Page 78 of Only Ever You

“Dad got the fire going for once.”

“I’m going to check on her.” Clapping his brother on the arm, Bash began to step away.

“Bye.” Matt dismissed him as though he’d already known he hadn’t planned to hang around for long.

Depositing his empty plate in the kitchen, Bash figured if there was enough determination in his stride then no guest would stop him for a chat, all the while searching for Faye like a truffle hound as he passed around polite smiles.

He itched just to have her on her own. Whilst the sky was dark and starry and the thin dusting of snow covered the grass like icing, log fires burned and string lights twinkled and glowed, it was the perfect place to do it: finally tell Faye of his feelings he’d promised himself he would confess tonight.

He just needed to get her alone.

Selfishly he hoped he’d find her outside and maybe she’d have grown cold so he’d have an excuse to be near to her and keep her warm.

There’d been a moment in a conversation earlier with his parents’ neighbours where he’d shuffled behind her to let another guest squeeze through. His hand had gone to her back when he’d overbalanced, lower down than was friendly, and all Faye had done was turn her chin across her shoulder, eyelids batting, and smiled. So Bash had let his hand stay there, his thumb occasionally moving back and forth across her spine to test the water. The knitted fabric of her dress hugged her body so snugly that it radiated her warmth as if there was nothing there.

Matt was right all those weeks ago: Christmaswasromantic, and this was the perfect time to tell Faye how he felt about her. Away from work. Away from the innate stress that was London.

Bash slipped out through the kitchen’s sliding doors onto the patio. Theal frescodining had a few brave souls sitting outside in their coats, but he couldn’t see Faye. How long ago had Matt seen her out here? Maybe she’d already gone back inside.

Then he heard her laugh.

The patio curved around the side of the house to where Arthur had positioned no more than fifty potted plants, a couple of benches, and string lights around the lesser used side door of the annexe. The whole space was a small slice of countryside heaven, completely undercover from the snow slowly melting and dripping down from every jutted angle.

Of course Faye would have found her way around there.

The scent of smoke from the log burner drifted on the gentle wind whirring in the crevices of the walls. Wishing he’d put on a coat, Bash’s brogues clicked on the bricks.

Another voice joined Faye’s laugh; older and definitely masculine, but soft. Bash stepped back before turning the corner and just listened for a moment, which was polite speak for “eavesdropping”.

“How is the business going?”

Dad?Why was he out here with Faye? Not that Bash didn’twant his father and best friend to get along – the opposite was true, in fact.

Frowning, his arm scraped on the brickwork of the house as he edged closer to the corner of the house. He couldn’t see either of them but they’d definitely gathered around the log burner.

“It’s good. Great, actually.” Faye’s voice lowered for what she said next. “We’ve just bought a lease on a new property in Manchester to open a second bakery.”

Air shot into Bash’s lungs.

Manchester? Lease?

Hang on.What second?—?

“That’s amazing!” his father praised. “Will you be moving out of London?”

Faye hesitated, and that pause was enough to make a lead weight sink through Bash, because he already knew the answer.

“Yes.”

His stomach bottomed out.

“For a year or so while the new bakery gets settled.” Faye added, “But … please don’t say anything? I haven’t told Bash yet.”

“You don’t need to,” he announced before he could stop himself.

Jaw set and back teeth hurting from the force of how they crushed together, Bash rounded the corner and met Faye’s startled eyes. Ignoring his father, he was sure that he hadn’t overheard wrong. There wasn’t anything at all he could misinterpret in what she’d said.

Guilt slashed over Faye’s face. “Bash … ”

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