Page 24 of Marry Me…Maybe?
‘You look tired, Emily,’ Francesca said, raising an eyebrow as if reprimanding her for not looking after herself properly.
Emily hadn’t been coddled by a mothering figure in a very long time, and the attentiveness made her feel inexplicably sad.
‘I’ve had a busy few days, Francesca,’ she said, beating back the sudden hot, itchy feeling in her eyes.
Francesca frowned. ‘Well, you mustn’t drive back to London tonight. Stay here and go in the morning. It would be dangerous for you to get into a car in that state.’
She felt Theo tense and shift in the seat next to her and heard him let out a quiet huff of annoyance. Apparently, he thought it would be more dangerous for her to stay here.
A fiery rage overtook her, heating her cheeks. She was fed up with him being so unfriendly. Surely it was no skin off his nose if she stayed the night?
‘That would be very kind of you, Francesca,’ she said, picking up Theo’s hand in her hot one and squeezing it hard. ‘I could do with being looked after tonight.’
Theo’s hand remained rigid in hers.
‘That’s a good idea,’ he said finally, his voice terse and clipped.
‘Good, that’s settled, then,’ Francesca said, rising from her sofa.
Theo stood too. ‘Perhaps we should all retire to bed now, as it’s so late?’
She knew what he was doing. He was going to bed too so he wasn’t left alone with her.
Standing up, she brushed down her dress with hands that were now shaking with indignation. She met his eyes and nodded sharply, flashing him a look of nonchalant defiance. ‘Okay. Let’s go to bed.’
They walked up the stairs together, with Francesca in the lead and Theo following closely behind. When they reached the top Francesca paused in front of Theo’s bedroom door.
‘Well, goodnight. I’ll see you bright and early for breakfast,’ she said, giving them both a cool smile.
She paused, seemingly waiting for something.
There was a tense silence as they all looked at each other.
‘Goodnight, Mother,’ Theo said finally, opening the door to his room.
Francesca still didn’t move.
Theo gave her another second to go to her own room, and when she didn’t, he made a small huffing noise and disappeared through his doorway.
Emily gave Francesca a tight smile and a small clumsy wave before following Theo in and closing the door behind her.
She found him standing by the bed with his arms folded tightly against his chest.
‘What?’ she said, flinging her hands wide. ‘What did you expect me to do? Drive all the way back to London in a dangerously tired state? Or are you angry with me for not insisting on being taken to a guest bedroom? Don’t you think that would have looked weird, considering we’re supposed to be so in love? She was waiting for me to come in here like it was a test or something. I had to.’
He relaxed his arms and sighed, sweeping a hand over his brow, then through his hair.
When he looked back at her his eyes were tired. ‘Fair point.’
‘Honestly, Theo, what do you think I am? Some desperate groupie who just can’t function without your attention?’ She decided not to let herself dwell on the undertone of that question. ‘Because I have my own life, you know. I have lots of friends in London and I could find myself some company any night of the week if I wanted to.’
‘I know that, Emily, and it’s not what I was implying.’
‘Really? ’Cos it sure felt like it.’
They glared at each other, neither of them seemingly willing to give in.
Theo broke first. ‘Look, I apologise. I’ve not been sleeping well and it’s affected my judgement.’
