‘You laughed along with everyone else whenever they made fun of my glasses,’ she said, then groaned inwardly. Why onearth was she saying any of this? It was a million years ago. Who the hell cared?
‘I do remember that,’ he said grimly. ‘I’m really sorry, Bel. I wish I’d been brave enough to stand up to them the way you did. You never backed down from anyone.’ He sighed, leaning back on the pillows. ‘I took a while to grow up. In primary school I was always shorter than most of my friends. I think I used to feel self-conscious about it, and figured if they were teasing someone else, then they were leaving me alone. I know how shitty that sounds, but as a kid, it kind of made perfect sense.’
‘I get it,’ she said with a long sigh. ‘Honestly, I do. I probably would have felt the same in your position.’
‘I hope we get a reunion someday. If you like, I’ll beat up every kid that made your life hell.’
‘Not that I don’t appreciate the offer,’ she said, ‘but I don’t think violence is as sexy as you seem to think it is.’
‘Thank God for that, because last time I saw Brian Phelps, he was built like a brick shithouse. I’m pretty sure he’d flatten me with one punch.’
Bel laughed and he smiled back at her. He had the nicest smile. ‘You should do that more often,’ she said impulsively.
‘Do what?’
‘Smile,’ she said. ‘I don’t think I’ve seen you do that much.’
‘I guess when you were around, I was always wondering if you were going to snarl at me.’
‘I wasn’t that bad,’ she protested.
‘You really didn’t seem to like me much when I first came back to town.’
‘I guess I wasn’t in a particularly happy place back then.’
‘You seem better now.’
‘I am. I think. I’m not sure why, though.’ She took a moment to find the right words. ‘I mean, I still don’t really know what I’m doing with my life. I have a great business and that makes me happy, but I just don’t really know where I fit anymore.’ She glanced up at him and saw he was listening to her carefully. ‘I mean, I absolutely loved Perth. I never thought I’d leave here, but I did and it was …’ She paused as everything she’d gone through rolled past her eyes in a succession of memories that almost made her dizzy. ‘Well, a lot happened, good and bad I suppose. I came back here in such a hurry that I didn’t give much thought as to where I want to go in the future.’
‘You don’t see yourself back here?’
‘I’m not sure,’ she said, wincing a little as she dragged out the words. ‘I mean, this has always been home, but I think you were right earlier when you said that I was different. I am. I have changed and I’m not quite sure who I am anymore.’
‘Maybe it’ll take some time. It was the same for me when I came back. Once you leave somewhere, you’re never the exact same person when you come back. That’s why they call it change,’ he said with a flash of a grin.
Bel had almost forgotten they were both lying side by side, completely naked. It felt weirdly … natural.How strange.
‘I guess we should probably go and make a start on the kitchen mess—again,’ Dean said reluctantly.
‘Yeah. So much for baking.’
‘I don’t have any complaints. I’m more than happy to come over and bake with you any time,’ he said, gathering up his clothing.
‘The CWA ladies would be horrified if they knew what we’d done while supposedly following their recipes.’
‘The CWA ladies have probably done a lot worse than that in their day.’
‘My gran was in the CWA,’ she said, eyeing him doubtfully.
‘I’m just sayin’,’
‘Well, don’t. It’s disturbing.’
‘I think I can save this,’ he announced once they were back in the kitchen, dressed and somewhat respectable again.
The damage wasn’t nearly as bad as she’d expected. Only a few implements had clattered to the floor, and the bowl of eggs and sugar was safe. Dean opened the book back up and continued mixing in the ingredients. ‘Okay. I guess we wait and see now,’ he said after he slid in the last tray and closed the oven. ‘I’ll have to leave you in charge. I’ve got to get back.’
‘Sorry that I kept you longer than you were planning,’ she said, feeling the words suddenly thicken in her mouth like sugary toffee as his eyes slid across her face and down her body.
