Page 47 of Only Ever You

The stiffness of Bash’s arm slowly gave way. “I didn’t prepare you for a Phillips-Dumont game night,” he said.

“Is it better or worse than the never-ending Monopoly weekend of third year uni?”

“Worse.”

“Oh dear.” This really was going to be a long game night.

Bash fisted her sleeve in his grip and tugged her along. “No backing out now, Whittaker.”

15

FAYE

Their evening mealconsisted of paper-wrapped chips from the local chippy – with vinegar, of course – and two homemade chicken pies Michèle had prepared the day before. Then Maya and Imara battled it out to pick the movie they all watched, crammed together upon sofas and chairs.

Bash relegated himself to the floor halfway through, which made more space between Faye, Matt, and Saira. He stretched out, propped against the sofa with a cushion beneath his shoulders to let the girls clamber all over him for hugs. Maya, with her small arm, wrapped herself across his stomach.

Faye should’ve been watching the animated film, but her attention kept falling to where Bash lay out in front of her. With his long legs crossed at the ankles, his trousers were loose enough around his thighs to merely tease her with her illicit thoughts.

Her hand almost lowered countless times from her lap to his hair. He must’ve showered in the morning before picking her up, because his styled, dark waves looked fluffy enough to sink her fingers into.

With more effort than it should’ve required, she resisted.

Something about being in Bash’sfamily home surrounded byhispeople made Faye want to touch him more than ever, as if that would stake her claim to him in front of those he’d known for all his life.

Her gaze kept on finding her stocking hung up on the mantelpiece too. The gesture was so sweet, and if Mortimer hadn't arrived when he did, she would’ve shed tears and blubbered into Michèle’s arms about how nice it was, how grateful she was for the effort to feel so fiercely included.

A part of her that had missed out on a happy family Christmas healed more with each second she was here.

Somewhere in the evening it was confirmed that Uncle Mortimer would take Bash’s bed in the annexe. Faye suspected that it was so he was as far away from everyone else as possible, and whilst Bash went to fetch his bag, she paced around her –their –bedroom.

She’d silently dreaded this moment for a reason she couldn’t name. They’d shared rooms before. Even slept in the same bed. But somehow here under his parents’ roof, it felt different. As though there was some other meaning behind the necessary arrangement.

On her way up the stairs, she’d panicked about what pyjamas she’d brought with her. Not knowing how cold or warm the house would be at night, she’d packed two sets that could mix and match from nakedness to a winter bear.

Sincenakednesswasn’t an option, Faye edged towards the winter bear, covering her legs in long red tartan bottoms, then rushed through the debate between a cami top or an old t-shirt in the minutes she had to decide. One would seem as though she purposefully covered up, and the other left too much room forslippage.

Sleeping in a bra was a definiteno,and though her breasts were sized in the earlier range of the alphabet, small enough to perhaps get away with keeping everything contained as she rolled around at night, Faye wouldn’t take any chances. Not this time.

The old t-shirt with a logo of a TV show she watched as a child was better than accidentally flashing her new roommate at some point in the night.

She was hunched over, digging deep into her bag to hide her underwear, when the vaguest brush of fingers against wood preceded the opening of the door.

“Is it safe to come in?” Bash’s laden bag pushed through the doorway first.

Snapping up too quickly from the floor, dizziness swam through Faye’s head and she wobbled.

Bash’s stare froze as much as the rest of him. “You alright?” A hint of mirth coated his tired timbre.

She blinked a few times until her vision cleared. “Yeah just” –hiding my knickers from you –“tidying my things.”

His doubt disappeared in the few steps Bash crossed around the room to deposit his duffel on the opposite side of the bed, claiming that half, Faye guessed. Curiosity had compelled her to sit and bounce on the edge whilst he was gone, so she knew that itdidn’tsqueak – not that anything would happen in the foreseeable future to cause any strain on the bed frame at all.

Her gaze dipped to peek inside Bash’s bag as he took out toothpaste, a toothbrush, deodorant – all things to go in the en-suite.

The en-suite.

She’d hidden her knickers but hadn’t given a thought to all of the toiletries she’d laid out on the cabinet.

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