Page 115 of The Summer Escape

“It seems unfair that you’d be the one to make all the sacrifices.”

“Moving here to be with you would never be a sacrifice.” He trailed his fingers over the back of her hand. “But we’re jumping ahead. For now, let’s see how long distance works out.”

“Okay.” She leaned to kiss him but pulled back at the last moment. “I really hate that you heard me throwing up.”

“I didn’t hear anything,” he said, eyes bright with amusement.

“Liar!”

“At least we know this isn’t just a holiday fling now.” He raised a lone eyebrow. “Things felt pretty real this weekend.”

“That’s true. Nothing like a stomach bug to move a relationship out of the honeymoon phase.”

“Just tell me it’s not going to be like that every weekend?” he said, smiling lightly.

A laugh escaped her. “I seriously hope not.”

He moved to kiss her, and her stomach filled with warmth at the thought of spending every weekend with him. Whatever was to come, she knew everything would be fine as long as they were together.

EPILOGUE

CHRISTMAS DAY

Multicoloured lights twinkled on the Christmas tree in the corner of Mirren’s living room and the faint scent of pine needles hung in the air. A low hum of Christmas carols emanated from the sound system in the corner, while Noah and Ellie battled it out as the remaining two participants in a game of Junior Uno.

All eyes swept to Seren at the end of the couch as she let out a grunt of a snore. Kit rolled his eyes, looking down at her curled against his chest.

“This is the woman who claims not to snore,” he said while Ellie giggled.

Seren blinked her eyes open. “What?” she muttered to Kit.

“Nothing,” he replied, stroking her red hair as her eyes fluttered closed again.

“We should go back to the cottage soon,” Beth said to Ellie. “It’s way past your bedtime.”

“I’m playing,” she said with an impatient pout, which demonstrated just how tired she was.

“You can finish the game, then it’s bedtime.”

Ellie’s eyes dropped to her cards, which were spread out on the coffee table – she’d given up on trying to keep them fanned in her hand. “I can’t go.”

Noah shot Keira a look that sent her shuffling over to Ellie and tapping on one of her cards.

“Oh! I can go!” Ellie happily played the card.

Slouched on the couch with Trystan’s arm around her, Beth felt the most relaxed she’d felt all day. Even so, she’d be glad when they were back in the cottage. Once Ellie was settled in bed she could give up with her fake smiles and false positivity.

Quietly, everyone looked on while Noah discreetly engineered the rest of the game so that it was over as quickly as possible – and with Ellie as the winner.

“That means it’s time to go,” Beth told her daughter, who beamed triumphantly.

“Not yet, Mummy. Trystan said we were going to dance after the game.”

Beth smiled gently. “I think it’s too late for a dance party.”

“Don’t listen to your mum,” Trystan said, pulling his arm from behind Beth and giving her thigh a playful slap as he stood. “It’snevertoo late for a dance party.”

“She’s been up since six,” Mirren said, shifting in the armchair. “She must be ready to drop.”