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She thinks I’m some sort of saint, and all I can think about is getting in her knickers.

Alice freed her fingers and rolled over. “Night, Ash.”

14

THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS DO, RIGHT?

Alice surfaced from sleep with the weight of an arm wrapped around her, a leg hooked over her thigh, and the rhythmic rise and fall of sleeping breath warm on her neck.

At some point, whilst they’d been sleeping, Ash had rolled into the space between them. Alice clearly hadn’t resisted, so they now lay entwined like lovers. Alice closed her eyes again, her senses awakening to the woman embracing her. Even if it was unintentional, it felt so good to be held like this.

Ash snuffled in her sleep and snuggled up closer, her pelvis rocking into Alice. The movement triggered an involuntary response, heat rising between Alice’s legs as she gently pushed back into Ash. Their hips rocked together, and Alice moaned out loud before she could mute herself.

Fuck.

Ash inhaled sharply and rolled away.

Alice held her breath, not wanting Ash to realise she’d been awake and enjoyingwhatever that was. And to her shame, she wished she were still enjoying it as the throb between her thighs desperately needed some relief. Ash got out of bed and padded to the bathroom, and Alice silently screamed into her pillow.This friendship business is fucking torture.

On hearing Ash rattling round in the kitchen, Alice dashed into the loo. Whilst peeing, she touched the bruise on her knee, which had blossomed into a rainbow of colours.

Alice scoffed at her reflection in the bathroom mirror; her hair was a mess of wild curls that she’d have to tame later — goodness knew how with a broken wrist, besides, Ash had already seen her looking much worse than this.

Alice stilled at the sight of Ash moving around her kitchen. Ash reached for the cafetière on the top shelf and the loose T-shirt rode up, exposing those tight boxer-briefs that left nothing to the imagination. Alice chewed her lip, biting down on the urge to saddle up behind Ash and run her hands underneath the T-shirt. The desire to kiss that soft brown skin. Just the thought of cupping Ash’s breasts and nibbling her neck was making her wet. Alice sighed.

Ash spun around and flashed her a broad grin. “Hey, morning. Sorry, did I wake you?”

“Er…”Oh my God, yes! And I still haven’t recovered.“No, no. You’re all good.”

“Coffee?”

“Yeah, that’d be great.” Alice swallowed.

“Cool. If you want to go back to bed, I can bring it through.”

“Sure.”

“How’s your wrist feeling?”

“Not too bad.” Alice glanced at her splint, remembering it was there. With how they’d woken up this morning, she hadn’t even paused to consider her pain.

“Good, I’m pleased it isn’t giving you too much trouble. You should take these anyway.” Ash dropped two white tablets into Alice’s open palm and handed her a glass of water. “It’s ibuprofen, so you’ll have to eat something. Is cold pizza okay, or do you fancy something else?”

“Ash, you don’t have to run around after me, really?—”

“Shh! Cold pizza it is then.” Ash turned back to the kitchen and busied herself finding plates.

Alice laughed and shook her head.How was this woman even real? And why hadn’t Alice found her years ago?

The extraordinary thing about the day that followed was how ordinary it was. After chatting over coffee and cold pizza in bed, Ash got dressed and nipped out to get some new hooks to fix the shower curtain. She returned with groceries to cook dinner and an overnight bag.

“Just in case,” she said, putting it down next to her trainers in the hallway.

Alice played it cool, but a bubble of happiness rose in her chest at the thought of another night with Ash, because time with her was already moving too fast.

They lay under a blanket and binge-watched a whole series on Netflix. Alice managed to stay awake, and somehow, during their Netflix marathon, she sneaked her feet onto Ash’s lap again. It wasn’t at all subtle, but friends could get cosy together,couldn’t they?Ash didn’t seem to mind. In fact, she rested her hand on Alice’s calves, and it was all Alice could concentrate on. Desire soared through her, before dipping into guilt that she was enjoying Ash’s touch far more than she should have been.

Ash cooked a Thai green curry, with big prawns, heaps of fresh vegetables and enough chilli to make Alice’s eyes water; it was delicious and better than anything Alice could have made or ordered from a takeaway. And, of course, it got late, and Ash stayed over again. Bedtime had been more relaxed. After chatting for a while with the lights out, they’d fallen asleep holding hands, because that’s what friends do,right?