Page 40 of That Secret Something

She grabbed my neck, tangling her fingers in my hair, our kisses becoming more frantic. Then she spun us around and pressed me up against the front door. I gasped as her other hand rubbed over my jeans.

“Ugh, fuck.” I groaned as her mouth moved to my neck, kissing all my sensitive spots.

I needed her. Again. But the last thing I wanted was my mum walking in and seeing the two of us together. That’d kill the vibe faster than Usain Bolt could pop to the shop.

A guttural sound erupted from Rebecca, and she grazed my skin with her teeth. “Very unfair, Jess. Very, very unfair.” She sucked hard at my pulse point, my legs weakening underneath me, and then she pulled back and looked me in the eye, both our chests heaving.

Her eyelids were hooded, her green irises clouded with desire. I never wanted her to look at me any other way. Her face was so close, I could see all the little imperfections: the small scar below her eyelid, the bumps and lumps, and the laugh lines around her mouth. Her freckles were my favourite, though, sprinkled across her nose and cheekbones. The corner of her mouth pulled up into a smile, in that famous heart-stopping Rebecca Lawson way, and she pressed her lips to mine.

Reluctantly, I let her manoeuvre me away from the door.

“This isn’t over,” she said, tapping my bottom lip with her finger. She grinned, then opened the door, and left.

The apartment was quiet. Too quiet after all that is Rebecca Lawson. I missed everything about her immediately.

That really wasn’t good.

I sighed and checked my watch, my heart still hammering away in my chest. I needed a change of underwear, maybe even a cold shower. Mum would still be half an hour. Surely I could last that long without Sausage before my head turned to Rebecca mush?

Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Part of me hoped it was Rebecca, but I shut that thought down quickly. Mum always refused to let herself in, even though she’d got her own key. I exhaled with relief when I saw Sausage’s little fuzzy head through the peephole. She was early.

“Hello, baby! I missed you,” I cooed as I opened the door and took the little bundle of brown fur into my arms. Sausage licked my face, scrambling his little legs to get as close to me as possible.

Mum shuffled in and closed the door behind her. She watched me with contained amusement, brushing off some of the raindrops on her coat.

“Oh no, is it raining?” I asked, stating the obvious. I hoped Rebecca was alright. “Want a cup of tea?”

Mum held up her hand. “No, it’s fine. I’m not staying long. And it was only a quick shower.”

Sausage licked my face again, and I giggled, placing him back on the floor. “Everything good?” I wanted to pry Mum more about her feelings yesterday, but figured the open question would be a good start.

“All good.”

Ah, maybe not.

“Although, you know who I did just see?” she continued, her gaze roaming over me. “Lily’s sister. What’s she called? Rachel?”

“Rebecca.” I swallowed, then cleared my throat. “That’s funny. What was she doing?”

“Getting drenched in the rain, by the look of it.”

I pressed my lips together. Poor Rebecca. I should’ve given her a lift home earlier, but…well…we were busy. I blinked away the images of her strong body wrapped around me and found Mum watching me instead. Did she see Rebecca leaving? I blurted out, “Well, she does live around here.”

Mum nodded, but her eyes said something else. Suspicion. Were we rumbled before we’d even started? Mum shifted the weight under her feet and sighed.

“So yesterday was a lot, wasn’t it?” I said.

“It was pretty hectic, yes. The Lawsons have always had a knack for dramatics.”

Huh. That was new. “What do you mean?”

“They’re lovely, and all. Always helping us out with childcare and stuff, and Lily has been such a good friend to you.”

My stomach tightened. I hated when she spoke about the Lawsons like they were my babysitters growing up. They were so much more than that. Where was she going with this?

“But they’re so…over the top.”

“They’re just emotional, Mum. People get emotional about weddings.”

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