All I Want Series Boxset, Books 1-3: All I Want for Christmas, All I Want for Valentine's, All I Want for Spring (24 page)

When she heard the front door, Holly turned her head and grimaced. “How did it go?” Concern was etched on her sculpted face.

Outside the large lounge window, a train rattled by on the tracks. Tori waited until the noise had died down before answering, hugging her arms around her body. It was finally winter outside today, with frost coating the overhead railway lines. Tori’s bones were chilled just looking at it.

“Fine. He was cool about it, told me they’d already killed a pair of goldfish since they’d been there, so it’s not like they were part of the family.” Tori sat down on their couch and exhaled. “The upshot is, I’m not a cold-blooded killer and it got me thinking.”

Holly raised an eyebrow. “In the walk from our neighbour’s front door back to our couch, you’ve had an epiphany?” She glanced down at the iPad on her lap, before putting it on the coffee table and giving Tori her full attention.

Tori nodded. “I have.” She paused. “I think we should get a pet — just to prove that I can look after something. And because I’d quite like a pet. But not a goldfish because they’re not really much fun. Maybe something furry.”

“A hot water bottle with a fake fur cover?”

Tori rolled her eyes. She got the impression Holly wasn’t taking this seriously. “That’s not a pet.”

“You want a proper, breathing thing?”

Tori’s face turned decisive. “I do,” she said, with a confident nod.

“You think you’re ready for that? You remember what happened with that rabbit when you were 12?”

Tori shook her head. “It always comes back to the rabbit, doesn’t it?” She exhaled. “The rabbit was just unfortunate, in the wrong place at the wrong time. Let the rabbit go.”

“Okay, what about the guinea pig?” Holly was sat up now, fully engaged, her long legs tucked up beneath her. She’d had a haircut this morning, and her undercut made Tori want to reach over and touch it.

“I didn’t even know you when I had the guinea pig,” Tori replied.

“True, but you told me all about it. That you always forgot to feed it. And that you hated cleaning the cage out.”

“I was eight years old. I think now, aged 27, I can cope.”

Holly narrowed her eyes. “I’m happy to have a pet, we’ve talked about it before we got together. But you’ve got to be all in.”

“I will be.” Tori’s tone was piqued. “Besides, furry things are way harder to kill than goldfish, so I think the odds are stacked in my favour.”

Holly’s laugh was low. “That’s not a sentence that fills me with confidence.” She paused. “I know you want a kitten, so how about this for a compromise? We get a plant, and it’s your job to look after it: feed it, water it, wipe its leaves. If you can keep that plant alive till, say, Valentine’s Day, then we’ll get a kitten on Valentine’s Day.”

Tori thought about it, a pensive look on her face. “All I’ve got to do is keep a plant alive for six weeks and then we can get a kitten?” She stroked her chin. That sounded far too easy — she didn’t think Holly had thought it through. Keeping a plant alive for a few weeks was going to be a snap. After all, it wasn’t like it needed feeding every few hours, nor was it going to wake you up scratching at your bedroom door. She hoped.

Holly tilted her head at her girlfriend. “Yes. But do I need to remind you about the yucca plant, the basil plant, the spider plant—”

“—They weren’t all my fault!” Tori countered. “And isn’t keeping a plant alive what they do in Alcoholics Anonymous to see if people are ready for commitment?” She scrunched up her face. “Are you testing my commitment, too?”

Holly smiled, before beckoning Tori towards her with a hooked finger. “Come here,” she said, just as the chef on the TV began shouting again at another poor contestant.

Tori did as she was told, sitting down beside Holly.

Holly cupped Tori’s face and kissed her, lightly at first, but then pressing her lips firmly onto Tori’s, before sliding her tongue into Tori’s mouth.

Tori’s mind went blank as she welcomed in the familiar warmth that came with a Holly onslaught. Honey oozed through her veins as the kiss spread New Year cheer from her head down to her toes. Holly was especially good at spreading good cheer. Tori knew first hand; Holly had already done an excellent job the night before, ensuring they saw in New Year’s Day with fireworks all of their own.

A few seconds later, when Holly pulled back, Tori regained her focus and was back in the room. She was smiling as she opened her eyes and gazed at Holly. She was still adjusting to the fact that Holly was hers, and just
so
beautiful.

