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Now it was Caz who laughed. “Okay, okay…” She cleared her throat. “So, what makes you think going down on me, or touching me intimately, or me doing that with you, will be something you won’t like?”

Grace turned back to face forward and stare out of the window again. “You have a point.”

“I know,” Caz said, and indicated to get past the next slow driver to impede their journey. “So, sleeping naked? I can do that.”

Chapter Forty-Nine

Biting into the juicy beef burger, with its toasted bun and fresh lettuce, pickles, and whatever heaven was in that sauce, Caz groaned in appreciation.

“This is so good,” she said between chews. “I might order another one.”

Grace pinched a chip from Caz’s plate and chomped it in two bites. Her own salad with grilled chicken was just as nice, but who didn’t like chips?

“We can eat here every day if you’d like.” Grace grinned at Caz and stole another chip. But then her attention moved to behind Caz and the sound of a baby mewling and crying in a pram, two tables away.

Caz put her burger down and wiped her hands before she reached across to Grace.

“Alright?” she asked.

Grace blinked away the tears and focused back on Caz as she tried to smile through her sadness.

“Yes. I guess it’s going to take time, right?”

Caz nodded sympathetically. “Do you want to leave?”

Shaking her head, Grace picked up her fork and stabbed another chip. “Not until you’ve enjoyed every mouthful of that burger…and I’ve eaten your chips.”

Caz pushed the bowl towards her. “I guess I can let you snag those bad boys, but…I will want something in return.”

“Oh, and what would that be?”

Caz shrugged and picked up her burger again. “Might involve kissing me later.”

“I didn’t need bribing for that.” Grace smiled and bit into another chip. It was nice, the way her eyes could just stare into Caz’s and it didn’t feel weird anymore. She could get lost in them and let herself imagine more.

“Well, look who we have here, Morgan.” A familiar, friendly voice broke the spell between them as they both turned and looked up to find Alex grinning at them. “How are you both?”

“Hey,” Caz said, standing to greet them. Grace still looked starstruck. “We’re…yeah, we’re good, I think?” She turned to Grace for confirmation that it was okay to tell them more.

Grace nodded.

“Yes, we…” Grace felt her cheeks blush. “Things have progressed.”

“Wow, that’s wonderful.” Morgan clapped happily. “You should come over tonight and tell us all about it. If you don’t have any other plans, of course.”

“Yes, we’re having an orgy,” Alex said with a straight face. She couldn’t hold it up, though, when three sets of eyes all widened and panic set in. “I’m kidding. It would be lovely to catch up.” She touched Grace’s shoulder as they moved past. “The sun sets on the deck around eight?” she called back to them.

“Sounds great.” Caz held a thumb up. “You okay with that, really?” she asked Grace when they were out of earshot and she’d sat back down again. “We don’t have to go if you just want to veg out—”

“No, I think it will be nice and…strangely, they’re the only people who know everything about us…we can just be ourselves.” She nabbed another chip. “And it will be a distraction, won’t it?”

“Yes, so…”

“Let’s just play everything by ear. If it comes up…we can tell them, that’s okay, but I’ll probably—”

“Cry? Yeah, that’s what I thought. We don’t have to say anything at all.”

Grace smiled. “We can’t pretend it hasn’t happened,”