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his fork.
    “Because Bing has a serious crush on Jen.” I smile.
    Mum's eyes widen and she looks at the doorway and back at me. “Are you sure?”
    I smile wider. “Oh, yes. I'm very sure.”
    “But, does she fancy him?” She leans across the table, and I feel like I'm back at school, trying to gossip quietly.
    “I think she does.”
    “Oh,” she says, surprised, and sits back up. “Oh. Well. That certainly changes things, doesn't it?”
    “It certainly does,” Dad answers for me. “It also makes things more interesting.”
    I look at Dad and laugh slightly. “Dad, are you secretly a teenage girl under your middle-aged skin?”
    “Why do you say that?” He laughs.
    “Because you seem more interested in the Bing-Jen-Carl thing than even Mum and I are.”
    “She has a point, darling,” Mum agrees, patting his hand.
    Dad shakes his head at both of us. “Can I take my dinner upstairs?”
    “No, you cannot.” Mum frowns at him.
    Dad sticks his bottom lip out. “You let Samuel.”
    “I didn't want to hurt his little heart if he fancies our Jen.”
    I roll my eyes and Dad snorts. “He's a grown man, Emily, let him deal with his own issues of the heart. If Sam and Jen and meant to be, then it'll happen, remember that.” He looks at me sternly. “And don't you go interfering, Alexis.”
    “Me?” I put a hand to my chest, putting on my best innocent face. “I'd never dream of interfering.”
    “Mhmm.”

Chapter Five

ALEXIS

    I follow Jen around Cowling & Wilcox art supply store, pulling a full basket of art supplies. When she called and said she'd missed a few things and asked me to go to the shop with her, I didn't think a few things translated to two baskets full.
    “Are we done yet?” I whine.
    “You sound like Alec and Bing when we went to Laura Ashley.” She puts two boxes of pastels in her basket.
    I look around at the stacked shelves. “I can't even draw a stick man right, Jen, so although I can shop for England, art shopping isn't really my kinda thing.”
    She mutters something under her breath before sighing. “Fine, let’s go. I think I have everything.”
    “I think you have several of everything,” I muse.
    She glances at me, unamused, and turns to the counter. I shrug to myself, pick up the basket, and set it on the counter. I tap my foot as the guy behind the counter rings it through.
    A loud bang makes me jump, and I turn with my hand pressed against my chest.
    “Holy macaroni with extra cheese!” Jen exclaims. “What was that?”
    “Sorry,” a voice mutters. “Dropped the box of brushes.”
    A shadow moves from behind the counter, and the person ringing Jen's stuff through shakes his head, muttering about “incompetent pretty boys.” I purse my lips when I recognise the pretty boy.
    “Adrian.” I smirk. He looks at me with his hazel eyes, and his floppy blonde hair. He really is a pretty boy in every definition of the word. His hair is always perfectly styled, and if he has – God forbid – a spot, he won't leave the house. Seriously. I've been to his place with Jayna, and the guy has more facial creams and spot solutions than Mum and I put together.
    “Lexy!” He grins at me, and leans against the counter. I raise an eyebrow. I know that smile. “Little birdie tells me you brought yourself a real boyfriend back from Devon.”
    I lean against the counter in a movement that mimics his, and smile. “That little birdie told you right.”
    “I'm surprised. You didn’t mention it at the weekend. Or wait, was it that Alec guy?” His eyebrows quirk slightly. “What was it, us city boys not good enough for you? Did you need a country bumpkin to keep life exciting?”
    Jen coughs behind me.
    “No, not at all,” I reply. “City boy or country boy, that doesn't matter. What matters is that Alec isn't a pig-headed, egotistical asshole like most of you city boys.”
    Jen snorts.
    “C'mon, Lex, you know I'm not like that. You just never gave me a chance.”
    “I never