Lily nearly choked on her coffee in indignation. ‘No, V, it’s not just a green blob!’

‘So you fixed the irrigation?’

‘After a bit of trial and error, yes,’ Lily conceded.

‘The place looks great, Lils. Really great,’ she insisted and a streak of pride and pleasure wound through her.

Oliver threw an arm over Victoria’s shoulder and pulled her gently back against his side, pressing a kiss onto the crown of her head. She turned suddenly and snatched the kiss from his lips to hers.

Lily’s hands tingled. She wanted that. It wasn’t jealousy, or envy, just … a longing. That easy companionship and affection. But every time Lily tried to imagine it, the only person she saw in her mind was Henry and she literally had to sit on her hands to stop herself from reaching for him.

She felt a pull from him, magnetic and impossible to deny. It wasn’t just the easy affection between Victoria and Ollie that had conjured it. She’d felt it almost from the beginning, and when they’d stood in front of the wedding arch in the warehouse, she’d wanted … she’d wanted … Oh there was no use pretending, she’d desperately wanted him to kiss her.

‘Earth to Lils?’

‘What?’ she said, looking up, realizing that she’d been staring at the table. ‘Sorry?’

‘I was just saying,’ Victoria pressed on, despite the overly watchful frowning gaze she pinned on her, ‘that Ollie has to head back first thing tomorrow and … I have to go with him,’ she winced.

‘V! I thought you were going to be back now until the wedding?’ Lily couldn’t help but cry.

‘I was … but … well …’

‘No need to go full drama queen on me. Spit it out,’ Lily demanded, not unkindly.

‘I have a meeting about the first Victoria Scott bridal collection … in Paris!’

‘What?’ Lily gasped looking at Oliver, who raised his hands.

‘Don’t look at me, this was all V,’ he insisted.

‘Paris? Paris?! Oh my God, V that’s amazing,’ Lily said, leaping out of her chair, grabbing her friend, jumping up and down and squealing in sheer delight.

‘Here we go again,’ Ollie groaned affectionately.

‘I know, I know, I can’t believe it. I’m still trying to pinch myself and I’m genuinely terrified I won’t be able to pull it off—’ Victoria’s words rushed out in one long breath.

‘Of course you will,’ Lily replied. ‘You’re amazing, your designs are fabulous, and they’d be lucky to have the opportunity to sell your creations. So lucky.’ She held Victoria at arm’s length, only to look her in the eyes when she said, ‘You’ve done it, V. It’s all happening for you and I am so, so happy for you.’

‘She’s going to start crying,’ Ollie mock whispered to Henry.

‘Which one?’ Henry returned in an equally obvious stage whisper.