Page 23 of Plot Twist

I nodded and followed Drew.

‘You don’t need to come with me, Becca. You could probably get back into the pub, if you wanted.’

‘I probably could, yeah. Or I could go and third-wheel it with Rae and Mickey.’

‘Well, I’d definitely pick me over that loser. The prick.’

He bared his teeth and spat on the ground.

‘Lovely,’ I remarked. He stayed silent, pacing forward, and I quickened my pace to keep up with him.

The evening sun bounced playfully off the deep blue lake as two men threw stones into the water, prompting ripples to break the stillness every few seconds. Drew and I walked along without a word. His anger hung between us, I could practically feel his adrenaline pumping. I had to ask. I couldn’t let it remain unsaid any longer. Rae was always going to be around, looking as good as she always did, and I couldn’t let myself fall any further for him. I had to know.

‘Do you like Rae?’

I blurted it out before I could change my mind. He stopped and looked at me.

‘Seriously?’ he said, arching an eyebrow. ‘You’re seriously asking that question?’

I turned my back on him to face the lake. The water sparkled under the light but remained calm and still, stretching into the distance. Why did he have to answer the question with a question? It was obviously just a stalling tactic so he could figure out how to let me down gently.

‘I am seriously asking that question. You really stood up for her today. Mickey thought it too. Maybe you were jealous?’

‘Fuck, Becca. We’ve been– I mean, I thought we were– but maybe I’m wrong. . .’

He touched my shoulder and gently pulled me around to face him. I tried to look away but he reached out and cupped my chin so I was looking right into his eyes.

‘I don’t like Rae. I mean, I do like her, obviously. She’s cool. But, since I met you, there is literally no one else. Nothing else. I can’t stop thinking about you. Only you, Becca.’

It felt like the air had been sucked out of my body.

How do you respond to that? I blinked. He leaned in towards me and the world fell into place as we kissed. And we didn’t stop for a very long time.

11

I lay awake for most of my first night in Bellinder Cottage. Not that it came as any surprise. I leafed through the pages of Riley’s book under the covers, just in case he happened to fling the door open at three a.m. shouting ‘aha’ when he caught me in the act.

As I flicked through the familiar words of his debut, I pictured him penning the novel in his office while Ivy played with her dolls in the living room. I pored over the three steamy scenes (yes, I counted them), wondering how on earth Riley managed to write them from a woman’s perspective. I blushed. I cried again when I read the part where Alice’s partner passed away and she finally got together with Leroy, her true love.

‘Becca?’

I sat bolt upright in bed, my hair standing on end, realising I’d fallen asleep at some stage.

A light knock on the bedroom door followed.

‘Erm, yes, I’m here!’ I called back.

‘I’m just taking Ivy to nursery for the day. I’ll be back in ten,’ he called.

‘OK doke!’

OK fucking doke. Who even says that? I cringed and flung the covers back, pulling my favourite hoodie over my PJs. I waited until I heard their chatter stopping and, when the front door clicked to close behind them, I dashed to the bathroom. After a lightning-quick shower, I looked at myself in the round mirror that sat above the sink to assess the damage. I needed make-up, ASAP. Particularly concealer to hide the dark circles under my eyes. I dashed back to the bedroom, dressed quickly and grabbed my make-up bag, rubbing my foundation in as quickly as my fingers could handle. I poked myself in the eye while flicking mascara on my upper lashes as I heard the door click open again.

I grabbed my laptop and dashed into the hallway, laptop under my arm.

‘I’m ready,’ I said.

He threw me a lopsided smile. ‘Erm. . . congratulations?’