Chapter Text
3 R D M A Y 2 0 0 1
“No, no, no.” Eve asserted, crossing over the living room and spinning around to her parents. Eyes wet and red. “I won’t let you do that. I refuse to let you.”
“We don’t want to be involved, Eve,” her mother said.
Eve gaped at her parents in horror and disgust. “You are not putting her into care! If Erica wanted her in care when she got pregnant she’d have done it as soon as she had her but she wanted her.”
“And as your mother said,” her father started. “We don’t.”
Her mother added: “That was Erica’s choice. And in case you seemed to have forgotten, she is not here anymore and we all know why.”
It stung as fiercely as she imagined a slap in the face would have. It hurt and bruised her insides. But still, Eve swallowed the hurt down and stood her ground. “Blame me all you want for what happened but don’t blame her. Don’t blame Georgia. She’s not even four years old!”
“Meaning she won’t remember this,” her mother said calmly. “Which will be better for her. She will be none the wiser.”
Eve scoffed. “No, she’ll grow up thinking that her Mum just chucked her out. She’ll grow up thinkin’ the worst of Erica. I’m not having that.” She felt her eyes sting as the tears grew further into her eyes. “Why the hell would you want to get rid of her?”
“We were never in favour of her keeping that baby, Eve,” her father said.
“ That baby ? She’s your granddaughter!” She looked at them both, desperate for them to give her some kind of empathy towards the toddler that was currently tucked away in Eve’s room. “Do you not look at her and realise she is the last piece of Erica that we have left? Her eyes and her smile. She is growing to look like her more and more each day—”
“Which is why I can’t stand to look at her!” Her father suddenly boomed whilst her mother cowered with tears running down her cheeks. He took a breath when taking a step closer to Eve and grumbled in a harsher voice. “Just like I can’t stand to look at you.”
Eve bit her lip to try and stop it from trembling, she nodded at him sternly and took in a breath. “Right. Fine. You want her gone? Then she’s gone…and so am I.” She looked at her mother and noticed a small flicker of pain, but not enough. “You blame me for Erica’s death and I can’t change that. But I can change living like this. Erica wanted Georgie to grow up safe and loved. She won’t get that in care but she sure as hell won’t be gettin’ it here either. Neither will I. So I’ll go. You’ll get your wish, Dad.” She took a beat before: “You’ll never have to look at Erica’s face again.”
“That is the best thing you have said in a long time,” her father snapped. “But God help that girl being raised by you.”
“I’ll make sure to do a far better job than you ever did. I’ll make sure that she feels accepted and safe no matter what. I will do that for my sister.”
“No doubt she’ll end up picking up our traits then,” her mother finally muttered under her breath. But Eve refused to go there, she refused to take that bait. She could easily turn around and argue that she was raised by a heterosexual set of parents and still turned out a lesbian. But they’d already been around in that circle and she was exhausted. Erica had only been dead a few months, and she was still grieving.
Eve sucked in another breath and defused the conversation. “As soon as I find a flat. We’re gone. In the meantime, don’t worry. We’ll stay upstairs and only come down when we need to.” With nothing more to say, she backed away from them and walked out of the living room.
She walked up the stairs and into her bedroom where Georgie was playing with her toys. The infant looked over, and with understandable confusion, she grinned when exclaiming: “Mummy!”
Eve’s breath shook as her eyes pierced again in a watery sensation. It had happened before, a few small times since Erica died. Eve understood. Of course, she was too young to understand. She did it when Erica was alive and they used to laugh about it. But now, it was just painful that she had to keep reminding her. Eve sniffled and put on a smile, burying her own pain again as she walked towards her and picked her up to settle her down in her lap as she sat on the bed. “No, not mummy. I’m Auntie Eve.”
“Evie,” Georgie murmured, focusing back on her dolls.
“Yeah, Evie.” Eve stroked Georgie’s curls and sighed as she held her tighter. “I’m sorry, kidda. I’m sorry that your mummy can’t be here anymore. But she’s left me to look after you. And I’m going to.” She kissed the top of her head and brought her closer. “I promise.” In that moment, it wasn’t just Georgie she was making that vow to. But she was making it to Erica as well, in hopes that she could hear. “It’s you and me against the world now.”
