Page 35 of Replay
I squeeze her back, laughing into her neck. “I didn’t do anything. This was all you.”
She pulls back, her eyes flicking back and forth between mine. “I still can’t believe this.”
“Believe it.” I smile as I tuck a loose tendril behind her ear, relishing in the feel of her in my arms. “Whether you accept this position or not, we should celebrate because the contract is signed.”
She licks her lips and smiles at me for a moment. It’s heart-stopping, and it takes everything in me not to grab her face and kiss her right here, right now.
Then suddenly, her face falls, and I see doubt creeping back in. “We better not.”
“Why not?” I ask, refusing to go down without a fight.
Turning, she begins picking up her spare contracts and stuffing them into her bag. “Well, there’s not much to celebrate with when you’re sober.”
“Bollocks,” I scoff, my hand landing on her thigh. “We can grab a couple of fizzy drinks at the corner shop, then go sit in a park somewhere.”
She freezes and glances down at my hand with a look of discomfort, so I quickly remove it, feeling strangely rejected all over again.
“It’s not a good idea, Sonny.”
My jaw tightens as I take in her refusal at full throttle. “If you say so.” Exhaling heavily, I hand her the contract.
With a nervous swallow, she takes the folder. “Thanks.”
And that is now my third rejection from the ever-evasive Tilly Logan, who I just can’t seem to walk away from.
Over the weekend, I’m riddled with anxiety. The offer from Harrods is ridiculous. It’s more money than I ever dreamed of making even back when I was working my way up at Fortnum and Mason. And when I told Freya and Mac, they were both over the moon excited for me. Freya all but told me she would not let me meet my nephew if I didn’t accept the job. And Mac did that proud Scottish father smile his son will feel in full force for his whole life. I even called to tell my parents the good news, and they didn’t seem at all surprised that I most likely won’t be coming back to Dundonald after Freya has the baby.
“You’re too smart for the likes of this wee place, Till,” my dad said, sounding like he was getting choked up.
“Now I can see both my kids in one place when we come to visit,” my mum cooed soothingly. “And I’ll be visiting a lot once that baby is born!”
They always know exactly what to say to make me feel special. Yet still…I can’t shake this anxiety.
And I think I know why.
“Heading out?” Freya chirps from her sofa throne as I try to quietly sneak out the front door on Sunday at noon.
I pause and turn, glancing around for any sign of Mac.
“He went out to pick me up some wine gums.” Freya touches her belly fondly. “The baby demanded it.”
I laugh, then walk over to sit beside her. “I’m going over to Santino’s.”
“I knew it!” she squeals excitedly, her round cheeks pulling back as she smiles. “You saucy minx. You two are having The Sex, aren’t you?”
“No!” I exclaim defensively, feeling a hum begin inside me just at the mention of sleeping with Santino. “No, this is purely a friendship thing. I just feel like a shite because Friday after our meeting, he wanted to celebrate the contract and my job offer, and I kind of rejected him.”
“Why did you reject him?”
“Because he’s bloody perfect!” I nearly shout because I’m so fucking sick of being confused by him.
“He’s got a lot of nerve!” Freya tuts in solidarity. “Doesn’t he know we women only want men who are damaged so that we can project our insecurities on them and feel superior in our less awful fuckedupness?”
“Right!” I reply with a huff. “And I don’t need a distraction like him in my life because I’m here for you. And the baby!” I smile at Freya’s belly that I swear gets bigger by the day. “This is my do-over with you and Mac. I’m here to be the sister I should have been over the past decade or so.”
“Tilly.” Freya says my name in a chastising tone that gives me an instant sneak peek of what she’ll sound like as a mother. “You do not owe us anything more than your love and affection.”
“What?” I ask with a confused laugh.
