Page 35 of Fall

“No,” I reply with one word, but it means everything as I watch as she turns to look at me.

I don’t move as she walks over, placing both her hands on my chest and looking up at me. Tilly raises her hand and pushes a bit of my hair behind my ear before grazing her finger across my cheek. Only the sound of our heavy breathing fills the room.

“When are you going to stop pushing me away?” she asks.

“I’m not good for you, Tilly, but I can’t let you go,” I reply, leaning down to kiss her. I can’t resist her anymore.

Tilly moans as she relaxes into the kiss, and her hands go into my hair. I pull her up to me, kissing her harder and loving the way she moves her body against mine.

“I can’t, not yet,” she says, breaking away, and I know she means because it’s not long after her labour, not that she doesn’t want to be with me.

“I’m sorry, I’m fucking sorry I’ve been avoiding this, us. Not anymore, Tilly,” I say, watching as her blue eyes watch me. “You’re mine now, and I’m not pushing you away anymore. You’re the reason I’m going to win that fight in two weeks.”

“You’re still fighting? It’s in two weeks?” she asks, her voice nervous, and I hate that I have to fight. That I can’t just walk away from it all. I can’t do that to my brothers.

“I don’t have a choice, Tilly,” I reply. There’s a knock on the door behind me, and I open it to Maisy, who smiles.

“Sorry, but the food is ready and everyone is waiting,” she says.

Maisy has a huge bump now, and there is a planned birth for two weeks’ time. It’s the day after the fight, and I can’t wait to be able to see their baby when I win.

“Where’s Jake?” I ask her, knowing I forgot to ask earlier.

“With my dad. He popped over and Jake was napping. I didn’t want to wake him up as he

was up all night with a new tooth coming through,” Maisy responds as I shut the door behind Tilly.

“Are you excited for the baby to come?” I ask her about the planned birth as we walk down the corridor, and I don’t let go of Tilly’s hand. I’m not hiding how I feel about her anymore.

“Very,” she says, rubbing a hand over her bump.

We walk into the dining room to see everyone is seated, and Izzy hands the baby monitor to Tilly before sitting down. I lean over and kiss Tilly gently on the lips before I sit next to her, and I’m aware of how silent the room has gone as I look at her blushed cheeks.

“About time,” Sebastian mutters, and I look over to see them all staring at us.

“When did this happen, and how did I not realise?” Izzy asks.

“Just now, and I don’t know,” Tilly answers with a smile.

“Damn . . . I owe you fifty now,” Elliot says to Luke, who laughs.

“Me, too,” Sebastian nods.

“Why wasn’t I included in this bet?” Izzy asks, making us all laugh.

Allie comes into the room with two drinks and takes the seat next to Elliot. “So . . . what did I miss?” she asks.

“Those two are together,” Elliot waves a hand at us as he speaks.

“Dammit. Fifty quid went,” Allie mutters, and I can’t help but laugh at her.

“Best bet I ever made,” Luke says, but he goes silent as Emilia walks into the room.

Emilia is one of Izzy, Blake, and Allie’s roommates, and there’s something weird going on between her and Luke. Everyone has mentioned it, but if you ask them, they won’t talk about each other. Emilia sits next to Tilly.

“You dyed your hair black, it looks really nice,” Tilly comments, and Emilia smiles.

“Wanted a change,” she shrugs.

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