1 2 T H J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4
Eve’s fingers ran back and forth through Suki’s hair as her girlfriend lay cocooned next to her. Suki’s head was tucked into her neck, nuzzling against her jaw whilst her leg was spread across Eve’s body. Who knew that Suki Panesar would sleep like a koala bear and use Eve as her tree?
Suki sighed softly as she tightened herself around her body, slowly waking up but clearly wanting to stay in this moment. “Do we really have to get up?”
Eve chuckled, grazing her lips along the top of Suki’s head. “I think we can get an extra fifteen minutes.”
“Good,” Suki whispered with zero arguments and nuzzled her head further against Eve’s shoulder. “I like that idea.”
“You’re so flaming needy.”
“Do shut up. I was enjoying this.”
Eve laughed again and held onto Suki tighter, keeping her fingers streaming through her hair while also having her lips remain pressed against her forehead. She doesn’t remember how she used to sleep without Suki now that she had it full-time. Back when they were in the routine of only having this twice every few weeks in Leeds, she had no choice but to be accustomed to the idea. But now? Now when she looked back on it, she realised that it was a miracle she ever slept through at all.
She took a few moments and looked down on Suki sleeping, watching her. Studying her. As if she never had before when she in fact had done it several times. She watched the way her chest rose and fell, how her lips and nose twitched every now and then which Eve always found the most adorable thing she had ever seen. Suki didn’t snore but there was this light noise that came through her nose. It was faint and endearing. She was so beautiful, and Eve could never get enough.
Suddenly, the sound of the front door opening was heard from downstairs. “Hello!” Georgie’s voice could be heard bellowing from the hallway. “Eve! You better be awake!’
“Oh, no,” Eve grumbled, covering her palm over her forehead.
“What?” Suki asked, still half asleep and not moving an inch .
“I forgot that I promised Georgie we’d go sparring this morning.”
Suki laughed against Eve’s throat before she reeled her head back. “Oh, darling, what a way to begin a Friday morning.”
“What time is it?” Eve leaned over Suki’s body as she reached for her phone and checked. “Fuck me,” she sighed.
“I was planning to, but…”
Eve dropped her hand down against the mattress as she looked down at Suki with a kind of you’re unbelievable kind of smirk. “Doesn’t take you long to wake up with the dirty quips, does it?”
Suki shook her head as she stroked her nails up and down Eve’s back. “She’ll be down in a minute!” Suki called, then raised her brows to Eve. “Up and at ‘em, my love.”
Eve rolled her eyes and ducked down to kiss Suki on the lips before she pulled herself from the bed to reduce the risk of further temptation. Morning sex had become like a ritual to them since living together pretty much every morning. It certainly wasn’t breakfast or morning coffee that made them ready for the day anymore, that was for sure.
Eve quickly changed into her tracksuit bottoms and t-shirt ready for the gym and made her way downstairs, leaving Suki to get out of bed. Georgie eyed her aunt and came down the stairs. “You were still in bed, weren't you?”
“You’re too punctual.” Eve slapped Georgie’s arm.
Suki was suddenly at the top of the stairs. “Excuse me,” she said, catching both of their attention. “You are not going to punch seven bells out of each other on an empty stomach.”
Georgie rolled her eyes as she leaned against the bannister. “I’ve already eaten.”
Suki’s eyes squinted as she studied the young woman. “You’re a liar. I can tell by your face, Georgie.” She pointed down the hall. “Get in the kitchen, and eat something. Have just a banana for all I care, just fill your stomach at least by a fraction more.”
“We can just grab something from the van.”
“Oh, very nutritious.”
“Best do as she says,” Eve mumbled, shaking Georgie’s shoulder. “Come on, bowl of shredded wheat with your name on it.” She eyed upwards to Suki, who glanced at her smugly before she took herself into the bathroom to get ready for the day.
Eve held the pads up in front of her. Georgie launched her punches sharp and quick before she lightly jumped up and down and shook her body a little before pulling her fists up again. “See, all this energy is from those Shreddies,” Eve said.
Georgie hacked a laugh, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, okay. Anything to keep your missus happy.”
“You or me?”
“Both of us.” Georgie launched the punches again as they then circled one another. “You thought dates yet?”
“We aren’t in any rush for it yet. We’ll take it as it comes.”
“You’re going to be those sorts that stay engaged for donkeys, aren’t you?”
