Page 202 of The Grand Duel

“Yes?”

“Of course I’ll come out to the house. I’ve missed my babies.”

His face drops. “The dogs.”

I hide my smile as his hand loosens on my waist. “I mean, it’s an added bonus that the guy I fancy a little bit will be there, too. Especially after the way he’s been acting jealous and needy all day.”

He shakes his head, looking down at me. “I’m broken. You’ve broken me.”

I run my hand up his chest and into the nape of his hair, not caring that we’re on the side of the road. “I know,” I tell him, my eyes locked on his. “Which is why I’m not coming to the Fraser meeting.”

He smiles, his chuckle rumbling in his chest. “Good.”

I step back out of his hold, our gazes telling the story for us. The desperation. The fear. The understanding. It’s all unspoken but there, promised.

“Lissie?”

I turn at the sound of my mother’s voice, finding both of my parents standing a foot away from us.

“I thought it was you.”

My hand lifts to my chest, the ache nestled there not something I expected to feel. “You’re…you’re home.”

My mum nods, looking from me to Charlie and then back to me again. “We got home yesterday. How are you?”

I swallow. “I’m fine. This is Charles Aldridge, my boss.”

“Nice to meet you.” He steps forward and holds out his hand to them, my mother taking it first.

My dad eyes the height of him before taking his hand and smiling.

“You’re getting on well at the new firm?” he asks me.

I stare at my dad for a moment, wondering if he’s really going to pretend he knows anything about me and my job.

He’d not have a clue had it not come from Jovie.

And that hurts.

The fact my sister has clearly told them things about me when we are barely speaking.

“She’s doing great. She’s one of a kind and I’d be lost without her. A credit to herself.”

“Oh.” My mum looks from Charlie, her eyes abuzz with happiness, to me, the spark fading instantly when she sees the look on my face.

My sadness.

“A credit tous,” my dad corrects. He looks at me. “Well done.”

The little girl in me would have given anything for such a praise. To be called a credit to them. I wonder if I’d be a credit to them if we didn’t have an audience right now.

“We have to get back to work,” I tell them. My eyes meet my mum’s. “Take care of yourselves.”

With my heart feeling like it’s on the ground between us, I turn away, leaving it there with them. I walk into the ice cream shop, knowing Charlie is right behind me.

“Triple chocolate?” I ask, keeping my stare on the cabinet up ahead.

“Lissie,” he says softly.