Page 121 of The Naughty List

Mum is smiling at me. Happy. Just like I am. We haven’t shut up for days, none of us – but so far, Josh has been kept under the radar. Still, it was only time.

I take a deep breath and soak in some more of the sunshine. It’s bliss being here with my parents, in their gorgeous home, overlooking the sea. I sobbed like a baby, wrapped tight their arms when I charged over to them in the arrivals lounge. I didn’t stop crying all the way back to theirs.

“He works at the same agency as I do,” I tell Mum. “His name is Josh.”

“Josh, right.” Her eyes are probing, I can tell, even through her sunglasses. “And he’s a good guy, is he? Not a sack of shit who’ll ditch you for a groupie?”

I shrug. “Too early to say, but the signs are good.”

“Can’t wait to meet him. Maybe you’ll be bringing him next time.” She gestures over to Dad, who’s making lunch as he whistles. “He’ll get grilled hotter than that barbie by your father, you know. He’ll give you the verdict, thumbs up or down. He gave Connor the thumbs down from the moment he first showed up. But you wouldn’t have listened.”

“I’ll take more notice this time. I’m a bit older and wiser now.”

“Maybe,” she says, leaning over to pull me in for a kiss. “But you’ll always be our little girl.”

I feel like it. A little girl back at home, even thoughhomeis now on the other side of the world. Nothing will ever change that. But home is truly where the heart is, and my heart is with my parents, here on Christmas Day.

As if reading my mind, Mum takes hold of the necklace I bought her.World’s best mummyit says, with a cute little bear on the front. Eb said it was cringe, but I knew Mum would love it. Same as the cushion I bought them, with the picture of the three of us dressed up in Santa robes. It has pride of place on their sofa.

Dad is proudly wearing the high tech watch I bought him, too. It was lovely to see his face when he opened it.

“Maybe I’ll ask Josh if he wants to come along for a trip,” I say.

“We might see him in a few months, then.”

“A few months might be a bit premature.” I laugh. “Don’t you think?”

She gives me the side eye.

“We’ll see.”

My next flights here are already booked for May. Another three weeks in the sun with Mum and Dad. Who knows? Maybe Josh will be at my side, too. Our messages have been getting more and more spicy, and intense, and deep, to the core. He’s a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, as well as bares his ass for his clients, so Tiff tells me. She sings his praises all day long, saying she’s already got ideas for bridesmaid dresses for her and Eb. Both of them are rooting for us.

Dad brings over our next round of Christmas hotdogs and takes his place on the lounger next to Mum. He looks at her with utter adoration, like he always has, but it’s more obvious to me now than when I was younger. Not just the love, but the respect. It’s hard to see it in other people, when you’re not getting it for yourself.

But I am now. I respect myself enough to hold the bar high, and Josh is doing the high jump right from the off. He’s already booked the restaurant for our first official date. One of the very finest in Kensington. I suspect he’ll turn up with something a little more tasteful than garage flowers.

“Ells has met someone,” Mum tells Dad, and he sits upright so he can see my expression, chomping down some hotdog before he speaks.

“Is he half decent, or some other punkish prick who thinks he’s a legend?”

Ouch. Dad hasn’t gone easy on Connor since I told them the full story about Carly.

“How about a punkish legend?” I laugh. “A hybrid? Will that do?”

Dad rolls his eyes, but Mum taps his leg playfully.

“Don’t get judgy until you meet him, Ted!”

“I’ll get judgy as soon as he steps off the plane. If he’s as much of a jackass as Connor, he can turn straight back round again. I’ll kick his butt right through departures.”

“That’s enough, Ted,” Mum says.

“No, it isn’t. Not where our daughter is concerned. Connor’s a bloody snake, and a fool. I’ll not have Ella walked all over. End bloody of!”

The heartrate monitor on his new watch bleeps at the increase and Mum tells him to calm down. I laugh out loud. I love how protective he is of me. I type out a message to Josh between mouthfuls of hotdog.

My parents are asking when they’ll get to meet you. I’ve been busted messaging.

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