Eve shrugged. “We said we already feel like wives, we like being engaged but as far as the big party of it all goes, it can wait for the right time. She’ll still be my first real marriage.”
“How fucking poetic.” Georgie deadpanned, with Eve laughing and holding the pads up again for more punching. “Ash wants it all.”
“Big wedding?”
“Well, not sure about big, but she wants some level of tradition with the dresses and blessing. Some blessings go on now with lgbt couples for their faith. I looked it up.” Georgie shrugged. “Plus, I think Ash likes the idea of having one hell of a party.”
Eve laughed. “That sounds more like her. Thought you were never fussed on getting married.”
“I wasn’t before her. And I knew from the get go in her and me dating that it was something so she always wanted, so I’d have been up for it for her sake and do the whole thing...” Georgie motioned her gloves hand up and down in Eve’s direction. “Get my father figure to walk me down the aisle.”
“You’re a cheeky little shit you.” Eve playfully tapped the side of Georgie’s head with the pads. “Knowing you, you’d suggest a double wedding.”
Georgie cocked a brow. “Hey now. You wanna talk about a party.”
They both laughed before getting right back into it. As Georgie continued to throw several punches and land them perfectly as well as ducking Eve’s counter swings in good timing, Sharon walked out of the office.
“Georgie,” Sharon said, folding her arms as she stood by the ring.
The pair stopped, Georgie walked to the ropes as she caught her breath. “All good, Shaz?”
“Yes, I was just thinking…watching you just now reminded me—we are looking at having a female boxing match for charity in a few weeks. I was wondering if you fancied being involved.”
Georgie raised her brows. “You want me to fight?”
Sharon shrugged and smirked. “I’ve seen how good you are. I just thought I’d suggest it, think about it.”
Georgie nodded at her with an appreciative smile and turned her head back to Eve, who pressed her tongue against the inside of her cheek. “I know you’re a grown woman, who can make her own choices. But if I don’t like the idea of that, what do you think the others will say?”
“You literally spar with me.”
“Sparring isn’t the same, kidda. Actual boxing can be more lethal.”
Georgie held her hands up. “I haven’t said yes.”
“If you did, I wouldn’t like it but I’d still come to cheer you on. But I’d prefer you to say no.”
Suki laughed as Eve and Georgie stood in front of her in the shop and told her what Sharon had said to Georgie. She was laughing because she genuinely thought they were having them on. But when they stood there for long enough with serious looks on their faces, her expression dropped. “No. Absolutely not.”
“Told you,” Eve said, looking at her niece.
“You’re not considering that surely,” Suki said before she glanced at Eve. “You’re not considering letting her?”
“I’m twenty-six.”
Suki kept her eyes on Eve whilst raising her finger in Georgie’s direction. “You’re a baby, be quiet.”
Georgie snorted and kept her hands in her tracksuit pockets, looking down at her trainers but ultimately doing as she was told.
“I’ve told her that it would be preferred that she said no ,” Eve said.
“Preferred?”
Georgie took in a breath as she lifted her head and pulled an awkward smile. “On this note, I am meeting Ash in the cafe for her lunch break so I will leave you two to debate this.”
“There’s no debate, you aren’t doing it,” Suki called as Georgie headed out the door. “And Ashneet will agree!”
“Bye!”
Eve looked at Suki after watching her niece walk out with an amused look on her face. “Oh, don’t give me that, Suki.”
“How can you think that is a good idea?”
“I just told you, I don’t.” Eve walked over to the counter and pressed her hands against it. “Love, it isn’t like Sharon was offering for Georgie to get a boxing coach. She's just doing a charity match and Georgie got first dibs. I doubt she’ll take it.”
“She better not.”
Eve cocked a small smirk. “I think she’d be more scared of saying because of you more than actually doing the fight.”
Suki finally huffed a laugh before pressing her lips together and taking in a breath. “Fine. You know her best.”
Eve moved around the counter and got closer to Suki. “Are you my friend again?”
Suki tried to resist her smile, rolling her eyes when Eve pulled her close by her waist and kissed her cheek. She squeezed Eve’s arms. “You are getting far too cocky, walking behind this counter.”
“Is that a yes?” Eve pressed another kiss against her skin.
Suki looked into her eyes and hummed. “Obviously.”
