But then Ed props onto his side, his fingers finding their way onto her stomach and gently tracing a map of their own. The sensation causes her breath to catch in her throat. He senses this and lowers his head, gently kissing her on the shoulder. His big eyes look up at her, somewhat cautious.

‘You were so angry that night,’ she says, remembering Ed’s face after she’d kissed him. ‘You basically shoved me into that taxi. I thought you hated me.’

‘I was furious with you,’ he admits, ‘because that kiss was bloody amazing, and I knew it was going to be pretty hard going back to being your best friend and watching you marry someone else.’

Drew.

They’re both silent for a moment.

‘Is he all right?’

There’s a lump in her throat. She tries not to let any guilt take hold. ‘He will be.’

‘About this?’

Them.

Us.

Darcy’s eyes meet Ed’s. Her heart clenches at the thought of having to tell Drew about him. ‘Maybe, with time?’

Ed gives a small nod. She imagines he’s going through the same feelings she had when he and Sienna split up. Darcy and Ed had met on the first day of university and immediately hit it off. Drew had been Darcy’s boyfriend and therefore Ed and Drew became mates too.

She turns, propping herself up to match him. ‘Let’s not think about that today.’

‘Agreed.’ He leans in, their faces almost touching. ‘What do you propose we do?’

She bites down on her lip, a burning hunger raging through her body. ‘I was thinking we could do a bit more of this …’ And as she pushes her body on top of his, her words drift away …

Chapter 62

62

‘How’s the pain?’ Ty asks as he settles next to her. The warm sun streams through their large window. They’ve spent weeks curled up here on the lounge they chose together, back when they thought they had forever ahead of them. Neither had realised the practical dark-coloured fabric they’d chosen with kids in mind wouldn’t matter. No kids of theirs would climb over the lounge or spill food on it. Instead Penelope has lain propped against cushions listening to Ty read her passages from some of her favourite books, both of them trying not to think about the end approaching at rapid speed.

‘Okay,’ she murmurs from dry lips, her pain constant but oddly bearable for the moment.