“I’ve always said we could get a kitten, I just didn’t want to do it too soon into our relationship. I want us to be a couple for a bit first before we get any furry children.” Holly was studying Tori, waiting for her reaction.

“I know, and I get that. But I think we’d be good parents, and I honestly think it would be good for our relationship, not a hindrance. Think about a little kitten curled up between us right now. Wouldn’t it be cute?” Tori stroked her imaginary kitten, making purring noises as she did.

A wry smile worked its way onto Holly’s face. “I’m always up for a new pussy to stroke, although I’m quite fond of yours,” she replied.

Tori grinned at that, but ploughed on. She wasn’t going to be thrown off her plan that easily. Not when Holly had agreed this quickly. “So are we on? I keep a plant alive till Valentine’s Day, and if I manage it, we get a kitten?”

Holly leaned back and regarded her girlfriend, before she stuck out her hand. “You’re on. If you can manage that, you win the bet.”

Tori clasped Holly’s hand and shook it firmly.

This was going to be a doddle.

CHAPTER 3

January: Week Two

Their flat was all white walls and minimal furniture, just the way they liked it. It was also built beside a railway line, and one of Tori’s favourite pastimes was to stare at the passing passengers: where were they going and what were they thinking? It was evening now, with January gloom settling on the city, even though the weather was still decidedly un-wintry and bland. It was disappointing, as Tori favoured distinct seasons: sultry summers, crisp autumns, brisk springs and brittle winters. She wasn’t hankering after seismic weather shifts; she just wanted to be able to wear her jumper outdoors without her clothes sticking to her like icing. 

One of the passengers Tori was staring at appeared to be looking directly at her, so Tori waved in her direction. Startled, the woman turned her head and buried it back in her newspaper. Tori chuckled.

The front door slamming signalled Holly’s return from work, followed by the usual sounds of her keys hitting the shelf by the door, then boots hitting the skirting boards. A few moments later she appeared at the lounge doorway, her bag still on her shoulder, her long frame adorned with Tori’s favourite black suit.

“Well hello, pretty lady.” Tori gave Holly her platinum smile, the one she saved for special occasions. “You look like you just stepped out of an art movie.” And Holly did. Her tapered black suit was offset with a starched white shirt, one that sported exaggeratedly peaked collars. Tori had often thought Holly should be working in fashion or television, certainly not in recruitment — she was far too cool for that. But Holly loved helping people and she seemed happy with her lot.

“Is it one of those art movies where I die a tragic death?”

Tori’s smile slipped from her face, replaced by a frown. “Er, no.”

“Well, I feel like I just got hit by a truck,” Holly replied, walking over towards her girlfriend. However, she stopped before she made it, her eyes registering a new arrival in the flat, sat under their wall-mounted TV. “Is that what I think it is? The plant you’re about to kill?”

Tori pursed her lips and went to stand next to her new bloom. “We’ll see about that,” she said, patting the plant’s leaves. “May I introduce you to Petula the peace lily! She’s here to be bathed in my love and affection for the next few weeks, and to prove to you that I am the nurturing kind. Exactly the kind cats love.” Tori wagged a finger in Holly’s direction. “Plus, according to NASA, peace lilies are recognised for their air-cleaning properties, so our flat is going to be a safer, cleaner place thanks to Petula.” The satisfied smile on Tori’s face told the world she was pretty pleased with herself.

Holly put her bag on the floor by their grey sofa, before plonking herself down. Even after a full day at work, her shirt wasn’t rumpled. Holly just had that knack. “I’ll look forward to watching her progress. But it’s nice to have a girl plant in the house,” she replied, raising an eyebrow at Tori.

“She’s actually a lesbian plant, but it’s not really the done thing in the world of peace lilies.” Tori’s voice was now at whisper level. “I told her she was safe here, among the sisterhood.”

Holly laughed at that, her tension visibly easing. “You’re a nut, you know that, don’t you? Good job I know you, Tori Hammond.”

Tori came and sat down on the opposite end of the sofa, lifting her girlfriend’s legs onto her lap. “That’s the benefit of getting together with your best friend, gorgeous,” she said. “You know everything about me — good and bad.” Tori leaned over and gave Holly a kiss. “Hi, by the way,” she said, breathing in Holly’s spicy, warm perfume.

Holly kissed her right back. “Hi yourself.”

“I take it you had a crazy day?” Tori asked, massaging Holly’s feet.

