Page 68 of The Retreat
‘That’s so sweet,’ Celeste said, holding up her wineglass. ‘It’s obvious you two are meant to be.’
Imogen turned to Talia and smiled with all the sincerity she was allowed in this strange, shapeshifting moment. ‘I wasn’t sure if it made sense at first. But we just clicked,’ she said quietly. ‘Like I’ve never clicked with anyone.’
She leaned in before she could second-guess herself and kissed her. A soft brush of lips, almost chaste. But Talia didn’t hesitate. She met her halfway, closing that sliver of distance with something sure and open and warm.
It lasted no more than a second. But it was enough. Enough to short-circuit Imogen’s thoughts, to make her pulse spike.
It was electric. And so fucking real.
‘Aww,’ Marcus said, a little too loudly.
Imogen barely heard him. She was looking into Talia’s eyes. And Talia was looking right back.
Forty-Seven
Talia saw the look before Imogen even pushed back her chair. It wasn’t obvious. Barely a crease of the brow, a flick of her eyes in Talia’s direction. But it landed. It said:Follow me.
She waited three seconds. Maybe four. Then murmured something vague to the table and slipped out behind her.
The lighting in the restaurant bathroom was too bright, the kind that revealed more than it softened. Imogen was waiting in front of the sinks, leaning against them as Talia pushed the door open. The sight of her at that moment robbed Talia of her breath.
‘You followed me,’ Imogen said.
For a second, Talia thought she’d gotten it wrong. ‘I thought you wanted me to,’ she said.
‘I did,’ Imogen said, not entirely readable.
Talia let the door close gently behind her. The latch clicked louder than she expected. For a long moment, they just stood there in an extremely loud silence.
‘I don’t know what that was out there,’ Imogen said finally, her eyes not quite meeting Talia’s.
Talia took a slow step forward. She didn’t want to rush this. Didn’t want to fuck it up.
‘I hoped that you would,’ she said.
Imogen let out a laugh, short and brittle. ‘Look, you’re a lawyer. And a good one, by all accounts. I’m sure you can spin a convincing yarn if you want to.’
‘I’m not lying right now,’ Talia said, her voice steady. ‘And I wasn’t lying when I kissed you back.’
Imogen finally turned and looked at her directly. ‘Then why did you wait until there were witnesses? You had a chance before… did you not know what I was going to say in the room?’
‘No. Maybe.’ Talia sighed. ‘Yes, I did.’
‘Then why not just shut your mouth and let me say it?’ Imogen asked.
Talia opened her mouth. Closed it. She could feel her pulse thudding in her throat. ‘Because when you talk for a living,’ she said, ‘that’s not always your first instinct.’
Imogen arched an eyebrow but didn’t move.
Talia took a breath. ‘OK, fine. I was scared.’
‘Of what?’ Imogen asked.
‘Me,’ Talia admitted. ‘I don’t know if… look. I’m... not easy. I disappear into work. I get irritable when I’m tired, and I snap when I’m scared. The more anxious I feel, the more confident I act.’
Imogen’s expression didn’t change, but something in her shoulders softened.
Talia went on. ‘I hate being vulnerable. I hate feeling weak. I hate admitting I’m wrong.’
