Page 53

“Relationships of all kinds can work when two people love each other enough to recognise it,” she said, taking a seat beside Morgan. Their hands instinctively reached for each other. “Ours isn’t exactly what society would deem acceptable—getting married and still living in our own homes, but we like it that way.”

“For now,” Morgan added, “I’m here more than there.”

“Yes, and I am getting used to that.” Alex smiled and leaned into kiss her. “But when you finish a long night shift, the last thing you want is to have me plonking away on the piano.”

“There are worse things to have to listen to.” Morgan grinned, raised their hands, and kissed the back of Alex’s.

“I thought I read you’d retired,” Grace said.

“From the world, yes, but from music? Never.” Alex grinned. “And I need that time, to just play.”

“I can buy earplugs, or you can get a keyboard with headphones.” Morgan grinned at the face Alex pulled.

“What a suggestion.” Alex laughed. “I do love you being here, though. Maybe we should rethink it, after all.” She looked at Caz and Grace. “Relationships evolve, don’t they?”

To Caz’s surprise, it was Grace who said, “Hopefully.” She glanced quickly at Caz before lifting her glass and sipping. “Once we have a baby, everything will change, won’t it?”

Caz breathed deeply, smiling slowly as she caught sight of Morgan staring at her.Was she willing her on?

“Having a baby will definitely mean changes. No more of this for a while,” Caz joked, holding up her bottle of beer.

“You can still drink beer.” Grace laughed and poked her.

“U-uh, if you can’t, I can’t.”

Grace smiled and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “You’re very sweet.”

“Remember that next time I piss you off.”

They all laughed.

“Happen often?” Alex asked with a mischievous grin curving her lips.

Grace plucked her glass up from the table once more. “Not as often as you might think, but too often for my liking.” She winked.

It didn’t take Grace long to lose the inhibitions caused by sitting in the presence of someone as famous, or as rich, as Alex. Soon enough, she was bombarding her with questions about people she’d met and where she’d played. Caz just sat back and listened, enjoying the way Grace became so animated.

When Alex offered to play something for Grace, she’d leapt at the chance and the two of them went inside. Musical notes drifted out through the open door moments later.

“You should tell her,” Morgan said, smiling at Caz. “Tell her how you feel about her.”

Caz shook her head. “I can’t, that wouldn’t be fair.”

“It’s obvious she cares for you,” Morgan continued. “I think you might be surprised—”

“Or I might ruin the only thing that has ever made any sense to me.” Caz smiled sadly. “She’s everything, and I won’t risk losing what we have.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

With Alex sat at the piano, Grace listened as she played through a piece. It was beautiful; up and down the scales Alex’s fingers moved, creating such emotion, Grace couldn’t avoid the feelings that swelled within her.

“I wrote this for Morgan when we were pretending we weren’t together,” Alex admitted. “I think those moments, at times, we’re so exciting, but daunting too.”

“How so?” Grace asked.

“There were so many variables. This life I live isn’t exactly…it can be hard for any partner of mine to be part of.”

“So, what was it that made you go for it?”