‘Then stop interrogating me and let me get on with doing just that.’
‘I will. So long as you quit deflecting and talk to me.’
‘I’m not deflecting.’
‘And don’t lie either.’
‘Shouldn’t you be off with your man enjoying your first day as husband and wife?’
‘It’s the bride’s prerogative to do what she wants, and right now, I want to check in on my big sis. Besides, Theo is off hunting down Axel since he’s yet to show his face today. You don’t happen to know where he might be hiding, do you?’
‘No. Why would I know where he is?’
I fight a wince over how high my voice has gone.
‘Gee, I don’t know, sis. Maybe because he’s your mate. Andlast I saw of you both, you were deep in discussion, looking… well, pretty much like you do now.’
‘I don’t look like anything. This is just my resting face.’
She presses her lips together, shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter. Yeah. I walked right into that one.
I jab her in the side. ‘I donotlook like the dog’s mother.’
That does it: her laugh bursts free, and Lottie spins towards me, eyes wide and sparkling. ‘You gotta dog, Aunt Tay-Tay?’
‘No, no, sweetheart,’ I say quickly. ‘Your mum is just… being cheeky.’
‘Mummy’s not cheeky.’
Beg to differ…
‘Thanks, Princess,’ the Queen of Cheeky says, dishing up some smug side-eye.
I ignore her and lean forward, making a show of admiring the shell clutched in Lottie’s hand. ‘Ooh, now that’s a pretty one. Look how shiny it is! That has to be for the princess!’
Lottie’s attention flips instantly, just as I hoped, and she drops the shell into her ‘princess’ collection while I drop back into the lounger. Relieved and ready to move on…
Sadie isn’t.
Her eyes drill into the side of my head. Pushing. Probing.
Why do I feel like she’s seeing everything that happened last night in full-on technicolour?
Not that she could even begin to imagine what went on, because I can barely believe it myself. If it wasn’t for the faint red line on my wrist, I’d think I imagined it too.
‘I thought…’ she begins softly.
My breath tightens, grip pulsing around the glass.
‘I thought you were happy for us, Tay?’
‘What?’ I shoot up, feet planting in the sand as I spin to face her.
‘I know we’ve only been together a year but?—’
‘Sadie, stop.’ I whip my sunglasses off. ‘I am happy for you. More than happy.’
And I hate that I’ve given her cause to doubt it.
