Page 120 of All the Forbidden Things

Billie comes around the worktop and stands next to me, holding Layla against her. I lean down, rest my arm on Billie’s shoulder, and kiss Layla’s cheek. When I straighten, again, all eyes are on Billie and me.

Billie

“What the fuck is goingon, Billie, and please don’t lie to me.”

Mel has followed me into my bathroom and closed the door behind her as I pack the toiletries I feel like I’ve only just unpacked.

I turn, lean my back against the bathroom worktop, and fold my arms across my chest, debating whether to lie or be straight up and tell her the truth. I opt for a bit of both.

“You mean Max and me?”

“Damn fucking straight I mean Max and you.”

“We’ve gotten close this past week, but I think it’s just the situation. We’re allies.” I shrug nonchalantly. “Nothing more than that.”

“Close? I’ve got eyes, Billie. He watches you. If his eyes aren't on Layla, then they’re on you.”

“Mel, we’ve been thrown together under shitty circumstances, we’re kinda relying on each other. After everything he’s been through with Whitney, he’s learning to trust me with Layla, so I think that’s why he mightwatch me,as you put it.”

She shakes her head and chews the inside of her lip. “I call bullshit. It’s more than that. You might not have noticed it, but I sure as fuck have, and ifIhave, you can guarantee Callum has, and he will lose his ever-loving mind if Max goes there.”

This is just fucking great. Last night was the best, waking up with Max and Layla this morning was even better, the day dramatically went to shit not long after that, and now I’m so over it, I want to tell everyone to fuck off and mind their own business.

“I’m a big girl; I can look after myself.”

“Billie, you were the victim of an attack just five weeks ago, had a gun held to your head while someone tried to rape you, we don’t want you being a big girl and having to look after yourself, we want you safe.”

“And you don’t think I’m safe with Max? Are you fucking kidding me? He’s Cal’s best friend. I thought he wasyourfriend. He’d never hurt me,” I snap, pissed off on Max’s behalf.

“Not intentionally, but he’s lost right now. I’m just worried he’s looking for something, someone, a warm body to bring him some comfort through a spectacularly shitty time, I just don’t want that to be you and for you to end up hurt.”

“Like I said, Mel, Max is a good man, and I can look after myself. I want to be here for him because, like you just said, he’s going through something spectacularly shitty right now.”

She remains silent but continues to watch me, her jaw set, eyes narrowed. I stare right back, hopefully keeping my expression neutral. I’d like nothing more than to go out into my living room and announce to everyone that I’m falling arse over tit for Max Young, but I don’t need all the drama that would bring, and until his divorce has been filed, neither does Max.

I turn back towards the sink, zip my make-up and toiletry bags closed, and move towards the door. Mel opens it, and we step out into my bedroom where Kenzie is lying on my bed with Layla. The bedroom door is closed, and I can hear muffled voices coming from outside. I pull my suitcase out, and Kenzie shifts out of my way to make room for it. The room’s silent as I start to throw clothes, underwear, and shoes inside.

“Bill?”

“Don’t wanna hear it, Kenz. If you’re just gonna repeat what your mum said, then shut it.”

“Wow. Angry much?”

“Thoroughly fucked off right now, if you must know.”

“Fine.” Kenzie rolls off the bed while holding on to Layla and goes out the door, slamming it behind her.

“Billie.” Mel sighs out my name as she sits on the bed beside my suitcase.

“Ya know what, Mel, he’s a good man. If he were to go there, there are worse warm bodies I could choose to cuddle up to.”

“He’s thirty-eight years old.”

“So fucking what? My dad was twenty years older than my mum.”

“So there is something going on. I fucking knew it.”

“Mel, I love you. As a sister and as a mum, but you need to back off and let me work things out for myself.” I take in a deep breath and let it out shakily. “And before you go out there and open your mouth to my brother, have a little think about what trouble you’re gonna cause between Max and Cal, Cal and me, and for the band. So, as my friend, I’m asking you to just back off and let me, us, work things out.”