been required. The only sounds had been that of the waves as they endlessly shushed back and forth. The man had gently squeezed her hand conveying they stop. Together they’d stared at the ocean and the cloudless blue sky, enjoying the warmth of the sun on their faces. And then, wordlessly, they’d turned to face each other.
Willow hadn’t been at all surprised to find herself gazing at Noah. His eyes had crinkled attractively as he’d smiled down at her. Both her heart and soul had expanded with joy. The experience had been comparable to a time lapse video of a rosebud swiftly blooming to full flower.
‘Willow?’ said Noah, finally speaking.
He had looked at her with such love.
‘There’s something I need to tell you.’
But now she’d never know what Noah had been about to say thanks to Charlie’s dick nudging her.
What makes you think Noah was going to tell you something profound? sneered the little voice in her head.
And a very good morning to you, Willow replied. Why don’t you just butt out?
Why?
Because my dreams are private.
Not to me they’re not. Anyway, shouldn’t you be dreaming of your fiancé?
I DO dream of my fiancé.
Hm. Not recently. Not slushily.
And your point is?
It’s not me making a point. It’s your new fiancé, cackled the little voice as the tip of Charlie’s penis edged between her thighs.
Willow had an overwhelming urge to slap Charlie’s willy away. Opening her eyes and catching sight of the ring on her left hand, she was immediately overcome with guilt. She was engaged! This was what she’d always wanted. And she was going to embrace it with open arms. And legs, if Charlie had his way.
‘I find you so incredibly irresistible,’ Charlie was now saying.
His breath was coming in great whooshy gasps, hot on her neck and whistling into her eardrum. Now he was nuzzling her earlobe and leaving an unappealing wet trail as he tried to roll her over and kiss her on the mouth. Early morning snogs weren’t on Willow’s Seduction List. There was a lot to be said for minty breath and mouthwash.
‘I must have a wee,’ she said, wriggling out of Charlie’s arms.
He sighed and flopped back against the mattress.
‘Don’t be long,’ he called after her.
Willow made sure she was in the bathroom for a good ten minutes. First, she flossed her teeth. Then she thoroughly cleaned them. Then she decided her skin looked a little lacklustre, so applied a face mask. It had been one of the presents Emma had given her for her recent birthday. Willow read the instructions. It had to stay on for fifteen minutes. Oh. She might as well go and put the kettle on while it worked its magic.
When she came out of the bathroom, Charlie did a doubletake.
‘What the hell is that?’
‘A face mask. My skin looked dull.’
Charlie wrinkled his nose.
‘It smells peculiar.’
He recognised the scent. He’d once caught Kev wearing one.
‘It has avocado in it,’ said Willow. ‘Let me go and put the kettle on.’
‘The kettle can wait, but I can’t… with or without the avocado face mask.’
At that moment Willow’s mobile – resting on her bedside cabinet – began to vibrate.
‘Leave it,’ Charlie instructed.
‘But it’s Emma,’ Willow protested.
‘All the more reason to leave it,’ muttered Charlie.
‘What?’
‘Nothing.’
‘But I want to tell her my big news,’ Willow reasoned, diving over Charlie to reach the phone.
As she threw herself across the mattress, her knee accidentally cuffed Charlie in the groin.
‘Ooof,’ he groaned, clutching his privates.
‘Sorr-eeee,’ Willow trilled, trying not to feel relieved that Charlie’s erection was now deflating faster than air leaking out of a party balloon.
She snatched up the mobile.
‘Ems? Hellooo!’
Willow was now dropping bits of face mask all over the duvet, but she didn’t care.
‘Blimey, you’re sounding very chipper,’ Emma laughed.
‘I am, I am,’ said Willow, bouncing around on the mattress with barely contained excitement. Another blob of goo parted company from her face.
‘I was feeling a bit bored so thought I’d ring for a natter.’
‘Be bored no more!’ Willow giggled.
‘Why, what’s going on?’
Emma felt herself perking up. Willow’s mood was infectious.
‘Omigod, you’ll never guess!’
‘Probably not, so just spit it out,’ said Emma, laughing again.
‘Last night, Charlie and I got engaged!’
There was a stunned pause before Emma replied.
‘W-Wow. That’s… amazing. Congratulations. To you both,’ she added.
Emma was doing her best to sound delighted. This was Willow’s big moment. She must be pleased for her. But try as she might, she wasn’t.
Fifty-Eight
Over the week that followed, the news of Willow and Charlie’s betrothal was met by others with