‘Give over!’ laughed Rosie. ‘You’re on holiday, and Will’s a big boy. I’m sure he can manage to get himself to the hotel on time. I mean… their booking’s less than twelve hours away!’
‘Want a bet?’ said Leah, her voice low. ‘I’m not usually a gambling kinda girl, but I’d go a full five hundred pounds that he’ll be more than an hour late if I don’t give him a nudge. That’s if he turns up at all.’
‘How about a fiver that he turns up roughly on time without prodding?’ said Rosie.
‘Done,’ said Leah. ‘And you’re not allowed to cheat and remind him between now and then.’
‘Scout’s honour,’ laughed Rosie.
‘I’ll be kind and give you some leeway,’ said Leah. ‘Fifteen minutes either side will still count as him being on time.’
‘Easiest fiver I’ve ever made.’ Rosie winked at her. ‘So, you’ll come up to the house for dinner with me and Connie?’
Leah bit her lip, thinking hard. What was the harm? It would definitely beat sitting around in the flat, mourning the fact that life as she knew it was quickly coming to an end.
‘Okay,’ she said, nodding. ‘I’d love that.’
‘Good,’ said Leah. ‘Hey, where are you going? I thought you were joining us all for breakfast?’
‘Promise I’ll be back in five minutes,’ she said, veering away at speed before they could reach the little group. ‘Will you bring my bag?’
‘Sure, but…?’
‘I’m just going to run up to the flat and get changed,’ she said, putting on a burst of speed before Rosie could protest.
While she was at it, she’d wash her hair, put on some mascara, take a breath… and do her best not to obsess about the fact that Will was still looking at her in a way that was making her toes curl with longing!
CHAPTER 7
WILLIAM
‘Hey, Rosie Posie!’ said Will, forcing a smile as Matt’s girlfriend barrelled into him for a hug.
They’d known each other since they were kids, and there was usually something incredibly comforting about her familiar grin and tight embrace.
Right now, though, Will was having a hard time not giving her the third degree about why Leah was busy disappearing in the opposite direction.
One minute, she’d been heading towards their little group—looking like he’d never seen her before—all long legs and tanned curves. But by the time he’d disentangled himself from Connie, Leah had changed direction and seemed to be retreating from the beach in a hurry.
‘What’s up, little brother?!’ said Rosie, stepping back. ‘You’ve not been eating enough!’
‘Trust me, I have,’ said Will. ‘Leah makes sure I don’t starve.’
‘Poor girl, I don’t envy her having to babysit you all the time,’ said Matt, who was crouched low, giving Stanley a head rub.
‘You guys make me sound like a complete nightmare,’ tutted Will.
‘Hey, you said it, not me,’ chuckled Matt.
‘Be nice,’ hissed Rosie, prodding Matt with her foot and sending him sprawling onto the pebbles. Stanley was delighted and instantly pounced on him, licking his face.
‘Yeah, be nice. I’ve got Stanley on my side!’ laughed Will, watching the serious doctor trying to save himself from drowning in doggy kisses. ‘Anyway, I don’t know what I’d do without Leah.’
‘Oh yeah?!’ demanded Connie, wiggling her eyebrows.
‘Yeah,’ said Will, ‘she’s brilliant.’
‘Brilliant, huh?’ said Rosie, joining in.
