Page 102 of Imogen

The door crashes open behind me and I quickly step back. I watch as Imogen’s shoulders fall and she glances down at the floor to hide her hurt. But I see it. And she’s wrong if she thinks I’m worried about being caught. I just want her to make her mind up without having people in her ear. And if it’s who I think it is… she will stop at nothing to get Imogen in a wedding gown and walking down the aisle. My mum adores her and has loved her since the moment she first met her.

“Oh dear, did I interrupt something?” Mum calls.

“No, Maria. We were just coming to join you,” Imogen promises.

“Hope has joined us too,” Mum reveals.

Imogen smacks her forehead. “Crap! I forgot she was still in the car,” she hisses.

My lips twitch. “You forgot your cousin/best friend was in the car?”

She narrows her eyes into slits. “I had other things on my mind.”

I arch a brow because I’ve seen the girl multi-task whilst on the phone chasing up a delivery. “Really?”

She folds her arms over her chest in a huff. “The food smelt good.”

And there’s the real truth.

“Uh, huh,” I mumble, earning a cute little glower.

“Come! Come eat,” Mum demands.

Imogen takes Mum’s arm and lets her lead them out. I will find time to speak to Imogen after the party is finished, and admit that what I feel for her goes beyond sex.

Our exit didn’t disrupt the party. My sister is still being pampered and the food is still being passed around. Most traditions in our family are that the birthday boy or girl pays for their own party, but we do ours a little different. Everyone pays an anonymous donation and whatever is left after paying for the meal gets donated to a charity of the celebrant’s choosing. Which is why no one bats an eyelid when Imogen joins Hope in posting some money into the box.

I wait for Imogen to take her seat before taking my own. The family have shuffled about to let Hope sit down next to Imogen.

“Thanks for letting us join in celebrating your birthday,” Hope calls down.

Isabella beams. “I’m so glad you could join us. We consider you all family.”

“Don’t say that to our uncle or he’ll never leave,” Imogen announces, causing those who know him to laugh.

Mum folds the napkin in front of her. “He has a hearty appetite, that man.”

“Max Carter doesn’t have a stomach,” Stefania declares, shifting in her seat. “He should come to church with us.”

Hope splutters out a laugh. “I cannot wait to extend the invitation to him.”

“Are you all set for Christmas, Imogen?” Mum asks.

Imogen politely lowers the food she just piled onto her plate. “Mostly. Just a few more bits to get before I’m finished.”

Lucca leans forward in his seat. “Does it not get expensive? Since you and the Hayes became friends, you could fill an entire town up.”

Hope snorts. “I wouldn’t call us friends per se; more like frenemies.”

“I heard you—”

“Not at the dinner table,” Mum scolds.

His shoulders deflate, so Imogen answers his other question. “It is expensive, but we were taught to budget in our teens so we don’t really see the loss. We put money aside each pay day for Christmas and holidays. We’re not allowed to spend mega amounts on anyone, but we can for parents and siblings.”

“What about birthdays?” I ask, a little intrigued. My sisters give me a list of gifts they want and sometimes it can add up to six-hundred quid.

“Not a requirement. Although we do top up each other’s giftcards for Starbucks, Greggs, Netflix etc. Whichever they use the most.”

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