“She’s upstairs.” Billy grinned and leant forward, lips ready to press against Rosa’s. “And I’ve been wanting to do this all night.”
Rosa’s arms threaded up and around Billy’s neck. “We shouldn’t—”
“We should.” Billy smiled against Rosa’s lips, then gently eased them open, her tongue sliding in—warm, familiar, and tasting faintly of garlic—like it belonged there and had never left.
Gasping, Rosa pulled back. “We can’t…this is dangerous.”
“I know,” Billy breathed, her forehead dropping to rest against Rosa’s. “I don’t want to go.”
Rosa looked up at her, emotion welling in her eyes. “I’m not ready for that…not yet.”
Billy nodded. “I’ll wait. However long it takes.” She kissed her again, deeper this time, more insistent. “I’m going to go before we’re doing something we shouldn’t on your sofa.”
Rosa chuckled. “Don’t tempt me.”
“Just remember, it’s what she wants. We know that now.”
“And she wants a new pair of trainers every month too.” Rosa smiled. “If we do this, it has to be because it’s whatwewant.”
“Last week it was only if we didn’t cause Imogen a problem. Are you saying you might not want this…us…me?”
“I’m saying that I don’t know up from down right now. I know that I love you, I know that I like being intimate with you…”
“But?” Billy said, running a hand through her hair. “Say it, Rosa.”
“I just don’t know if I want anyone in my space long term.” Rosa tugged her bottom lip between her teeth. “I’ve been by myself for so long that I’m not sure how to share this space again.”
“Maybe we’re jumping ahead too far,” Billy offered. “The thought of me staying over has triggered this.”
“Possibly,” Rosa agreed, wringing her hands together. “I love you. I know that for sure. That’s real.”
“I get it,” Billy said. “I do. I get it.” She moved closer again and placed her hand on Rosa’s shoulder. “I don’t want to move in, not right now. I just want us to be more…open with Imogen.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Okay.” Billy leant down and kissed Rosa’s forehead. “Better show me out and lock up.” She walked out of the room and into the hall.
At the front door, Billy opened it, glanced quickly up the stairs to check the coast was clear before leaning down and kissing Rosa on the cheek. “Goodnight.”
“Night.”
Chapter sixty-three
“I’m telling you, Gran, you should see them. They’re not even oblivious, just choosing not to do it,” Imogen said, looking at the phone screen and Meredith’s face smiling at her.
“Well, maybe we just have to accept that we’re wrong and they don’t want to be together.”
Imogen shook her head. “No, that can’t be it. They both still love each other—they both told me.”
“Loving someone and wanting to be with them are very different things, darling. There’s always that person, the one that got away, the one you love with all your being, but for whatever reason, it just didn’t work out. One day, you’ll look back and see it differently, I promise.”
“That sounds ridiculous,” Imogen said. A group of girls walked past her at the school gate, giggling to themselves about something that had nothing to do with Imogen, and yet she watched them like a hawk, just in case they looked back at her.
“You’ll understand when—”
“When I’m older, I know,” Imogen huffed. “It’s just so frustrating.”
Meredith said nothing. The smile on her face said she understood, but what more could they do?
