An idea forms in my head. “Don’t worry about planning anything, I’ve got it covered.”
“Okay.” Intrigue fills his face, but I don’t let on.
“I’m going to miss you,” he murmurs before dropping down to capture my lips.
“I’ll see you later.” I watch as he walks down our driveway and climbs into the car I didn’t realize he’d ordered.
After waving him off, I head back in to join Bailey in the kitchen.
She looks over her shoulder at me from where she stands at the stove, and a smile curls her lips.
“You look really fucking happy.”
I sigh, dropping down into a chair and unable to fight my own smile.
“I know I joke, but he’s really good for you.”
“I think you might be right.”
“So what happened last night, then? You never said he was coming.”
“It wasn’t planned,” I admit. “I was in bed trying to sleep, and he just turned up.”
“Oh, I love a good booty call.”
“Is there anything involving sex that you don’t like?”
“Umm…” She pretends to think for a second before she starts laughing. “So, is this thing getting serious?”
I’m desperate to say yes, but the reality is that I really have no idea. “I don’t know,” I admit. “He tells me he doesn’t do serious or even consider the possibility of a future, but then he turned up last night and told me that he needed me and didn’t want to be anywhere else in the world. I don’t know what to believe.”
She stares at me for a beat before a small smile appears on her lips. “You’ve turned that poor man’s world upside down, H.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Oh, come off it. He might have never wanted a future with anyone before—he was probably telling the truth there—but equally, he’s never met anyone quite like you before. He’s freaking out. You’re showing him something he never thought he wanted.”
“Really?” I hate sounding so unsure, but while he’ll openly admit that this kind of thing is all new to him, I’m not exactly an expert either. I’ve never had any kind of serious relationship. He’s not the only one in uncharted water right now
“Yeah, but it doesn’t really matter. It’s been what? A week? Do you need to put a label on whatever it is yet? Just enjoy it. If it continues then great. If it doesn’t, then you know you tried and enjoyed yourself.”
Her words play out in my mind as we eat our breakfast. Bailey knows me well enough to know that I need time to process this huge change in my life. To anyone else this might be nothing, but I’ve never opened myself up to this kind of possibility before, and as exciting as it might be, it’s equally as terrifying.
“How was your aunt yesterday?” Bailey asks eventually once we’ve finished eating.
I give her a rundown of how I found her, and Bailey’s face shows the exact concern I feel. I told her to call me if she needed anything or was feeling worse, and when I checked my cell when I got up, there was nothing. I can only hope that means she’s feeling a little better.
Bailey disappears to do her thing, and after washing up our mess, I sit down with a coffee to write a list. Selfishly, I don’t want to go out tonight. I want to spend the night in with Corey, so I’m going to treat him to a little of my home cooking. It won’t be all that impressive, but I’ve got a few signature dishes up my sleeve thanks to my aunt’s teaching skills.
Thankfully, when I get to her, the curtains have all been opened, and even without getting inside the house, I can already sense that it’s a much less depressing place to be today.
“Hello?” I call once I’ve poked my head through the front door.
“In the kitchen, sweetie.”
I make my way through with bags in hand. “Whoa, you look better today.”
“I feel it.” I breathe a sigh of relief. We all know what’s coming, but just seeing the twinkle of life back in her eyes makes me feel so much lighter. I didn’t want to admit it, but I thought yesterday might have been the beginning of the end. The fact that she’s standing here now has tears burning my eyes.
“I just needed a good rest. I’d been doing too much.”
Rolling my eyes at her, I walk over, drop the bags onto the table and kiss her on the cheek.
“So, enough about me. Tell me about you. Have you seen your British man again?”
My cheeks burn, giving her all the answer she needs.
“Oh goodie, I was hoping for some juicy gossip. How about you make us a drink and tell me all about it?”
“Sure thing. Go and sit down.”
“There are cookies in the tin.”
“You made cookies?”
“I fancied a treat. Don’t worry, I did it in the mixer. I hardly moved a muscle.”
I raise a brow at her, relieved that my moaning is finally sinking in. I can’t chastise her for the cookies though, because they’re too damn good.
“So, come on.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me. “Make an old woman very happy.”
“You’re not old,” I mumble around a mouthful of cookie.
“Maybe not, but it’s been a few years, and it’s not like I have any of that in me these days.”
A spray of cookie flies from my mouth at her innuendo. To start with, she looks horrified that I’ve just covered myself in half-chewed biscuit but after a second she realizes what she said and barks out a laugh of her own.
“I didn’t mean it quite like that, but at least I now know you have exciting things to tell me, if your mind is going there.”
My cheeks burn, and as much as I might want to deny it, to not allow her to think of all the things I’ve been up to, I can’t. I realize right there and then just how incredible my time with Corey has been. Even his meltdown yesterday
