Phoebe lowered her chin to her chest momentarily, defeat evident in her eyes when she looked back up at Talia. “Yeah. See you.”
Talia opened her mouth to speak as Phoebe turned and walked away, but she had nothing to offer. Phoebe wasn’t her friendorher concern, and Talia wouldn’t encourage Faye to try again when Phoebe’s actions still clearly hurt.
“Faye?”
Faye shook her head. “Nope. Not now. I’m having lunch with you, and she’snotspoiling that for me.”
“Okay. But she did apologise before you arrived. I thought you should know that.”
Faye was already lifting the lid on the box of sandwiches Talia had brought along, her eyes lighting up as she took a huge chunk from one. She held her hand to her mouth, rolling her eyes. “Oh, my God. A ham butty never tasted so good.”
“See. I look after you.”
Faye leaned in and kissed Talia’s cheek. “You do. Better than anyone else.”
“But about that just then…”
Faye’s shoulders slumped slightly, the lightest groan heard as Talia arched a brow.
“Did you want to talk to her? If you’re avoiding her because you’re worried about what I think, I’m okay with you sitting down with one another. She’s…your friend.”
Faye held up a hand. “Shewasmy friend. Anyone who can do what she did and not bat an eyelid doesn’t deserve to sit down and chat. I know you want everyone to get along, I love that about you, but she tried to destroy what I was building with you.”
“I know that. I really do.”
“Then we don’t need to sit here and discuss it. I can think of far more appealing subjects.”
Talia grinned. “Oh yeah? Like what?”
Faye’s eyes lit up, her hand reaching into the lunch box for another sandwich. “The new lingerie I’ve just bought you. Saw it in the window and couldn’t resist it.”
Okay, thiswasa much more appealing conversation. “Well, you know I’m happy to wearanythingyou gift me.”
“Good. Because I picked it up in blackandwhite. I couldn’t decide which colour would look best on you, but then I realised both would look best on you. Who am I to deny that incredible body some incredible lingerie?”
Talia smirked, leaning into a kiss. “In case I haven’t told you this enough today…I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.”
* * *
Faye wasn’tsure why she was standing outside Phoebe’s front door, she couldn’t particularly think of anything nice to say to her, but here she was…because of Talia. If it hadn’t been for her girlfriend, Faye wouldn’t have made the effort, but when they’d gone back to Talia’s apartment this afternoon, they’d discussed the chance of Fayeat leasthaving a conversation with her. Well, after Talia had tried on her new lingerie. And after Faye had removed it from her body with her teeth. Faye grinned at that thought, bringing her hand up and knocking on the front door.
Light footsteps were heard, and then the lock clicked. When Phoebe came into focus, her eyes were puffy. From what Faye could see over her shoulder, the place was in disarray. “Can I come in for a couple of minutes?”
“Sure.” Phoebe stepped aside as she nodded slowly. “Is everything okay?”
Faye scanned the room, her eyebrows arched with surprise. Phoebe’s place always looked clean and tidy, but this? She looked like she’d been burgled. “I don’t know. Is it?”
Phoebe frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Is there a reason you’ve decided to live like this?”
“Oh.” Phoebe moved her coat that was slung over the back of the couch, taking a few cups from the coffee table and placing them in the sink. “I’ve been busy with work and stuff. Haven’t had the time to clean.”
“Right.”
“So, did you want to have a seat?”