Outside, a high-vis mob of ground crew scrambled around the plane with rehearsed efficiency; a silent ballet of pre-flight preparation. Catherine eased back into her seat and closed her eyes against the artificial lighting of the cabin. She tried to conjure the serenity of their destination — white sandy beaches stretching into sparkling azure waters, balmy air carrying the scent of salt and tropical flowers. Beyond the visual, she longed for the kiss ofthe sun on her skin, the soft whisper of the breeze, and the simple joy of someone to share it all with.
A loud clunk rattled under the belly of the plane, jolting her back to the present. She glanced outside again as the funny-looking airport vehicles, like oversized mechanical insects, scurried away. Still, the seat beside her remained vacant. A nervous flutter began in her stomach.
Catherine raised a hand to flag the attention of a fresh-faced air steward, but he barrelled past her, completely engrossed in his pre-flight checks. She arched around, searching the aisle as the last straggle of passengers boarded.
Then came the bounce of her laughter, a familiar, melodic sound that chased away Catherine’s anxieties. She turned back to see Jules stepping onto the plane. She caught Catherine’s eye and mouthed, “Sorry. I’ll just be a sec.”
Catherine felt her presence like a calming breath.
Jules’s gorgeous red lips stretched into a wide smile as she eased herself into the vacant seat.
“Sorry, that took longer than I thought. It’s Gregor’s first proper shift, and Mandy collared me to show her something on the system. How do they cope without me?”
“It’s fine, although you had me wondering for a moment whether I’d be adventuring around Barcelona on my own.”
“Now, why would I let you do that?” Jules grinned, and Catherine’s heart tripped over itself, in the way it often still did in Jules’s company.
The months since Jules first stayed over had blurred by.Catherine’s adjustment to being the sole owner of Truscote & Dalton had been swift and painless. She’d dropped the Dalton, hired a new, competent PA, and brought in two new psychotherapists to take on Jeremy’s caseload and ease her own. All of that gave her more time to work on the things she enjoyed — including her blog, which was ever-popular with a dedicated following eager for her insights on mindfulness, as well as the occasional recipe (supplied by Jules).
Meanwhile, Jules had happily settled into her new job and life in Leamington.
Jules and Catherine had tried to take things slow, set boundaries and make rules, but Juni had moved fast. Like a cute, furry tyrant, he claimed their entire building as his territory, demanding free rein of both their apartments by yowling until they’d not just stopped locking their front doors, but they’d had to prop them open. His reign was absolute; his demands non-negotiable, and his fluffy presence a constant, comforting weight.
They still had their own space but made time and space for each other. It worked. The rhythm of their lives had found a comfortable cadence, a gentle ebb and flow between independence and intimacy.
Friday nights were spent at Jules’s apartment. Jules cooked; Catherine brought the wine. They’d debrief on their work weeks and plan their weekends with Juni curled up and purring between them. Lazy Sunday mornings were spent in Catherine’s bed. When they’d worked up enough of an appetite, she’d make breakfast, or they’d meander to Snoots for coffee andcroissants.
Even their best friends had seamlessly integrated into their lives, perhaps because Penny and Will were actually the same person in different bodies, with an embarrassing penchant for aubergine emojis, a lack of volume control, and an unwavering loyalty that made their presence as comfortable and familiar as their own living rooms.
Life, it seemed, was good — better than Catherine could have hoped.
“What are you grinning about?” Jules fixed her with a hungry stare. Her eyes dropped to Catherine’s mouth as she leaned in. Catherine’s breath caught, but before their lips met, a loud wolf-whistle shattered the moment.
“Oh, piss off, Gregor, you cheeky little shit.” Jules laughed. “Where’s that fizz you promised me?”
The fresh-faced steward winked. “It’s on its way, boss! First things first,” he said with a flourish, before launching into the safety briefing under Jules’s appraising eye. Catherine barely registered the words, instead fixing her attention on Jules, who was watching Gregor with a mixture of amusement and barely concealed affection.
“How did he do?” Catherine asked.
“Good,” said Jules. “He’s stopped getting himself tangled in the life vest, at least, but I’m not sure where he picked up the jazz hands from. They get camper and camper every intake, I swear.”
Catherine laughed.
“Anyway, just to be on the safe side, I’d better check your seat belt.”
“You can’t really get them wrong.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised.” As the plane taxied down therunway, Jules reached over and adjusted Catherine’s seatbelt, the click of the mechanism cutting over the whirr of the engines. Jules’s slender fingers trailed across the buckle. Her hand hovered dangerously close to Catherine’s groin before coming to rest on her thigh. The warmth of her touch spread quickly, igniting a familiar heat. Anticipation thrummed through Catherine.
“Was that just an excuse to touch me?”
“Might have been,” said Jules, with a playful glint in her eyes, but beneath it, Catherine sensed a matching current of desire. “Excited?”
“Sorry?” Catherine blinked.
“About our trip,” Jules clarified, her gaze steady, her smile softening. The subtle shift in tone, from playful flirtation to genuine enthusiasm, tugged at Catherine's heart.
“Right. Yes,that. I am excited about that.” Catherine recovered, her cheeks flushing slightly.