Eve pressed her thumb against Suki’s chin and glanced at the door and whispered: “Can I kiss you?”
Suki swallowed thickly and took in a breath through her nose before sighing out weekly. “If you’re quick about it.” It wasn’t kissing in public that was the issue, it was more not wanting a customer to walk in and see it because it wouldn’t be professional.
But they were absolutely one of those couples who were affectionate without being too much . A kiss here and there on the cheek and sometimes lips, holding hands through the square and sitting all cosy in places like The Vic.
Eve smiled and kissed her softly but quickly. Both craved for more, but there was also something about the sweet chased and domesticated kisses like the one Eve had just given her that also had their charm.
Ash leaned against the standing table and ran her fingers through Georgie’s hair once she came over with the two takeaway cups, one of coffee for Ash and tea for Georgie. “As if you’d ever think I would agree with the thought of you taking part in an actual boxing match.”
“It’s not that different from sparring.”
“Big lie and you know it,” Ash said with a laugh. “I’ve heard of all the medical repercussions of boxing, Georgie. Absolutely not. Not after what you went through earlier this year.”
“Oh, you’re going to hate me saying this but you’re starting to sound just like Suki because she said the exact same stuff.”
Ash frowned at her before rolling her eyes. “Well, sometimes we have the same correct way of thinking.”
“Well…” Georgie took her hand from her hair and held it with both of hers and pressing a soft kiss against it. “You don’t need to worry about it. Because I’m not going to do it. It was only a passing suggestion, there was no weight behind it.”
“Good. Because I don’t want to see this handsome face get battered.” Ash brushed the back of her finger against Georgie’s chest.
“I’m loving the faith in me.”
Ash snorted. “Please, you know what I mean. No matter who wins they both come out looking like hell.” She stroked her thumb against Georgie’s finger as she was keeping hold. “Off topic but…I’ve booked an appointment for you later at the practice.”
Georgie squinted at her. She was feeling perfectly fine. “Why?”
“For your headache.”
The young woman became further perplexed. “My?...” But when she saw Ash’s smirk with her nodding, she grinned. “You’re right, it’s been so painful. I’ve barely been able to sleep. I’ve been driving my girlfriend mad with the tossing and turning.”
“I can imagine,” Ash said in a low voice. “So I took the liberty of taking care of you myself, as your highly skilled doctor.”
Georgie’s smile grew further as she leaned forward and whispered over Ash’s lips: “Thank you, doctor.” Ash giggled softly, and their mouths pressed together in a kiss.
The cafe door opened, and in walked a blonde woman whom was no resident of Walford. She scanned her eyes around before turning her head to Bernie, who greeted her with all smiles. “What can I get you?”
“A cup of tea to take away, please. Oat milk, if you’ve got it…you don’t happen to know anyone called Eve Unwin, do you? She lives round here.”
Bernie looked at her whilst pouring the boiling water into the cup. “Yeah, she does. You’re in the right place. She works at Stacey Baps down Bridge Street, but if you’re looking at finding her, her niece is just over there in the corner.”
The woman turned and looked on to see Georgie still standing closely with Ash, their fingers sweeping together in a tangled dance. “Her niece…”
“Yeah, she’d be able to help you if you need it.”
“Right. Um—”
“Georgie!” Bernie suddenly called, catching the young woman’s attention. “This lady is looking for your Eve.”
Georgie stood up straight from leaning down on the table. “Oh yeah?” She took a step forward to give her sole attention, her hand entwined with Ash still gently linked. “And who might you be?”
“I’m um…I—” the woman cleared her throat. “Sorry it’s just—you look just like her . I’m…an old friend.”
Georgie cocked her head curiously with a soft smirk. “You travelled from up North to come and visit Eve after how many years?”
There was a small pause. “Twenty-three years.”
Georgie gave a brief nod. “Right, well. If this is you wanting to rekindle some kind of old flame with her I should warn you, she’s happily with someone. Someone who would find it incredibly easy in clearing you off.”
“No, no,” the woman said with a soft laugh. “It’s not for that. I just was in town and I heard she was living here now. I thought I’d pop in.”
Georgie kept a curious look on her face before she shrugged and nodded. “Alright. I can go see if she has some time if you want to stick around here. What’s your name?”
