Or at least I thought I had.
But as Jasper opened the front door, there she was, descending the stairs with the aura of a fresh breeze off a warm ocean. My mouth went dry.
Gone was the vampy dark hair; now it fell in soft chestnut waves to her shoulders.
Gone was her pale skin; now she radiated a sun-kissed glow.
Gone were the ripped black clothes; now she wore agold dress that dripped over her slender frame like hot caramel, the neckline dipping dangerously between her breasts.
Gone, gone, gonewas the goth girl I’d fallen for. In front of me stood a woman, refined and expensive-looking. I couldn’t tear my eyes away, and the corner of her mouth ticked up as she noticed me gawking. Glancing down at the loose blouse and dark jeans I’d paired with my scruffy Converse, I conceded the point. I may as well have been bare under her penetrating gaze.
I swallowed and reminded myself that I wasn’t here to impress her. I was here because Jane had invited me. I was here to welcome my oldest friend back from his extended trip. I wasnothere for Francesca.
“Michael.” Francesca kissed each of Dad’s cheeks. “So lovely to see you again.”
Dad murmured something that sounded like, “Oh right.” She smiled and turned to me, her eyes flickering with amusement. “Catherine, it’s been too long.”
Not nearly long enough,I wanted to say; instead, I reciprocated her air kisses, trying not to inhale her perfume; even that had changed, deeper now — smoky and resinous. We’d barely touched, yet her scent clung to me.
She led the way to the dining room as if she owned the place. I glanced over my shoulder to see Dad and Jasper disappearing into one of the rooms, leaving me alone with her.
“Trusty!” Jeremy bounced out ahead of us. Freckles peppered his nose, and he emanated the sort of serenityonly someone who’d been on a two-year holiday could. He wrapped me in a hug, laughing when I stiffened.
Stepping back to take me in, he ruffled a hand through his floppy sun-bleached hair.
He looked radiant. As radiant asshedid.
Far too fucking radiant.
I wanted them to have been at least a little bit miserable. I’d hoped for dark shadows under their eyes and a prickliness spiking between them, but no, they were every bit as happy as Jane had described.
Francesca drifted through the open French doors into the courtyard, where Jane was tinkering with the table setting. The two of them stood in conversation; Jane looked as smitten with her as Jeremy did.
I stood by as Jeremy wrestled with a wine bottle, uncorking it with a squeaky pop and pouring two large glasses.
“So you’re really back then,” I said.
“Yeah, yeah. Looks like it. It’s been bloody great, but a chap’s got to get his head back in the real world sooner or later, right?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked on the balls of his feet. “I’m coming back to uni in September.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“Ma and Pa want to put some money into a practice, you know, invest in our future.”
“Great. You two have it all figured out. Good for you.”
“No, Trusty. You and me.” He traced a finger in the air between us. “They want to invest in both ofus. You know they’re very fond of you too; they see you as a daughter of sorts. Plus, they think you keep me on an even keel. So they’re putting up the money for…” He swept a hand through the air as if envisioning a sign over a door. “Dalton & Truscote. Counselling and Psychotherapy Services.”
My mind buzzed. “I, er… I mean, that’s a lot. I don’t really know what to say?—”
“You don’t have to say anything right now; it’s still years away. You’ve caught up to me at uni, so we’ll be in the same class. We can help each other along, qualify together, and then we’ll set up shop.”
My gaze drifted back to Francesca, who still held Jane rapt in conversation.
Jeremy draped a heavy arm around my shoulder. “This was all Francesca’s idea, actually.”
