Page 7 of Only Ever You

A knot ofyes pleaseandas ifknotted in Faye’s stomach as her eyes bulged at the suggestion.

“Have you told him yet?” Maisie leaned closer and dipped her voice.

“That he’s attentive?” Though Faye knew that’s not what Maisie had meant – her leaving confession minutes ago had served more than just one purpose.

“No. That you found a place in Manchester. That you’re going to be leav?—”

“Right then.” Bash appeared out of thin air.

“What are you doing?” Faye’s gaze shot between his fingers that started lifting her hand off of the table and his eyes. Eyes that always made her feel as though she had his entire attention, that nothing could pull him away from her right then.

“You’re dancing with me.” Bash tipped his head in a gesture at the space of floor beside the band. “Come on.”

“No. No I?—”

“It’s jazz themed Christmas music, we only get this once a year,” he cut in quickly as the song transitioned from one to the next, jostling her arm with an encouraging smile. “Please Peanut?”

How could Faye say no whenBambibatted his big anime eyes like that? They were her weakness. She trusted that if she really didn't want to, he’d let her go. But it was Christmas, and she’d worked hard all year. She deserved a dance.

“Okay, fine.” Faye feigned reluctance and let Bash pullher to her feet. She wouldn’t want to seem too eager in front of the two ladies who looked very smug right then.

Maisie pursed her lips and leant back in her seat, though Faye caught the glance she sneaked to Sienna.

As a jazzified version ofFrosty the Snowmanbegan to play, Faye found herself in that little space of floor between an older couple and two gentlemen around their own age, being pulled in by a hand on her waist.

Excitement secretly partied in her veins. Bash was a good dancer. A little cheesy but in the right way and light on his feet. He’d never stood on her toes before, which was worth some praise.

“Ready?” His grin was too wide for her to say no – as if she’d rather be anywhere else than dancing with him – so Faye nodded.

Her right hand hadn’t left his and Bash raised them both up between them, with her other finding its way to feel the solidness of his shoulder blade.

Her heeled boots brought her eyes only level with his nose. Bash was tall enough that when Faye hugged him around the neck, she had no choice but to push up on her toes and then stretch her ribs another couple of inches more.

Around in a circle, they danced a two-step back and forth to the upbeat keys and high hat of the band not ten feet away.

Their friends watched them. Every time Faye faced their table, she saw their attempts to hide their whispers and smiles behind their glasses as they ducked their heads together. Even Freddy had a smirk on his face.

At one point, Bash gently pushed her away so she could spin back under his straightened arm, laughing at the old-fashioned feeling of it. Drawing so close and then pulling apart made Faye’s pulse rise and fall in equal measure.

The saxophone kicked in for a chorus, adding in flares and runs of notes, and Bash wiggled his shoulders – an exaggerated shimmy bringing a cheek-aching smile to Faye’s lips, forcing her to look away before her hand on the muscles of his shoulder decidedto wander. Hold him closer. Find the hair at the nape of his neck and curl her fingers there.

She’d watched him grow out of boyish good looks and turn into a man, but still that spark of their youthful days remained. A spark that reignited flames she’d tried over and over again to put out, yet failed and spread through her like wildfire without rain each time Bash looked at her so tenderly.

His name had been traced in ink upon her heart.

And she wished forever that he might do the same.

* Welsh: Grandma

3

FAYE

The night ended far too soon,but Faye had to be at her bakery bright and early. She couldn't afford to lose much more sleep when she would be rolling out of her bed to a dark sky.Doughnutsdidn't make themselves for an eight-thirty a.m opening.

It wasn’t unusual that their group would split in two after an evening together, with Bash and her living north of the Thames, and the others, south. Bash’s house in Knightsbridge was the closest toSamuel’s,but Faye needed to head further north out of the bustling boroughs. She didn’t like living so far fromBaked, and if she could afford to live any closer, she would.

She supposed that wouldn’t be much of an issue soon.

---