Page 49 of Kiss Me Ever After
“Hey, Mum.” I put her on speaker, not wanting to drop the phone in the bath.
“I wondered how you were getting on?”
Of course she had. When I’d told her of my plans, she wanted to join me, suggesting a girlie couple of days. Her disappointment radiated high when I informed her Justin was coming with me instead.
“Not so good. One place I really liked went before I even had a chance to see it, but there are still two more to see tomorrow,” I said, trying to reassure her all was going to plan. Or was I trying to reassure myself?
“What will you do if you don’t find somewhere?”
I’d said the same thing to Justin earlier, and he’d suggested staying in Ealynn Sands. But I had my heart set on finishing uni and getting a good degree. Then maybe doing the internship in New York I should have done this summer.
Suddenly, I had a startling moment of clarity.
That’swhy he’d blanked me for most of the afternoon.
He thought I didn’t want to be with him.
I scrambled to my feet, water splashing everywhere. “Mum, I’ve got to go. We’re going out for dinner soon and I need to get ready.”
She sighed. “Okay, have a lovely evening and make sure you call me with any news.”
We said our goodbyes, ending with me promising to call her as soon as I’d found somewhere. Fingers crossed it would be tomorrow.
I placed my phone on the side, careful not to get it wet, and grabbed a towel.
Wherever we went tonight, I had to make sure Justin knew of my intentions for our relationship.
* * *
He totally nailed it.
How he guessed the little Italian restaurant on Brompton Road was my absolute favourite, I would never know.
When we walked in, the familiar aromas of pizza and pasta teased my nostrils and my stomach growled in response.
The waiter showed us to our table, in the corner next to the window, and handed us our menus once we sat down.
I reached across the table and grabbed Justin’s hand. “Thank you.”
He looked up, brown eyes questioning. “For?”
“Knowing exactly the right thing to do.”
“I may have had a little help.”
“Amber?”
“Who else?”
A grin spread over my face. Sometimes I was grateful for her big mouth.
We feasted. It was the only way I could describe it. Mouth-watering carpaccio and crispy squid to start, lasagne and gnocchi for the main course and the most delicious tiramisu for dessert, all washed down with a bottle of good, robust Italian red wine.
By the end of the meal, I leaned back in my chair, holding my stomach. “Oh my God, I think I’m carrying a food baby in here.”
“I hope you’re not too full, because I’ve got the perfect way to round off the evening.” Justin winked, his hand snaking under the table and squeezing my thigh.
I wriggled in my chair as his fingers insinuated their way under the hem of my dress, stroking my bare skin. Before anything else could happen, I needed to clear up what I’d said earlier.
