Page 22 of The Chance
The slight pressure of Seb’s palm on my lower back gave me cause to shiver. An intoxicating scent of him swirled in the evening breeze, complementing the sweet cut grass and floral wafts. A lightness and joy spread through my body like I'd found home, until the sun hid behind a cloud and reminded me of the future.
Opening the passenger door, he nodded. A mischievous glint flickered in his blue eyes. I didn't want to grin like a fool, but I did. "Sophia is excited to see you. She thinks you’re as pretty as a possum. Those were her words, not mine. I think it might have something to do with the Australian topic in school." He winked as I sunk down into the leather car seat.
The moment he closed the door, leaving me alone, I exhaled the breath I’d been holding. It gave me time to assemble thoughts, rationally. What's a little sex between friends, we could be friends, right?
When he bounced into the driver’s seat, I slid him a cheeky grin. "Would you agree with her assessment of me?"
The corner of his mouth twitched. "One hundred percent. I've often thought possums were cute - with their beady little eyes and fur." The rumble in his chest sparked delightful vibrations and my thighs clenched.
I swatted his arm playfully, enjoying the contact more than I should. "Well then, I'm flattered." I laughed. “Where’s the Range Rover?"
"That old thing is for around the farm. I wouldn't jump in this car with cow shit all over me."
"This is your car?"
"Sure is. Do you like it?" He gave me a sideways glance as we sped away from my house.
"It's okay, I guess." I smirked, sitting back and savouring the smell of new leather and the dreamy man beside me.
Nine
The large oak kitchen in the farmhouse was filled with mouth-watering aroma's and loud chatter. Seb’s sister, Monica, was knee deep in gravy prep and gave me a quick, but welcoming hug when he introduced us. I offered to help, even though I’d be as much use in the kitchen as an ashtray on a motorbike. Luckily, Sophia hopped over at that exact moment and squeezed me for so long that I could feel her little heart dancing in her chest. She slotted her small hand into mine and tugged, leading me up the stairs to her princess bedroom. After meeting every doll and stuffed animal, shaking each paw and tentacle in turn, we joined Sebastian back in the kitchen. I sauntered to his side, feeling the pull of his stare from the second I entered the room. His eyes glistened when I told him about the new friends I’d made, and his sloping smirk made me lean in closer. Sophia was instructed to set the table. Even though I wanted to press myself against Seb all night, I offered to help her because that was the one thing I could do, without messing it up.
"My uncle likes you," she said a little louder than a whisper but low enough for Seb not to hear over the soft lull of music playing in the background.
"Does he indeed? What makes you think that?" I played along with her secret conversation, but truth be told, I was dying to know why she thought it.
"He looks at you funny. Like how Mummy looks at Daddy after she's had wine." Right, lust. I knew that already. "He told Mummy that you're different."
"Different?" I looked back over my shoulder to find Seb carving a turkey.
"Yeah. Different. I guess he thinks your marmalade."
"Marmalade?"
Sophia rolled her eyes like her analogy was lost on the dumb grown up. "I used to have jam on my toast every night for supper. Mummy ran out and gave me Daddy’s marmalade. It smelled funny. She was going to take away Rumples, that’s my bunny, so I ate it. I had no idea it was yummers until I tried it. I think Rumples liked it too.”
"I'm marmalade?" I whispered with a heartfelt sigh. "Really?"
"Sure you are. Daddy sits at the head of the table. He's walking now, did you know that?" Sophia set her father's cutlery out on the table and folded a napkin. "Uncle Seb said he's confused about leaving. Mummy said he has to do what his heart tells him."
Fuck his heart, mine was banging so hard that I was afraid it would fracture a few ribs. He’d actually spoken to Monica about me, about us - was there anus? "Did he tell you what he was going to do?" I lowered my voice breathlessly.
"He said that..."
"Soph, your mum wants you to put the mashed potatoes on the table." Seb strolled across the room at the most inconvenient moment. I needed to know what she’d heard, but Sophia obediently trotted away, taking her secret with her.
Seb stood by my side, his searching eyes reflecting the gleam of overhead spotlights. "She's a chatterbox. She gets that from her mum. Take a seat, Lexi."
He pulled out a chair and beckoned for me to sit, then he dragged out his own chair. As he sat, his hand drifted to my sleeve and his thumb traced the seam of the soft fabric. "I'm glad you came."
"Thanks for inviting me." Did he want to make a go of this? I couldn't ask, not here. Not while his brother-in-law was limping to the table like a war veteran.
"Lexi! Nice to meet you. I'm Wayne." The wobbly guy made it to the table and let out a gust of air like it had taken his last breath to walk unaided.
He dropped down onto the dining chair and tore off the end of a baguette.
"Hey, Wayne, nice to meet you too. Looks like you’re managing on your feet now," I added, even though I knew his recovery meant Seb's pending departure.
