Page 70 of Only Ever Yours

“I am sorry to leave you on your own in the house.”Hollis started plating up the snacks Finn had brought. “But it was the right thing to do.”

Finn grinned. “It means I can sit on the sofa in my boxers and not have to worry about anyone.”

“You did that anyway before Hollis came back. In fact, we both did.”

“Ugh, enough. I love the idea of one of you in your boxers, but I cannot think of my brother like that.” She pulled a face as the buzzer went again.

I went over to the intercom. “Hello, Dillon residence, how can I help?”

“SuttonandDillon residence, if you don’t mind.” Hollis’s comment was loud enough for the others to hear as they waited for me to let them in.

“I don’t care whose house it is, just let me in; I’m desperate for a wee.” Ella’s voice came through the intercom, and I laughed, pressing the button to let her in.

It wasn’t long before everyone had arrived: Finn, Ella, Barney, Lenora, and Liam. We sat around, lounging on either the deckchairs, some beach chairs, or the cushions Ella had bought us as a housewarming present.

“I can’t believe you two are living together,” mused Ella, as she sipped her wine from a plastic glass. “It’s like you’re proper grown-ups now, not just in a house share any longer.”

“At least, you’re not the sad, lonely bloke with no girlfriend.” Liam stared into his beer. “Everyone around me is loved up.”

“Er, I don’t think so.”

“There’s nothing going on between me and Finn.”

Finn and Ella spoke at the same time, the speed of their denial evoking questions in me. I knew from speaking to Hollis that Ella had had thoughts about maybe wanting toget back with Finn, and he had admitted the same to me—although we had been drinking when he told me. But I didn’t think anything had actually happened between them.

Liam laughed. “Didn’t actually mean the two of you together; I know Ella’s still having her toy-boy moment.” He waved his beer in Finn’s direction. “And you copped off with that Jenna bird last week.”

I didn’t miss the way Ella’s eyes narrowed at Liam’s statement. Maybe there was more to it than they had told us.

Finn coughed and changed the subject. “Anyway, we have news.” He looked over at Hollis, who nodded.

“You’ve only just moved out; you can’t be moving back in,” Barney said.

“You’ve put the house on the market,” suggested Lenora.

“Hollis is pregnant,” announced Liam.

I shook my head and let out an exasperated breath. “Don’t you think that would be my news to share, not Finn’s?”

“Oh…yeah.”

“Lenora’s actually the closest,” said Hollis. “We definitely won’t be selling the house, though. There are so many memories; we could never do it. But it is property-related.”

This came as news to me. When Hollis and I had started looking for a place, we knew we couldn’t afford to buy anything and had decided to rent. She had used some of her savings for the deposit, so we could move quickly, but that was as far as it went.

“Hollis and I have bought a house. Well, a project really. It’s one of the old places on Market Mews. Needs a full internal renovation, which we’d be grateful for your help with—paid, of course.” He nodded in Liam’s direction. “Then we’ll either rent it out or sell it, depending on what would make us the most money.”

Ella pursed her lips. “Oh, another business you can put all your time and energy into instead of having a relationship.” She had spoken quietly, but I could hear the disappointment in her tone.

I glanced between the pair of them. “A joint Sutton venture this time. Sounds like a lot of work, though.”

Hollis came over to me and sat on my lap, careful not to overload the flimsy deckchair. “But will you do an accent wall?” She wound her arms around my neck and leaned in to meet my lips with hers.

“For you, Princess, anything,” I murmured against her, “always.”