Total pages in book: 184
Estimated words: 176002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
I get a montage of sudden memories at the sound of the birds, and the wind through the trees. I remember picking flowers on weekend walks with Mum and Dad when I was tiny – making necklaces with daisies and dandelions. I remember strolling hand in hand with Connor in the summer breeze, his guitar slung over his shoulder until we reached the woods, where we’d sit on our regular bench as he strummed his heart out.
Heather and Phil’s place is a lot more earthy than my parents’ house was. They have long grass and wild flowers around the outside of the lawn, and plenty of bird feeders stocked up with seeds. There are wind spinners in the garden, and I hear the faint ringing of windchimes from over by a cute wooden shed, painted in faded rainbow colours along the side.
“Caroline did that with Mum, before she discovered the wonder of black velvet,” Josh says, when he follows my gaze. “It’s been like that for years.”
“It’s cool.”
He smiles. “Yeah, it is. This place wouldn’t be the same without it now. It’s part of the charm. Like Caroline herself, no matter how much of a pain in the ass she is.”
We walk up to the garden gate hidden in the hedgerow. It’s a little wooden one that creaks when Josh opens it for me. His parents have lived here all his life, and I try to imagine him as a little kid with all his siblings around him, running along the path to the front door.
“What do you think?” Josh asks me. “Do you like it? Good first impression?”
“I love it.”
“Countryside or city? What’s your verdict?”
I look at him. “My verdict?”
“Yeah, your verdict, for when we do the whole settle down with marriage and kids and a couple of dogs thing. Countryside or city?”
I love how he’s talking about our future as though it’s already set in stone.
“Both,” I say. “Let’s make sure we earn enough money to do both. We can keep your Belgravia apartment, and get a country home, how’s that sound?”
He smiles as we walk along the path.
“Sounds great to me. Let’s milk the hardcore ladder for all it’s worth. You can make double anal a staple of yours now.” He laughs as we reach the door. “We could always book in some special edition double proposals. You can take the anal and I can dessert spoon the cum out of you as the clients watch.”
He’s still laughing when a pretty, older woman answers the door in a long floaty skirt and pale blue cardigan, and bloody hell, she must have heard him. There’s no way she wouldn’t have. I could curl up and die of embarrassment, but she doesn’t seem fazed in the slightest, just pulls him in for a hug, and tuts in his ear.
“Joshua, at least introduce your lovely new girlfriend before discussing double anal at the dinner table, will you, please?”
He hugs her right back. “Hey, Mum. Don’t worry. I’ll keep my trap shut.” And then they both turn to look at me. “And here we have her. My lovely new girlfriend. The woman that dreams are made of.”
My cheeks burn at his intro.
“Hi, Heather,” I say. “I’m really pleased to meet you.”
She pulls me in for a hug of my own, and it’s genuine and warm, like Joshua’s.
“It’s great to meet you, Holly.” She pulls away shaking her head. “Sorry, forgive me. Damnit, Josh!” She sighs. “He was always referring to you as Holly at first, and it’s stuck. It’s Ella, of course. Don’t worry, we’ll all get used to it.” She welcomes me inside. “Honestly. We’ve had Weston, Josh, Cream, Tiffany, Magpie, Amy, and all this name business set Caroline off doing it as well. We’ve had to endure Lina, Callie and Caz, all on the back of Weston and Cream. Urgh.” She shakes her head, smiling in good humour. “Ella, please ignore all this nonsense, we’ll get your name right, I promise.”
I’m grinning back at her, because her smile is so endearing. Josh definitely has her eyes. They are gorgeous. I could listen to her speak for eternity.
My boyfriend sighs as he takes off his jacket and hangs it over the banister. He holds out a hand for mine, and I slip it off with a thanks.
“What name is Caroline going by currently?” he asks. “Is she still Cazzie, or has she changed it again?”
“No, it’s not Cazzie anymore,” Heather says. “It’s Carly now.”
The hairs on my neck prickle. But no. No. It can’t be anything. Just a coincidence.
“Carly,” Josh says. “Right. I’ll try my best to remember.”
His mum leads us through to the kitchen and offers me a drink. I ask for a glass of water, sipping it while I try my best not to freak out. But then I remember what Josh said… about Caroline trying to imitate Tiff… with her pillar box red hair…