The woman paused again. Until she said: “Amanda.”
“Okay,” Georgie said. “I’ll go grab her.” She tugged on Ash’s hand and the two of them walked out of the cafe. Upon leaving, Ash took one more glance at the woman before they stepped outside.
“Do you recognise her?” Ash asked.
“Not in the slightest,” Georgie said as they walked down the street. “But then again, Eve didn’t introduce me to a lot of her friends back then. For good reason.” She slung her arm over Ash’s arm. “Could be an old friend from anywhere.”
“You sure she won’t be an ex?”
Georgie snorted. “I’m sure. I was just teasing before. But she won’t be, she isn’t Eve’s type.”
“Well, this type wants to go out tonight.”
“Oh,” Georgie laughed breathlessly. “Is that right, huh?” She pulled Ash closer and pressed her lips against Ash’s temple. “I think I can make that work. How about some drinks at Peggy’s and then we go out into town for a meal?”
“That sounds like heaven. I have late appointments tomorrow, so we can sleep in.” Ash groaned pleasantly, and Georgie laughed. She did plan to take Ash out tomorrow—on Friday—because she knew how up to her neck she had been with appointments this week, more than usual. Ash had been coming home every early evening and completely crashed out.
“What my baby wants,” Georgie teased. “My baby gets.”
They came outside the practice, Ash turned around and loosely locked her arms around Georgie’s neck and smiled as Georgie’s hands smoothed around her waist before she held her. “I’ll be done with work at half four, meet you at home? Be ready and waiting.”
“As always with you,” Georgie said, smirking while Ash grumbled a laugh when their lips came together in a kiss. She pressed another soft kiss against her forehead before taking a moment to just gaze at her girlfriend. “I’ll see you later, pretty girl.”
“Bye, babe,” Ash whispered, stealing one more kiss before she slipped out of Georgie’s hold, and squeezed her hand until eventually the distance that grew forced them to part their hands.
Georgie turned on her heel and walked back up Bridge Street and strolled all the way over to the bap van as she was passing to head to the garage. “You’re wanted.”
Eve placed her hand over her heart and teased: “Cheers, George. You’re wanted to.”
Georgie stopped in front of her and rolled her eyes. “Cute. No, seriously, someone is in the cafe waiting for you. Says she’s an old friend, Amanda? Or something.”
Eve looked at her, perplexed. “Is this you trying to be funny?”
“If I was trying to be funny it would be funny.”
“I don’t know any Amanda.”
“Well an Amanda knows you. I just hope for your sake she’s not someone you slept with and then never called. We all know Suki can get green eyes.” Georgie slipped her hands into her overalls. “Seriously, Eve. Someone is at Kathy’s saying they need to speak with you.”
“Alright, alright,” Eve muttered as she took her apron from over her head. “I can close up for a few minutes, I suppose.” She stepped out the door and locked it up before closing the shutter and ruffling Georgie’s head. “Cheers, kidda.”
“Did you calm her down?”
Eve hacked a small laugh. “So long as we never mention it again, we’ll be safe.”
Georgie smirked with a roll of her eyes before she spun on her heels and made her way towards the garage with a two-finger salute in the air to bid her Aunt adieu.
Eve walked into the caff and was pointed in the direction of Bernie to a woman sitting in the corner of the cafe, who rose from her chair as soon as Eve walked inside. She was confused upon seeing her because she did not recognise this woman.
“Oh, you found me,” Amanda said.
“Yeah…I guess I did.” Eve pressed her palms together and stepped towards her, tilting her head in curiosity. “Sorry—my niece told me that an old friend was asking for me but, I don’t believe we—”
“That would’ve been my fault,” Amanda said nervously. “When I said old friend I meant more that we went to the same University.”
Eve slowly nodded. “Right. Sorry, law school was a bit of a blur. I kind of just steamed trained through it.”
“Right, of course. You had a lot going on from what I can remember. Well, I’m Amanda.” Amanda held out her hand for Eve to shake, which Eve did.
“Nice to see you, again .” Eve laughed.
“I actually came here for a reason…um…” Amanda cleared her throat. “Business-wise, actually. I’ve heard that you are the owner of the bap van down the road.”
“Yeah, I am. Well, kind of. I help run it with my friend Stacey. You’ve not come all this way for old Uni mates rates on a bacon butty have you?”
