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“Does it?” asked Tilly, taking a bite of pizza.

“Well, you’re job focused in an effort to prove yourself to your policeman father, and I’m family focused in order to please my widowed dad. We both had to grow up pretty fast, I’m guessing.And we’re probably both a little too concerned with pleasing people.”

Tilly took that in. “I suppose. I’m not sure my dad would have been angry if I didn’t join the force, though.”

“Mine wouldn’t be angry if I left the garage,” Sophie said. “But he would be hurt. And somehow that’s worse, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Tilly said. “Yes, it is.”

“And this has now turned into a pity party, oops,” laughed Sophie. “Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to get so deep so soon. Want to talk about football or music or something?”

Tilly shook her head. “No, no, I don’t mind.” She smiled. “I feel like we always jump in with both feet. It’s kind of… us.”

“So there’s an us?” Sophie asked, taking another slice of pizza.

“Is there not?” Tilly’s heart beat a little faster, her hands got sweaty. “Am I overstepping?”

But Sophie laughed. “I’m teasing you,” she said. “I know what you mean. All of this has been quick, but then I don’t see how it couldn’t be. You know, my mum and dad got married after three weeks.”

“Three weeks?”

Sophie nodded. “My mum needed the visa to stay in the country and my dad didn’t want her to leave. He always says that when you know, you know. I didn’t really understand. Until now.”

“You know?”

“Do you not?”

It was Tilly’s turn to laugh. “I’m kidding now. Yes, I know. This has never happened to me before, but I suddenly don’t want you not to be in my life. Which is weird, but it’s how it is.”

“Same,” said Sophie, putting pizza crust down on her plate. “But I’m fully aware that this isn’t… normal. That there are things standing in our way.”

“Who’s to say what’s normal?” said Tilly. “We can do things our own way if we like. I don’t see how it’s anyone’s business but ours.”

She looked across the table at Sophie’s smile, at the curve of her cheek, at the light on her skin, and her heart filled so full that she could barely breathe. There was an us. She could feel it, could feel the connection between them.

“Tilly?”

“Mmm?”

“How would you feel about perhaps going upstairs?”

“Upstairs?”

“You do have a bed here, right?” asked Sophie, dabbing at her lips with a piece of paper towel.

“I do.”

Sophie looked at her with large, dark eyes and Tilly’s pulse beat under her skin. “So?”

“So,” said Tilly.

And going upstairs seemed like the most natural thing in the world.

Chapter Twenty Five

Tilly’s flat was a tiny little oasis of calm after the bustle of the main house. The walls were white, the bed was neatly made, and there was a little line of shoes by the front door, all paired and clean. Just the sight of it made Sophie smile.

The whole place smelled of her, a clean, soapy kind of smell, and Sophie sat demurely on the edge of the bed waiting. She wasn’t nervous. This all seemed like it was ordained. When she heard Tilly’s footsteps on the stairs, her heart started to beat harder.