‘Don’t tell anyone, Graystone,’ I whisper into his sweet-smelling head. ‘But it was mind-blowingly hot, like nothing I have ever experienced. It almost made me dizzy.’
Graystone stays silent.
I sigh softly. ‘I know. I know. He made it abundantly clear that it’s just sex he’s after, but so what?’
Last night I was a bit tipsy and had persuaded myself that I didn’t want to be just another notch on his bedpost, but in the cold light of day, why not? This is the new, adventurous me. Besides there’s always been this thing between us. Why not give in and just let it burn itself out. I’m not in any danger. It’s just a physical thing. I know I won’t fall in love with him or anything crazy like that. I mean I don’t really even like the man.
I replay the dance, the kiss, the extraordinary way he had licked me as if he was claiming his territory. I touch my belly button and feel an immediate reaction between my legs. Wetness! It was never like this with Lupo or anyone before him.
I put Graystone back on the shelf and roll out of bed, determined not think of BJ until tomorrow when I’ll decide whether or not to turn up at Pigeon’s Pie. I open my bedroom door and hear the sounds of my brothers’ voices downstairs. Still in my pajamas and without going to the bathroom first or making myself look presentable, I run down the stairs and into the living room. My mother is sitting in her armchair and my three brothers are sitting on the long sofa talking to her.
They all turn towards me.
‘Sleeping Beauty is awake,’ Shane says.
‘Hello, sleepyhead,’ Jake greets. I go over to the sofa and standing at the armrest, let myself fall like a felled tree into my brothers’ laps. Just like I have been doing since I was a child.
‘Timber,’ Dominic calls and they catch me, laughing.
‘Layla, you’re not a little girl anymore. You’re far too old to be doing such unladylike things,’ my mother disapproves.
‘No, she’s not,’ Shane rushes to my defense.
‘Stop spoiling her,’ my mother scolds him, but her voice lacks any real conviction. Secretly, she is proud of how close her family is. ‘She’s old enough to be a mother herself,’ she adds grumpily.
‘Perish the thought. She’s still just a baby herself,’ Jake says lazily, gently sweeping hair out of my face.
‘She’s never going to be too old for this even when she is 90,’ adds Dominic, who is sitting in the middle. With a growl he begins to tickle my belly. Suddenly all of them have gotten into the act and there are hands everywhere, in my armpits, my ribs, my belly. With a yelp I try to wriggle and evade their roaming hands, but their grip is steel-like and there are too many hands coming from all sides. Helpless, I laugh until I am gasping for air and my stomach hurts.
‘I haven’t been to the toilet yet. I’m gonna wee on you,’ I splutter desperately.
It works instantly. They stop immediately and I worm off them and land on the floor on my back, breathless and panting.
My brothers look down at me indulgently, but my mother is tutting away. I turn my head towards my mother’s upside down face.
‘I thought you were going to wake me up and let me help you with lunch.’
‘I heard you stumbling around at two in the morning. I wanted you to have a good rest. You look better for it. Anyway, everything is done. Go and make yourself presentable. Lunch is in an hour.’
‘Thanks, Ma.’ I grin at her, then I turn my head back towards Jake. ‘Where is Lily?’
‘She was feeling a bit tired. She’s lying down in Ma’s room.’
I frown. I really like Lily. There is something so delicate and sweet about her. ‘She’s okay, right?’
‘Yeah, she’s fine.’
I sit up. ‘OK, I’m going to go say hello. See you guys after I have peed.’
I run up the stairs towards my mother’s room. Outside her door I knock softly and call, ‘Lily?’
‘Come in,’ she says instantly.
I open the door and she is trying to sit up. She is already eight months pregnant and her belly is quite big for her tiny frame.
‘Don’t sit up,’ I tell her and she lies back down.
I go up to her. ‘Can I listen?’
She smiles.
I crouch next to the bed, put my ear against her stomach, and listen to my niece. For a few seconds everything is quiet. Then I distinctively hear a noise.
‘What can you hear?’ Lily asks.
‘I think she just hiccupped,’ I tell her.
Lily laughs. ‘You’re as bad as your brother. He swears he can hear her laugh.’
I look at her incredulously. ‘Really?’
She looks at me and shakes her head. ‘Through amniotic fluid? Very doubtful. But, to be fair, when he puts his head on my stomach she will shift around excitedly and kick hard. As if she recognizes her father.’