Amanda let out a breathless laugh, shaking her head, still nervous. “No, no…I work in culinary too. I was hoping we could go for a drink and I could talk to you about a possible partnership.”
Eve smirked, amused. “It’s hardly culinary but…okay, seen as though you’ve reached out and it’s the least I can do since I have a rubbish memory and I feel terrible.”
“Please, don’t.”
Eve tightened a polite smile before she shrugged. “Alright, we can set something up. I wouldn’t be able to right now because I’m the only one manning the van. Later on? I just need to speak with my fianceé.”
“That can work.”
Suki folded her arms, standing in the door of the Minute Mart as she watched Eve speaking to a woman outside Kathy’s. She didn’t recognise the blonde speaking to her, and she found that strange given she was quite familiar with most of the locals around here so she couldn’t help but wonder what on earth this woman would want with Eve.
Her posture went stiff when watching the woman take Eve’s phone and enter what Suki presumed was her number. Was it her number?
Eve then shook her hand, which seemed more formal, and then parted ways. She lifted her head and immediately spotted Suki looking over. “Hey, you.”
Suki nodded in the direction of the woman. “Who was that?”
“A potential supplier,” Eve said with a cocky tone in her throat.
“What?” Suki scoffed, watching the woman walk away on the other side of the street. “Supplier of what? New brands of ketchup?”
“Actually, yeah.” Eve leaned her hand forward against the frame of the door. “She wants to have a little chat about maybe us using her condiments for the van. She’s been into the chippy too.”
Suki’s brows pinched to one another, looking at Eve from the small step. “Strange.”
“Is it?”
“She put her number in your phone.”
“Yeah, because of the chat—are you okay?”
Suki shrugged, folding her arms. “Are you sure it was the condiments she was interested in?”
The penny dropped as a small suspicious smirk started to grow on Eve’s lips. “Well, if it’s not then I’ll be leaving and coming home to you, won’t I?” Eve’s hands found Suki’s waist and brushed her thumbs against her blouse beneath her blazer. “You’re cute when you’re jealous.”
“Who said anything about jealousy?”
“Oh, I can see right through you.” Suki rolled her eyes as Eve laughed and gave her a delicate shake. “Did we have dinner plans tonight?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary, I was just going to rustle something up at home.”
“Would you hate me if I rainchecked it?”
Suki looked at her with a deadpan expression. “Be serious.”
“I said I could potentially meet her this evening to discuss things. I’ll hear what she has to say and then I’ll be home as soon as possible.” She squeezed her. “Believe me, I’d want to get home to you.”
Suki tugged a smirk of her own. “Alright,” she said.
Eve leaned forward and pressed a kiss on Suki’s cheek. Right in the doorway, out in public. It was something that the two of them were still getting used to doing so freely, but Suki was becoming less and less paranoid about it. No one in this square looked at them in any negative way. They could live their own true lives. Suki pinched Eve’s chin and she gave her head a playful, soft, push. “Go on, then. We’ve both got work to be getting on with.”
Georgie walked into the practice and checked herself in for her appointment before she sat in the waiting area with other—probably genuinely unwell—people. In her experience, even when you arrive on time for your appointment, you’re usually met with a delay. But not this time, not when Ash was her doctor .
“Georgia Unwin to exam room two, please,” the receptionist called. Georgie tried her best not to get up too fast. She attempted to look like she had somewhat of a headache as she put on a small groan and touched her forehead.
As soon as she turned the door handle and opened the door, she was met with Ash’s hand getting a fistful of her t-shirt under her overalls and pulling her onto her into a clashing kiss. Georgie released a hummed moan with immediate pleasure as she grasped her girlfriend’s backside and they moved over to the patient bed. Their tongues brushed together in a welcomed reunion. “Straight to business,” Georgie mumbled against Ash’s mouth.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about kissing you since lunch.” Ash brushed her finger along Georgie's bottom lip before replacing it with her tongue as she swept back into her mouth. “Do you think people out there know?”
“Is this not part of the checkup?” Georgie teased against her mouth, and then moved her lips down Ash’s throat, continuing to kiss heavily against her skin with her teeth and tongue. Briefly, she pulled back and looked to the door as she said in a slightly louder voice. “Doctor Panesar, what kind of examination is this?”
