Page 34 of A Little Love Song in Seabury
Grabbing the mobile before she could chicken out, Leah swiped at the screen—and let out a long sigh. Just three notifications… none of which were from Will.
Leah swallowed, feeling guilty as she opened the first message that had arrived not long after she’d left Seabury House.
Hey, sorry you’re feeling rubbish. If you need anything, call me - day or night. Don’t forget we’ve got a Dr in the house if you need one. Big hugs, Rosie xx
The second message had arrived about an hour later.
Message me in the morning to let us know how you are! Connie x
The next one had clearly just pinged in.
Answer your door in 30 minutes for a welfare check. If you’re ill, we’ll get you sorted. If you’re not, you’re coming to breakfast! C&R
P.S. if you don’t open your door, Doris has got a spare key and someone’s coming in to check on you!
Leah couldn’t help but smile. She was going to miss these two. Even though she’d only met them in person the previous day, the three of them had been messaging and video calling for months now.
Connie and Rosie were more than just friends… they felt like extended family, and she’d been kidding herself that she’d be able to break contact with them just because she wouldn’t be working for Will anymore.
Leah let out a long breath and checked the time, then she double-checked when that last message had been sent.
‘Crap, I’ve got less than five minutes!’ she squeaked, jumping out of bed.
Well, one thing was for sure, she definitely didn’t have time to make a break for London before they’d be banging her door down!
Sure enough, Leah barely had time to grab her hairbrush and drag it through her mop before there was a loud, booming knock from downstairs.
‘Damnit!’ she muttered. She hadn’t even had time for a shower!
Glancing down at herself, she let out a little groan. All she had on was a pair of boxer-knickers and an ancient Magic Roundabout tee-shirt that she was using as her PJs. She peered around, hunting for something with a bit more coverage, whenthere was a second knock at the door, this time louder and more urgent.
To hell with it!
If she didn’t get down there pronto to let the girls in, they’d no doubt make good on their threat and raise the alarm with Doris. Either that or they’d opt for the quicker version, and simply break the door down.
‘I’m coming, don’t panic!’ she yelled on a half-laugh as she darted down the steps. They’d just have to put up with herjust-out-of-bedstate. She was sure they’d seen worse.
Leah couldn’t help but smile as she unlocked the door. At least she was going to see the pair of them one last time before she left. Hopefully, she could make them understand…
‘You’d better have brought breakfast with you, I’m starving!’ she laughed, opening the door with a flourish.
The laughter promptly died on her lips. There, staring at her as if he’d never seen her before, was William Pepper.
Leah froze, blinking in confusion for several long seconds. Then, it slowly started to dawn on her that she was standing in front of her boss, wearing nothing more than a pair of knickers and a knackered tee-shirt that may or may not be see-through in places from all the washing and wearing.
Leah promptly unfroze and did a funny little dance as she wrapped one arm around her boobs while simultaneously trying to stretch the hem of her tee-shirt as low as it would go to cover as much as she could.
‘Hey,’ said Will, who’d been staring at her but hastily lifted his eyes skywards.
‘What are you doing here?’ said Leah, half-considering slamming the door in his face.
Nope. Too rude.
The other option was to just leave him standing on the doorstep and sprint back up the stairs. Unfortunately, though, that would just give him an unrestricted view of her bum.
‘I thought the girls messaged you this morning?’ said Will, glancing at her before quickly looking at the sky again. ‘We wanted to check you’re okay. After your headache.’
‘We? I thoughttheywere coming.’
