Page 47 of The Retreat

Talia saw the look before Imogen even pushed back her chair. It wasn’t obvious. Barely a crease of the brow, a flick of her eyes in Talia’s direction. But it landed. It said: Follow me.

She waited three seconds. Maybe four. Then murmured something vague to the table and slipped out behind her.

The lighting in the restaurant bathroom was too bright, the kind that revealed more than it softened. Imogen was waiting in front of the sinks, leaning against them as Talia pushed the door open. The sight of her at that moment robbed Talia of her breath.

‘You followed me,’ Imogen said.

For a second, Talia thought she’d gotten it wrong. ‘I thought you wanted me to,’ she said.

‘I did,’ Imogen said, not entirely readable.

Talia let the door close gently behind her. The latch clicked louder than she expected. For a long moment, they just stood there in an extremely loud silence.

‘I don’t know what that was out there,’ Imogen said finally, her eyes not quite meeting Talia’s.

Talia took a slow step forward. She didn’t want to rush this. Didn’t want to fuck it up.

‘I hoped that you would,’ she said.

Imogen let out a laugh, short and brittle. ‘Look, you’re a lawyer. And a good one, by all accounts. I’m sure you can spin a convincing yarn if you want to.’

‘I’m not lying right now,’ Talia said, her voice steady. ‘And I wasn’t lying when I kissed you back.’

Imogen finally turned and looked at her directly. ‘Then why did you wait until there were witnesses? You had a chance before… did you not know what I was going to say in the room?’

‘No. Maybe.’ Talia sighed. ‘Yes, I did.’

‘Then why not just shut your mouth and let me say it?’ Imogen asked.

Talia opened her mouth. Closed it. She could feel her pulse thudding in her throat. ‘Because when you talk for a living,’ she said, ‘that’s not always your first instinct.’

Imogen arched an eyebrow but didn’t move.

Talia took a breath. ‘OK, fine. I was scared.’

‘Of what?’ Imogen asked.

‘Me,’ Talia admitted. ‘I don’t know if… look. I’m... not easy. I disappear into work. I get irritable when I’m tired, and I snap when I’m scared. The more anxious I feel, the more confident I act.’

Imogen’s expression didn’t change, but something in her shoulders softened.

Talia went on. ‘I hate being vulnerable. I hate feeling weak. I hate admitting I’m wrong.’

Her voice cracked a little on that last line. She didn’t look away.

‘Do you think I don’t know all this?’ Imogen said finally, not unkind.

Talia gave a short, breathless laugh. ‘You’ve spent two days with me.’

‘Yet, I’ve still got the lay of you.’ Imogen tilted her head, watching her carefully. ‘You know none of that scares me, right?’

‘It should,’ Talia said, though her voice had softened too.

‘Not when I measure it against other things,’ Imogen told her.

‘Like how you came back for me at that assault course, even when you thought it would cost you. How you decided to let me lead you on the trust walk back—

though you didn’t have to by then, and it probably scared the shit out of you to let someone else take charge. How you’re sweeter than you want anyone to know.

How you make me laugh. How your touch makes me feel. How your beautiful grey eyes make me feel.’

Talia felt faint. But she needed to stay conscious at this moment. Even if that was all she could manage. And it really was. Imogen was sweeping her off her feet. Almost literally.

Imogen reached out and touched Talia’s wrist, light as a breath. ‘And since we’re speed running a relationship, here’s what you’d find out about me eventually.

I’m not good at making decisions. I let other people steer. I tell myself I’m just being easy-going, but really… it’s because I don’t trust my instincts. I second-guess myself constantly.’

Talia didn’t interrupt. She could feel how hard this was for her.

‘I let people push me around, sometimes without realising. And then I get angry at myself afterwards. I can be passive until I explode.’ She gave a tight smile. ‘So that’s fun for everyone.’ Then Imogen added, almost as an afterthought, ‘And I’m way too good at pretending I’m OK when I’m not. Scary good.’ Imogen let out a long, slow breath. ‘Woof, that’s a lot, isn’t it?’

Talia stepped closer. Not touching. Just close enough. ‘I’ve seen some of that. But here’s what I’m weighing it against. I meant what I said at the table,’ Talia added, more quietly now. ‘About you making me remember how to feel… things.’

Imogen’s eyes smiled a little. ‘What things?’

Talia sighed. ‘Hope. Wanting. Pleasure. All the stuff I tried to train myself out of.’

Imogen tilted her head. ‘You tried to train it out?’

‘I did. And I was pretty bloody successful.’ Talia looked down for a moment, then back up. ‘But you’ve gone and ruined all that work.’

Talia took a deep breath and jumped off the cliff.

‘I love how you connect with people. Even when you’re not trying. Like it’s just something you do. You walk into a room and somehow everything feels better, just because you’re in it.’

Imogen opened her mouth, maybe to deflect, but Talia pressed on.

‘I love how fun you are. I love your voice. I love your dimples. I love that you’re brave enough to admit when you’re scared. And your bottom. I really, really love your bottom.’

That made Imogen laugh, a startled, helpless sound that broke the tension.

Talia smiled faintly but kept going. ‘Your touch is… electric. Like every time you graze my skin, I forget whatever I was about to say. Or do. Or be.’ She drew a breath. ‘And you’ve been kinder to me than I probably deserve. You’ve seen me at my worst, and you haven’t looked away. That… means something. More than I know how to explain.’

Imogen’s face was very still, but her eyes shone. ‘You’re explaining it just fine.’

They looked at each other for the longest beat, and Talia felt that familiar fear. Had she said too much? No. Because Imogen had made it clear she couldn’t be scared off. Talia wanted to believe that. And she decided she would.

‘So what happens now?’ Imogen asked, and her voice trembled slightly like she hated needing the answer.

Talia stepped in and gently took Imogen’s hand. The contact sent a thrill through her chest. She felt Imogen’s fingers curl around hers.

‘I don’t know,’ Talia admitted. ‘But I’m sick of Alex. I want Imogen.’

Imogen’s lips curled into a devilish smile. ‘Well, Imogen is taking you into that stall right there.’ And she began to push Talia in that direction. And for once, Talia was happy to let herself be pushed. It was time to let go of control.