Page 76 of The Rest is History
‘OMG,’ Cassie says. ‘It’s so cute that you guys have found happiness later in life.’
‘Oi.’ Elodie attempts to wriggle out of my clutches, but I hold firm. ‘I’m literally thirty.’
‘So tell us,’ Shelby demands. ‘We want all the details. The dirtier the better.’
Elodie gasps like Shelby’s jumped to inappropriate conclusions. Like she wasn’t naked and writhing on my cock less than three hours ago.
The rest of them are closing in on us, like a gaggle of velvet-and-damask-clad vultures. Tess, the unofficial mother hen of the group, clears her throat.
‘Maybe these good people would like some privacy. I suspect this is all quite new for them’—she looks at us for confirmation and I nod gratefully—‘and a lot to process.’
There’s a pause. Then:
‘Nah.’ Shelby elbows her way to the front. ‘Charlie knows he’s fair game when he’s with us lot. Don’t you, babes? Besides,I knew something was up as soon as I clocked this one.’ She gestures at the beautiful woman in my arms. ‘I knew he’d handpicked her.’ She wiggles her eyebrows, and Elodie flinches.
‘Maybe try not to make me sound like a prize cow?’ she suggests. ‘Or an apple?’
‘A very juicy apple,’ I say creepily, earning a laugh.
‘You see?’ Lauren gestures. ‘He even makes jokes now! Someone give this woman a sainthood.’
‘I’m not that bad,’ I protest.
‘He’s completely ignored me at school for most of this year,’ Elodie tells them. ‘Luckily, I got to see his soft side.’
‘And his hard side, eh?’ Shelby crows. ‘Has he shown you what’s under his codpiece?’
They all make vomiting sounds, Elodie included.
‘Enough.’ I stamp my foot. ‘Joking about the royal codpiece is an act of treason.’
‘Was it seeing her all dressed up as Anne that sent you over the edge?’ Cassie wonders, a wistful look on her face.
‘No,’ I tell them. ‘I fell a long time before that.’
CHAPTER 29
Elodie
‘Honestly.’ My finger hovers on my parents’ doorbell. ‘If you want to get the hell back in that car and speed off to your beautiful, silent house, you’ll get no judgement from me.’
Behind me, Charlie’s mouth presses to my bare shoulder. ‘I’m game. If it means I get to spend the afternoon with you, I’ll do anything.’
‘You clearly haven’t met my mother. Just—hang on tight, okay? She won’t let you go without wringing every last drop of information out of you.’
‘I can take it,’ he tells me between kisses. ‘I assure you, I’m very parent-friendly.’
I roll my eyes. ‘So parents are the only social demographic you’re not openly hostile to, then?’
‘Parents,’ he whispers, his breath hot against my ear, ‘and beautiful women who let me loose on their incredible bodies with explosive results for everyone involved.’
Okay. That was pretty charming. For me, anyway. Obviously, way too charming for my parents. Hopefully, he can find a happy medium.
‘Your funeral,’ I say, and press.
Mum flings open the front door immediately, almost as if she’s been standing there, waiting for the bell to ring.
‘Charlie,’she breathes, ignoring me completely. ‘It’s apleasure. Docome in.’
