Page 44 of The First Chord

“She’s nice, isn’t she?”

She burst out laughing. “Nice isn’t the word I think you’re thinking, me duck.”

There wasn’t much that embarrassed me, but I could feel my face heating up at Mo’s discerning gaze. Bright blue eyes stared at me, delving deep inside my head. I knew it wasn’t possible for her to see what I was thinking, but her gaze made me feel uneasy. When I was younger and she caught me out on something, I wondered how. She’d say it was because she was a witch and she could read minds. As the years had gone on, I was beginning to believe she may have been telling the truth.

“She’s not yours to have, though, is she?” She smiled gently. “What is she doing about that situation? I know what she told me but is she really leaving him?”

“If I have anything to do with it, she will,” I grunted, reaching for a jar of pickled onions. “I hope you’ve brought Beau a jar. He’ll go mad if you haven’t.”

“Of course I have.” She gave me a look like I was stupid. “Less of the pickled onions, what about Amber and that husband of hers? What’s the plan? More importantly, what are your real feelings for her?”

Pushing the jar back to the centre of the table I chanced a look at Mo. If I didn’t let her gaze meet my eyes, she might not be able to read my mind.

“Do you more than like her?”

Shit, she still had the gift.

“Sorry?”

“Do you need to clean your lugs out?”

“No.”

“So? Am I right?” she asked, sitting back down in the chair next to me.

I turned to look at her because there was no point in not. “That obvious?”

“A blind man could see it, me duck. You’ve got that glint in your eye.”

I let out a short laugh. “Yeah, but according to you I was born with that glint in my eye.”

“Maybe it’s a bit brighter at the min, though.” Settling herself she waited silently.

After what felt like hours of silence, I groaned. “I really like her, Auntie Mo. I mean, it’s not love or anything like that but I…” Dropping my forehead to the table, I groaned. “I can’t stand the thought that she’ll have to spend time with him. That he might be able to hurt her again.”

“And how long have you been friends?”

“A couple of months. I felt sorry for her at first, I still feel sorry for her, but it’s more than that now.” My heart missed a couple of beats as I thought about Amber and what Jimmy had put her through. “It’s not just that he hit her, Auntie Mo. He’s disrespectful, flaunting other women in front of her, acts like a prick.”

“Oi, language.”

“Sorry, but he is.”

“Sounds a real peach, I must admit.” Her eyes softened and I got the feeling that she was reading me again. “Has anything happened between you? Other than you rescuing her like a knight in shining armour?”

I shook my head. “Just a few crappy jokes via text.”

“No stolen kisses even?”

My stomach bottomed out, wondering if maybe I’d lost my chance. Maybe I should have been braver and made a move.

“In Portugal I pretty much told her that I was jealous of him. That’s it, though.”

“And how did she take that?”

Hmm, not my best moment. “She made some excuse about needing to do some more shopping. She got away from me as soon as she could.”

“And yet you were the one she trusted most to call that night.” Auntie Mo leaned forward and wrapped her arms around my body. She was tiny and they barely reached around my broad shoulders, but I felt every inch of that hug. Every ounce of love found its way into my bones and soul.

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