Page 57 of Only Ever You

She turns her head toward me, her lower lip between her teeth. It’s not fair she does that. I makes me want to suck that lower lip into my mouth and kiss the hell out of her, it’s so cute.

“Did you not want me to do that?”

I shrug. “They’re your family. Tell them what you want. Are you okay though? How did they take it?”

Her smile tells a story all of its own. “Mum and Dad are really happy. They were always sad they didn’t hear from you, but they understood. Even Lucas was fine.”

I swallow hard. “What did he say?”

“He just wants me to be happy.” She licks her lips, and it’s so distracting. “He also wasn’t that surprised. Even back then he knew I had a crush on you. At one point he threatened to tell you about it, although he apologised for that a long time ago.”

I frown. “When was that?”

“About the same time he got caught … He was a mess back then. I think the whole thing with your mum really screwed him up along with everyone else.”

Running my fingers through my hair, I lean back on the couch. “Can we change the subject? I’d rather not talk about her.”

Pippa nods. “Sure. But you can’t hide from it forever.”

“Whatever happened to Roger?” I know at some point we’ll end up talking out the whole thing with my mum, but right now I don’t want to. Roger was always Pippa’s cat. The Chapmans got him when she was five, and she’s twenty-four now, so there’s no way he’s still with us.

Pippa’s pained expression says everything. But I’ve gone there now and there’s no going back.

“He got sick when I was fifteen. His kidneys were failing, and …”

I take her hand in mine. “You don’t have to tell me.”

She shakes her head. “No, it’s okay. I was there when it happened. He was put to sleep because they couldn’t do anything, and he was miserable.”

“He lived a good life. That cat adored you.”

Tears well in her eyes. “There were times when he was my best friend. That year you left when Lucas was being an arse, I always had Roger.”

I smile and squeeze her hand.

“I was inconsolable, and Mum and Dad put a ban on any pets because I was such a mess. But back then I wouldn’t have wanted another animal. It was all too much.”

Cupping the back of her head, I pull her closer. “One day, I’ll make all your dreams come true, Pippa, and that includes having the house of your dreams and we’ll get a cat. Hell, we’ll get two cats. Whatever you want.”

She laughs softly. “I love you.”

I press a kiss to her forehead. If things hadn’t turned to shit, Lucas and I would have been there to support and comfort her—the way we always did when Pippa was sad. But then again, our relationship now might not have happened.

There’s no way to turn back the clock, and I used to think that maybe if I had that ability, I would have been able to change the way my family fell apart.

But now I’m glad because I’m in the best version of my life right now—with Pippa by my side.

Chapter Eighteen

Deacon

It’s a long drive to Gisborne.

I would have preferred to fly, but Pippa’s eyes lit up at the thought of our first road trip. How could I say no to her?

It’s a six-hour drive, and I think she’s just happy to have the reading time in the car while I drive.

I don’t really mind. She takes a break after every chapter and looks out the window. So much of the scenery is paddocks and farms and so many cows—so many cows.

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