Holly smiled at the action. “Manic. A million people whose New Year’s resolution was to get a new job have been contacting me all day. It’s crazy.” She paused. “Actually, I was thinking maybe we could get away soon? Weekend break somewhere? Maybe even a long weekend in Europe? I’ve only been back in the office just over a week, but it feels like a lifetime.”

Tori nodded — she knew January was always a busy month for Holly. It was the same for her, with all her clients preparing to spend their marketing budget for the final quarter of the year. January and February were profitable but busy for both of them.

“I’d be up for that. A romantic weekend away sounds perfect. Maybe we could go to Paris. Or perhaps Rome.” Tori had always wanted to go to Rome — the history, the food, the style. “Shall we work out the details over dinner in Soho on Saturday? There’s a club night on I’d like to try, too.”

“Sounds perfect,” Holly said, perking up. “Dinner in town, then I get to snog you on a dance floor. My ideal Saturday night.” Holly blew out a long breath. “Can you pass me my bag?”

Tori leaned down, wincing as she did. She’d forgotten how much her arms hurt. Scrap that, how much her whole body hurt.

Holly frowned at her. “Why do you look like you’ve just swallowed a fly?”

Tori’s face was snarled up, one eye fully shut. “Gym,” she croaked out, rolling her shoulder and passing Holly her bag.

Holly rolled her eyes. “Did you overdo it in January, like the rest of the population?”

“Only a little bit,” Tori answered, rolling her shoulders again and wincing. “It’s incredible how unfit you get when you have three weeks off.” She was aching in places she’d forgotten existed. Getting her coat on and off had been excruciating, her joints grinding in their sockets, her muscles knotted and heavy.

Holly’s phone blared in her bag, and she hunted it out, then clicked the answer button.

“Hi dad.” Holly swung her legs off Tori and stood up, taking the call through to her room.

Tori took the opportunity to roll her shoulders again. It hadn’t got any better since a few moments ago.

Minutes later, Holly returned, phone in hand and an odd look on her face.

“So you know we were talking about going out this weekend?”

Tori nodded, biting into a Braeburn apple she’d just taken from the fruit bowl.

“I have the perfect thing. Fancy coming with me to my dad’s for dinner?”

Tori sat up, her face a picture of confusion. “Romantic dinner in Soho or parental dinner in Watford, is that what you’re saying?”

Holly smiled. “Pretty much.” She dropped down onto the end of the sofa and stared at her phone, as if she didn’t believe the conversation she’d just had.

“And also, what’s your dad doing inviting you for dinner? You never go to dinner at your dad’s house.”

Holly exhaled. “I know — that’s why I’m a bit dazed. He told me his New Year’s resolution was to see his first-born more often, and he wants me to get to know Elsie now she’s growing up. I told him so long as the invite was for two, that was fine.” Holly scratched her chin as she looked at Tori. “What do you think?”

“It wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.” Tori took another bite of her apple and chewed, before continuing. “But we should go. Plus, it means I get to meet your evil step-mother.” Tori flashed Holly a grin.

“I’m over that now, Sarah’s not so bad.” Holly shrugged, but Tori didn’t buy it. Holly was still mad at Sarah and still mad at her dad.

“And you haven’t met Elsie yet and she’s a real sweetheart.” Holly held up her phone. “So I’ll text him back to confirm?”

Tori nodded. Now she was Holly’s girlfriend, meeting her step-mother and half-sister was part of the deal. Tori was an only child with just her mum and gran in the picture, so her family were far more contained.

“Sure. I’ve always secretly wanted a trip to Watford, so this is a dream come true.”

Holly grinned her lopsided smile. “Very droll,” she said, slapping Tori’s leg. “Just remember, great things have come out of Watford. Geri Halliwell and Vinnie Jones, to name but two. So think on.”

“I have no doubt that Watford is up there with some of the great wonders of the world,” Tori replied, counting them out with her fingers in front of her face. “Niagara Falls. The Pyramids. Stonehenge. Your dad’s house.”

CHAPTER 4

And so it was that on Saturday they parked up outside Holly’s dad’s house. Just outside London, Watford was one of those suburbs that existed in a permanent state of beige. Their destination was a street lined with three-bed semis, all with perfectly trimmed hedges, porches and net curtains. This was where you came when you had children and needed more room. Despite its bland demeanour, Holly had always had a soft spot for Watford.