Ash giggled a shut up when putting her hand on Georgie’s cheek, turning her head back to face her and pressing their lips together again, hooking her knees up against Georgie’s waist as she leaned further against the patient bed.
Georgie groaned as her hand roamed fiercely up Ash’s body, gazing down at her lustfully. She pulled Ash even closer, her hands roaming around her body and growled into her girlfriend's ear. “I need to touch you.” She palmed Ash’s breasts through her dress. “—To fuck you so badly.”
Ash moaned breathlessly against Georgie’s ear, her fingers digging further into her shoulder. “We don't have time.” Her brows creased harder together when her actions were counterproductive to her words and moved Georgie’s hand up her dress. “The appointments are only ten minutes.”
They both burst out into a peal of laughter while Georgie’s hand caressed Ash’s bare thigh under the dress. “Maybe I just need further investigation.”
“You’re driving me mad,” Ash gasped into Georgie’s ear, her lips curling against her.
“You drive me mad.” Georgie pushed her forehead against Ash’s as their noses pressed together. Her hand continued to stroke up and down Ash’s thigh whilst the other smoothed up the side of her body and across her ribs. “Your body, your face, your smell—” she buried her face in Ash’s neck and kissed her skin before gently nipping down on it. “Is your perfume like a pheromone or something?”
“Like I’ve said before, you’re just obsessed with me,” Ash teased, running her fingers up the back of Georgie’s hair and gripping tight to her locks. She moaned and pulled Georgie closer with her other hand, so close that she was almost lying flat against the bed. “I could absolutely get fired for this.”
“It might even be worth it.”
“Maybe.” Ash arched her neck and rolled her hips in desperate need to feel Georgie’s hand against her.
“We should have double booked,” Georgie whispered, her hand brushing against Ash’s front, over her underwear.
Ash’s breath got caught in her throat as her brows pinched together. “Babe, we’ve got to stop. Because if you tease me for any longer, I’m really going to lose my job.”
Georgie pressed her mouth against Ash’s ear and whispered: “So stop teasing, and just fuck then?”
“No,” Ash laughed with a faint breath. When inside she was screaming yes. Georgie grumbled a laugh of her own before she kissed Ash’s cheek and finally put out of her misery by stepping back.
“My headache is already feeling better.”
“I bet it is.”
Georgie kissed her again, softer this time and with less hunger. She held gently onto Ash’s chin. “Maybe next time I should just come after hours.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Ash whispered along Georgie’s lips.
“Stop,” Georgie grumbled with a laugh. “I’m already dying for you.”
“I love it when you say things like that.”
“I always mean it,” Georgie said, pressing a kiss on Ash’s shoulder and then the crook of her neck before working upwards to her jaw, cheek and lips again. “It tends to be a running theme when my girlfriend is so irresistibly beautiful.”
Ash hummed bashfully, rubbing her lips together as she glanced down at Georgie’s mouth before sucking in a breath and moving past the tension that she started in building from the second she grabbed Georgie and pulled her in. “Has Eve gone to meet that woman?”
“Yeah, I told her that she was waiting in the caff and made her way in.” Georgie looked at her girlfriend oddly. “I still don’t think it sounds right.”
“Eve is a grown woman,” Ash said, smoothing her hand down Georgie’s cheek. “I’m sure whoever she is, Eve will handle it. And if she doesn’t, my Mum surely will.”
“I don’t doubt that at all.” Georgie threaded her fingers through Ash’s. “You still up for tonight?”
“Are you joking? The thought of getting out with you is all that’s getting me through the day.”
Georgie smirked. “You’re so in love with me, it’s kind of sickening.”
“Tell me about it.” Ash brushed her forehead against Georgie’s before peeling back and returning her gaze. “This also might be the worst time to mention this but I got a text before from Habiba.”
“Your ex’s sister?”
Ash dropped into a plain smile. “ My nephew's mum, yes. Anyway, she’s asked me last minute if I can go up to Leeds on Saturday. Family emergency or something.”
Georgie slowly nodded as her hands smoothed over Ash’s waist. “Okay. You going?”
“I’ll speak to her more tomorrow. But if she needs me to go then she might be desperate.”
“Your ex can’t help? Or will it be a team job?” Georgie cocked a brow.
