Page 54 of Always Alchemy

And Norm, obviously.

I should probably just come out with it, then. I clear my throat.

‘I’ve taken a keen interest in the plight of the Amazon since Pip’s excellent journalism drew me in,’ I say a little self-consciously, ‘and I think we should all collaborate on a sexy Alchemy calendar that’ll raise money for conservation projects.’

My declaration is met with stunned silence. In my peripheral vision, Aida bows her head. I swear she’s hiding a smirk.

‘Well?’ I bark.

‘Just processing,’ Rafe says.

‘There’s a lot to unpack,’ Zach adds, and I shoot him a dirty look.

‘I dunno.’ Maddy sits up so straight that Norm jerks his head up to see if they’re heading out for a walk. ‘You had me at sexy calendar. Where and how do you want me?’

‘Every man’s dream sentence,’ I quip. Zach returns my dirty look tenfold.

‘Look,’ I say. ‘The way I see it, it could be a cracking project to work on together and a lot of fun.’

‘The opportunity for social media around it would be insane,’ Maddy muses.

I shoot her a grateful grin.‘Exactly.Thank you.’

‘If you think you’re getting all our kits off and broadcasting them around fucking TikTok, you’ve got another think coming,’ Rafe interjects.

Belle’s looking worried. ‘Exactly. There’s no way I’m taking my clothes off. My tummy’s still not what it was before I had Rosalie.’

She covers what from here looks like her perfectly flat stomach with her hand and, quick as lightning, Rafe covers her hand with his.

‘That’s bullshit, sweetheart. You’re fucking perfect. But I don’t think any of us want this to be a damned peepshow. You said tasteful, right?’ He turns to me, and I nod quickly.

‘Absolutely. This isn’t about nudity—unless you want it to be. Those who want to get their kits off, feel free?—’

‘So that’s you, Mads, and my darling sister, basically,’ Gen interjects.

I smirk. ‘You know it. But I see this more about selling a dream than giving people cheap thrills. Nobody needs to be naked, but what Iwouldlike to achieve is a set of images that instantly paint a red-hot fantasy. Does that make sense?’

‘I’m game, obviously,’ Darcy says. ‘Think of the options! You could have me on a pole with Dex and Max looking on adoringly, and Mads on a cross, obviously. Rafe and Belle can go full priest-kink in the basement…’ She pauses, giving her sister a once-over. ‘You’ll have to be one of the winter months, obviously,’ she says to Gen. ‘Our resident kinky ice queen.’

‘I can work with that,’ Anton says lasciviously, sliding his arm around Gen’s shoulders. ‘But can we do it soon, before our summer tans fade?’

Max coughs something into his hand that sounds suspiciously likevain bastardbefore sitting up straight. ‘I’m not crazy about the cause, to be honest.’

‘Of course you’re not,’ I fire back. ‘You abuse the fuck out of the Wolff private jet. I’m surprised Greenpeace doesn’t try to egg you on your way into work.’

‘I offset,’ he says smugly. ‘I just mean… obviously, it’s important. But when I give to charity, there are more pressing causes for me.’

‘For example?’ I push.

He shrugs. ‘Cancer, kids, and women’s refuges, usually.’

‘How disgustingly wonderful of you,’ Gen says, grinning at him.

I roll my eyes. ‘Look. Everyone has their causes. I get that. But Mother Earth is pretty fucking integral to our future. Most of us here have kids, or will have soon’—I nod at Darcy’s sweet baby bump—‘and it would be good if there was an earth for them to inherit, no? This is one fundraiser. I’m offering to do all the heavy lifting on it. Are you in or out?’

‘We’re in,’ Adam says slowly, his eyes on Nat’s face, ‘as long as you shoot it tastefully and this doesn’t become some kind of cringe-fest. I assume you’ve thought about photographers?’

‘Well, obviously,’ I lie. I have no clue about photographers, full stop. ‘I’ve got a few names on my list.’

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