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Back The Sleepover
Chapters (72)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. PROLOGUE
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. 54
  58. 55
  59. 56
  60. 57
  61. 58
  62. 59
  63. 60
  64. 61
  65. 62
  66. 63
  67. 64
  68. EPILOGUE
  69. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  70. MORE FROM KERI BEEVIS
  71. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  72. About Boldwood Books

Hannah ignored the dig. It was something she had come to blows with her mother over many times across the years, but tonight wasn’t the time or the place. Instead she made awkward small talk, wishing the minutes away.

‘So are you in touch with any of the other girls?’ Gail eventually asked, her tone conspiratorial. She didn’t have to say who she meant. It was obvious she had been dying to ask. And she wouldn’t be the only one. Most of those here probably wanted to pick at the old wound to see what would happen.

‘She still sees a lot of Rosie, don’t you, darling,’ her mother answered for her.

It was twice Jane had used the endearment since arriving at the village hall. Hannah remembered she liked to make use of it in front of company.

‘Is she well?’ Gail pried.

‘She is,’ Hannah lied. There was no way she was sharing anything of Rosie’s life with a gossip like Gail. ‘She’s carving quite a name for herself.’

‘She’s an actress,’ Jane pointed out. ‘Been on the soaps.’

Hollyoaks and only fleetingly, but Hannah didn’t correct her.

Gail seemed impressed. ‘I’m so pleased. Such a sweet girl.’ She shook her head pitiably. ‘Poor thing didn’t deserve what happened that summer. She was just a baby.’

Hannah knew where this conversation was going and suddenly she was too hot, wishing she could loosen the high collar of the dress she had chosen. This was why she had been nervous about coming to the party. It was one of her worst nightmares playing out. Gail was still talking, but the words weren’t registering now. Sweat pooled in Hannah’s armpits, her brain fogging up and shutting out the conversation.

But then it stopped, Gail looking towards Hannah, but past her, her mouth slightly open, and Hannah realised Liam was by her side.

‘I got you a large,’ he told her, the smile on his face telling her he knew she needed it.

He handed her the wine, then, with a hand free, placed it once again in the small of her back.

It was comforting and a reminder that she didn’t have to do tonight alone.

Gail was still gawping at him and Hannah’s mother was quick to make the introductions, eagerly telling her friend all about Liam’s books. She must have googled him, as she suddenly seemed to know an awful lot about them, and Hannah hid her smirk as Liam actually blushed.