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“Well, that was quite the speech.” Angela sat back, crossing her legs. “Almost rehearsed.”

“Can you leave please?” Eden pinched the bridge of her nose.

“I’m not finished talking to you.”

Eden laughed. “Oh, you are. I’m not listening to another word you have to say.”

“Excuse me?”

“Leave, Mum. I can’t deal with this right now. And change the attitude; it’s appalling.”

Angela got to her feet, facing Eden. “You heard her. Give it some time.”

“Do you want me to be alone? Do you want me to just exist between here and the office?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Then what do you want? Because considering you’ve always told me you want me to be happy, you’re making it very hard to do so this morning.”

“I’m just not convinced this is what you want. You think it is because you see how happy Dom makes Blair, but she had a terrible time with Barrett.”

“So?”

“So, you’re not a beaten housewife, my love. You don’t need to find love in the first person who shows an interest.”

Eden nodded. Not only was Angela insulting her, but she was insulting Blair, too. “You can leave now.”

“Eden—”

“I’ll make sure I let Blair know how you feel about her. And Dom. Which is a shame because they’re both very fond of you. As was I. But standing here this morning, I can’t fathom why.”

Angela’s forehead creased, the realisation of what she’d said now sinking in. “That wasn’t what I meant.”

“Sure sounded that way to me.” Eden moved towards the front door and opened it. She may have been unsure about her mother’s reaction, but this was just sad. “You know, it was Blair who told me you’d be okay with this. She was the one who encouraged me to go after what I wanted. After watching how her mum treated her, disowning Blair, I thought I would have a totally different experience. Seems I was wrong.”

“I-I don’t know what you want from me, Eden.”

“Your love and support would have been nice, but it looks like I only receive that when it suits you.” Eden tilted her head towards the outside corridor. “Leave. I’m done.”

Angela opened her mouth to speak, but Eden held up a hand.

“Leave. I won’t ask you again.”

“As you wish. But we’re not done with this conversation.” Angela stepped out into the corridor, fixing her cerise pink jacket. Eden couldn’t put her finger on the look in her mother’s eyes, but it left her feeling cold.

Eden barked a laugh. “Oh, we are. Don’t bother calling unless you change your attitude and your opinion. Because this, what I have here, isn’t ending. Like it or don’t. I’m not interested.”

Before Angela could respond, Eden closed the door. She needed a moment to breathe before she tackled everything Aster had said. While she loved most of it, she hated the idea of Aster thinking she was uncertain. This morning, Eden was more certain than she had ever been in her life.

Go in there and kiss her like there’s no tomorrow.

* * *

Aster sat perched on the edge of Eden’s bed, holding the hoodie she’d borrowed last night. She lifted it up to her nose, smiling against the material as she inhaled. Eden’s perfume wasn’t overbearing, it was just right. A slight fragrance that didn’t blow your head off. It was just there—calming and delicate—kinda like Eden herself. But that calmness was likely to be out of the window now after her little speech in the living room. Aster knew Eden wouldn’t have appreciated anything she said; it wasn’t her business after all. It was between Eden and her mother.

She cleared her throat and got to her feet, folding Eden’s hoodie and placing it neatly on the bed. Aster would love to take it with her, a memento of sorts, but it would only remind her of the one woman she knew had been off the table from day one. Last night may have been everything to Aster, but she feared the memories of touching something so precious, someone who meant far more than Aster thought, would keep her awake at night. This wasn’t supposed to be their first morning together. It was supposed to be all encompassing. They should have been lounging around, kissing one another and making plans.

The bedroom door opened slowly, Eden’s dark eyes coming into focus as Aster lifted her head. She smiled weakly, lifting her phone from the bed. “Sorry, I didn’t really want to leave while your mum was in the living room. I already feel shit enough.”