Page 72 of Tears of Glass

It’s crazy.

“So, what do you think?”

“What are we talking about here?” Abi frowns at me across FaceTime. “Are we talking about the fact Elijah wants you to move in with him, or the fact you seem to be making a giant phallic shape with clay.”

I look at the clay I’m moulding. “That is nothing like a penis.”

“Adam! Come and look at this, is Faith making a clay dick?”

She swings the phone, so Adam can see, and I roll my eyes. “Hi, Adam, why aren’t you at work?” Might as well try to make decent conversation while stroking a clay penis.

“The kids gave me a tummy bug.” He shakes his head and points at Abi mouthing the word ‘cooking’. I snort and a sofa cushion smacks him in the face.

“So are you going to move in with the Baroness’ son?”

I scowl at Abi and she turns the camera back around to her. “I don’t think of him like that.”

She narrows her gaze. “Well regardless of how you think of him, that’s what he is. At some point you are going to have to be his girlfriend in front of his mother and face up to everything it brings.”

I purse my lips. “His mother can’t know. Not now, or yet. I don’t know.”

“So you are still his little secret, just like you were over the summer?”

“No. Well, maybe.” What is this an inquisition? “I don’t know.”

“You sound like a thirteen-year-old.”

“Bite me.” I give my head a shake. “I thought you liked him? You were the one talking me into giving him another chance.”

She howls with laughter. “I don’t need to, it seems Elijah has that all covered. I just want you to finally have a normal relationship. And I want you to have dates, and fun, and awkward family meetings.”

“Really, do you think meeting his mother now we are together is going to change everything? I don’t. I think she will ruin everything.”

“But at the moment you are a secret. And, Faith, you deserve more than that.” She pauses for a moment and thinks before opening her mouth again.

“And his friends?” She nods. “I mean you’ve got to meet his mates, right?”

I haven’t even thought about this. I know nothing about being in a relationship. It’s quite scary. “I don’t know.” I shrug. “He’s never mentioned any friends.”

“So basically, you guys are fucking the brains out of each other and not talking at all.”

My heart sinks. That’s exactly what we are doing. “Shit.” I slump a little bit over the clay penis.

“Don’t worry. It’s all fine, you guys are perfect for each other no matter how different you are.”

Abi’s not helping here at all.

“And hey, think of it this way, it sounds like you’ve got a house in France out of it.”

“Abi!”

“And a huge diamond. I mean come on, Faith, you are winning here.”

I know she’s only joking, but her words sting a little. Is this what people are going to think of me? That the girl with the tatts has somehow managed to bag herself an heir to one of the richest families in England? Is that what everyone I meet is going to think from this point on?

“I’ve gotta go.” I smile at Abi, but it’s fake and forced.

“No, Faith, come on, I was joking.” Her face creases with a frown but I give her a little wave and press the red button to disconnect the call.