By Virtue Fall (The Shakespeare Sisters 4)

‘Poppy told her all about the play, and asked her to come.’ He said it matter-of-factly.

‘Okay.’ She waited for them to leave, but Thomas lingered there, with his parents and Nicole standing behind him. He was staring at her expectantly, and she wondered if she should say something else. It was only when he cleared his throat that she realised he was waiting for her to offer to move.

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen.

‘There are still some seats at the back,’ she said. ‘You could all sit together there.’

Thomas looked over her shoulder, and frowned. Then he brought his eyes back onto her, letting out a deep sigh. ‘You always have to be obstructive.’ He said it beneath his breath, a passive aggressive attempt to make her rise to his bait. But she ignored it, turning her head to the front, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her riled. Within moments the four of them had left the row and made their way to the back.

Her mouth was dry, her heart was speeding, but the sense of elation she felt for staying calm and holding her own more than made up for the agitation.

She’d almost certainly pay for it later, but right there, right then, she was proud of herself.

‘Can we sleep in here?’ Poppy asked. She was kneeling inside the fort they’d made up using an old sheet and a stack of cushions. Charlie was beside her, shining his torch around, watching as the light pierced the thin fabric, making shapes on the ceiling above.

‘Sure you can. Once you’ve finished your snacks I’ll bring some sleeping bags in here.’ Juliet had set up her laptop with a movie, ready for them to lay out and watch it as they stuffed their faces with kernels. ‘And then it will be time to sleep, okay?’

Poppy looked at Charlie, trying her best not to smile. ‘Okay.’

Leaving the room, Juliet shook her head. The two of them had clearly been scheming, but she didn’t really mind at all. It was the weekend, after all, and they deserved a treat after all the work they’d done on the play. Her eyes watered as she remembered how proud she’d been earlier that evening, as the children took a bow after acting their hearts out. She’d practically worn out her palms applauding them, with tears streaming down her face.

Even Thomas had been touched. He and his family had descended on Poppy with hugs and congratulations as soon as the play had finished. Luckily he hadn’t mentioned the seat issue again. She was sure he would, though, at some point.

She wouldn’t worry about that right now. Pushing Thomas to the back of her mind, she cleared up the kitchen, sliding dirty plastic beakers and plates into the dishwasher, before wiping down the sides with a clean, white cloth. She was rinsing it when she heard a rap at the door, three consecutive knocks that made her heart jump out of her chest.

Thomas.

Was he never going to leave her be?

Wringing the wet cloth in her hands, she placed it on the drainer. She put her hands on the counter, trying not to sigh.

Another knock made her stand up straight. She was so sick and tired of the way Thomas thought she was always at his beck and call. His lack of empathy, combined with his complete sense of entitlement was almost unbearable.

She’d had enough.

Juliet stomped her way down the hallway and wrenched the front door open. She narrowed her eyes, waiting for the barrage of insults. Her mouth was set in a tight line.

Until it dropped open with surprise.

‘Ryan?’

‘You look pissed. What have I done this time?’ He leaned casually against the door frame, a stuffed toy in his hand. ‘Did I laugh too loud at the play?’

She was still trying to compose herself. She’d been all ready for a fight, and her body hadn’t yet relaxed. ‘I could live with the laughing. It was the crying that really annoyed me,’ she told him. ‘Who knew you were such a softy?’

‘I reckon you knew.’ He gave her a lazy smile. ‘So anyway, why were you looking so angry?’

‘I thought you were Thomas.’ She moved back from the door, letting him step inside. He followed her to the kitchen, propping the soft toy against the tiles.

‘That’s not the best compliment I’ve ever had.’ He leaned against the counter. ‘Why would he be coming around at this time of night anyway?’

‘Because I made him sit at the back,’ she told him. ‘He’ll want to have the last word at some point.’

‘Well, you stood up for yourself like a badass. You should be proud of yourself.’

/> ‘Thank you kindly.’ She gave him a mock curtsey. Looking up at him, his gaze immediately caught hers. The expression on his face took her breath away. A slow smile curled at his lips, and his eyes were soft, yet somehow heated. It was the same way he’d looked at her in the dance club, and it made her heart race.

Against her will, her own lips lifted in a smile. She could hear the rapid beat of her pulse in her ears, feel the pounding in the ribcage, all reminding her of one inimitable fact.