is taking last orders. And I also bet he keeps them secret. A locked vault, safe to confide in.
“My sister’s pretty pissed at me. My mum too.”
“For shagging my brother?”
I hear Lila sigh in exasperation and laugh. “Does everyone know?”
