Page 104 of Crescendo

We made it to the platform just as the train pulled in and Lydia led the way, squeezing us into the corner of the train, my back pressed against the door and her pressing into my front.

“So?” she demanded.

I smiled, drinking her in. If I couldn’t figure out a way to make this work, this version of her was going to go away again, and soon. That didn’t feel right or fair.

I loved my job. I loved my home. My job had been my dream my whole life, and I had so little time outside of it. What did I even have to offer her?

I shook the thought off. I couldn’t ruin this moment that had snapped her out of her sadness. “Sian.”

She stared at me for several long seconds, barely even blinking. “Sian? Your Sian?”

“Do we know another one?”

“No! But how on earth didBansimake out withSian?”

“Oh, that’s the best bit,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Apparently, they bonded and became friends and thenhad to help a friend out with some sexuality stuff they were unsure about.”

“What does that even mean? Who was unsure? And what were they unsure about?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. She didn’t say anything beyond someone feeling either gay or bi. Maybe you can get better answers from her than I can.”

“Oh, you better believe it, because weneedanswers.” She narrowed her eyes. “You’ve known this since last night when you went over there?”

“Uh, yes?”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

I felt the moment we both remembered everything else that happened last night, our bodies locking down. I refused to let her slip away again.

I forced an upbeat tone into my voice. “If you recall, we were rather preoccupied helping you… process the fact that Melinda’s sleeping with—”

“Yes. Thank you.” She closed her eyes and shuddered in distaste, but her muscles relaxed. She was still with me.

I bit down on a smile. “Maybe when we make it to our overground train, you can text Sian and ask her all the questions you want.”

Without seeming to even think about it, she leaned in to press a kiss to my lips.

Being with her in secret was amazing enough, being hers in public was a whole other thing entirely. It made my head swim.

“You’re a genius, Ella, and a gift to the world.”

I laughed. “All because I’ll give you Sian’s number?”

“Yes. And everything else. Don’t forget about that.”

“You should be more worried about the fact that Sian’s going to be delighted to have your number. Wouldn’t be the first time she’s asked.”

“Oh, don’t worry, she’ll live to regret that.” She shot me a devious smile and I laughed, tightening my arms around her waist.

She was unbelievably perfect.

And she remained that way the entire train journey out to Harpenden, where she paid very little attention to the announcements, too wrapped up in texting Sian to demand answers.

She shot me a sidelong glance when we left the station and started the walk to my dads’ place. “Bougie. This is one of thoseleafy green suburbs, huh?”

I laughed. “It’s Hertfordshire, yeah… But, we don’t live in one of the, uh, bigger homes. It’s a terrace Papa inherited from my grandparents.”

“I didn’t realise you wereold moneylike Clara.”

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