Page 107 of The Lucky Winners

‘I’m so pleased, Paige. You deserve to be happy there, and it’s ideal for your first foray into renting.’

She nods. ‘My parents have given me enough money to tide me over until my first salary payment and, if it’s still OK with you, I’d like to move back in.’

‘Course! I’ll help you get everything in order.’

She reaches for my hand across the table. ‘Thanks for everything you’ve done for me, Merri. Now I can afford to stay put for at least the next five months without panicking about bills.’

‘That’s amazing, Paige. You deserve it.’ And I mean it.

‘So, what about you?’ she asks. ‘Are you and Dev going to keep Lakeview House?’

I shake my head. ‘It’s up for sale. Dev and I are renting a few miles away for now. It makes sense as we’re getting lots of viewings – I think most of them are people who just want a nosy at a real-life DreamKey house but, like Dev says, it only takes one genuine buyer and a sale could happen very quickly. We’re taking some time out together, using some of the prize money we got to just, well,breatheafter everything.’ I glance at my watch. ‘Speaking of which, I should get going. Dev’s picking me up in a bit.’

Paige pouts. ‘Already?’

‘We’ll meet up again soon,’ I say. ‘I’ve missed you so much.’

‘Me too. Promise no longer than two weeks?’ she says, pointing at me. ‘No later.’

I laugh. ‘Two weeks it is.’

As I stand and pull on my coat, Paige tilts her head. ‘Hey, you never did tell me what the big secret was. The one you were keeping from Dev.’

I pause, then smile as I sling my bag over my shoulder. ‘What secret?’ I tease, raising an eyebrow. ‘Dev and I don’t haveanysecrets from each other. Not one.’

And with that, I step out into the rain.