By Virtue Fall (The Shakespeare Sisters 4)

‘Of course he can.’ Ryan had brought his sleeping bag and pyjamas over earlier. The plan was to come straight back home from the play, and then make some popcorn and put a movie on.

‘And when he invites me over to his, we can sleep in his tree house, can’t we? Because that would be fair.’

‘What?’ Juliet was hardly listening. She was too busy watching Ryan as he ran a hand through his hair. Was he looking over at the house? She couldn’t tell.

Poppy sighed dramatically. ‘Nothing. Can we go now?’

The play was due to start at seven, but Miss Mason had asked all the children to arrive an hour before. They’d have a final run through in the classroom before walking to the stage. Juliet made her way to the auditorium, which was already half-full of parents and families. Looking around, she spotted a spare row of chairs in the middle, and made her way over.

‘There’s a seat here if you want it.’ Ryan’s low voice made her whip her head around. He was sitting two rows back, all on his own.

‘Oh, hi.’ She shot him a tight smile. ‘Thanks, but I probably shouldn’t.’

He tipped his head to the side, frowning. ‘Why not?’

A thousand reasons almost slipped from her tongue. Because every time I see you it makes you harder to resist? Because I still wonder what it would be like to kiss you?

‘Thomas and his parents are coming. I don’t want to cause any more trouble.’ She walked to the far side of the row, not wanting to sit in front of him. Shrugging off her jacket, she looped it behind her, then pushed her bag under the seat with her feet. Her muscles were already feeling stiff with anxiety, and she circled her neck a couple of times to try and loosen it up.

That’s when she saw him.

Sitting behind her.

Again.

‘Ryan?’

‘Yes, London?’

‘Why are you sitting behind me?’

‘There’s a better view from here.’

She turned to look at the stage, half-obscured by the curtain on the left-hand side. ‘It’s a terrible view.’

‘Not from where I’m sitting.’

When she turned to look at him again, his face was softer, somehow. ‘Ryan, I really don’t want to cause any trouble. Thomas was mad about the sailing. We’ve still not agreed on divorce terms yet, please don’t make more problems for me here.’

‘I won’t cause any trouble. I promise.’

There was a noise from the stage, as the chorus started to file in, sitting on the benches at the back. Juliet turned to look at them, her eyes wide, as she licked her lips to try and get rid of the dryness.

‘Are these the best seats you could get?’ Thomas huffed, pushing through the people who had seated themselves around her. ‘I thought you’d get here early, and save us seats at the front. You can hardly see the stage from here.’

‘You could have come early yourself.’

‘Some of us have a business to run. I had to leave an important meeting to get here in time. You could have been more helpful.’

‘I have a business to run, too,’ she pointed out.

He ignored her words, ushering his parents along. ‘There are only three seats. We need four.’

Four? She frowned, looking over to Thomas and his parents. Behind them, looking as immaculate as ever, was his girlfriend. Or was she still his assistant?

Whatever. It didn’t matter.

‘I didn’t realise you were bringing Nicole.’