Ash laughed breathlessly. “She has a name. And I don’t know, she just texted me not long before you came in. But if it’s a family emergency it might mean that they both are involved.” She loosely locked her arms around Georgie’s neck. “Even if Iqra would be there to help, it doesn’t matter, does it?”
“No,” Georgie said. “I’m not the jealous type.”
Ash hummed stiffly. “Tell your face that.” She tilted her head whilst playing with the back of Georgie’s head. “I’ll always be in the family's life, Tyrion is that connection.”
“I know, I know.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have sprung it on you. I just didn’t want to mention it tonight whilst we’re out.”
“Ash, it’s fine. I’m not one of these crazy possessive people that ban my partner from seeing someone. I know the situation. Even if she was there, slightly jealous as it might make me, I’d be fine.”
“You could even come.” Ash suggested. “If it’s a babysitting duty that’s needed.”
“Oh, are you trying to get us in some practice?” Georgie teased with a chuckle, that was returned from Ash. “Speak to her more tomorrow, and we’ll go from there.”
“Okay,” Ash whispered and then glanced to the clock, frowning. “Time’s up.”
“Wow, time flies when we’re talking about your ex.”
Ash knocked her head back in a laugh, which Georgie took as the chance to kiss her neck with a grin on her lips. “We were never talking about her .” She playfully swatted Georgie’s arm. “Go on, get gone.”
Georgie back away from the bed and walked to the door with her fingers still loosely entwined with Ash’s. She turned with her free hand holding onto the handle and stole one more tender kiss from her girlfriend’s lips and hovered there for a moment before whispering: “Thanks for the check up, Doc.”
“My pleasure.”
“It would have been if we had another ten minutes.”
With that, Georgie was pushed out of the room.
Suki poured herself a steaming cup of chai when the front door opened and she looked on to see Eve walking in. “Hi, mērā pi'āra.”
Eve walked further down the hall and then pulled her hand from behind her back. Suki tilted her head and laughed. “What have you bought me flowers for?”
“To apologise for leaving you in the lurch.”
“Don’t be silly,” Suki said with another small laugh, reaching out and taking the bunch. “If the woman is here to talk business, believe me, it’s something I know well.” She placed her free hand on Eve’s cheek and smiled. “But thank you.” She pulled Eve close and laid a welcome kiss on her lover’s lips. “I saw Georgie earlier. She and Ash have asked if I can look after Beau because they’re heading for a night out.”
“You’re dogsitting ?”
Suki hummed. “I think I can handle it. And apparently, this woman is an old university friend, Georgie said?”
Eve shrugged as Suki stepped back and placed the flowers down on the table before reaching for a vase to fill up. “I don’t remember her. But she said that she didn’t expect me to, we were passing ships in classes.”
“So, how does she know about the bap van?”
“Facebook search she says. Saw the page that Freddie put up for us, saw a picture or something, and recognised me.”
Suki stopped filling the vase and turned to her, perplexed. “Eve, do you not think that sounds a little odd?”
“A little, I suppose, she was acting odd but I think she was just nervous.”
Suki rolled her eyes. “Mērā pi'āra, you’re too optimistic when it comes to people.” She held her finger up when she picked up the flowers. “And no , this is not me being jealous.”
“Love, I was teasing you earlier. You know there wouldn’t be anyone with a patch on you to make you jealous.”
“I am looking out for you. I don’t want someone sweeping up and trying to scam you—or Stacey, for that matter—when the two of you do work hard on that food van. Which is another thing, it’s odd that she wants to see just you, and not Stacey.”
“I might be a lot of things, but I’m not an utter muppet.” Eve walked back towards her and placed her hands on Suki’s cheeks. “If she’s a scammer, believe me, I’ll sniff it out.” She pressed her mouth against Suki’s for a chaste moment. “But I appreciate you looking out for me and Stace.”
“Well, she is your first wife, after all.”
“Shut up,” Eve laughed, wrapping her arms around Suki’s waist and pulling her close, burying her face in Suki’s neck. “You’re my real first wife.”
Suki hummed, rubbing Eve’s back. “In every way that counts, yes.” She kissed a spot behind Eve’s ear. “Where are you meeting her?”
Eve pulled her head back from Suki’s neck, their arms still around each other. “The Albert.”
“Oh, a perfect place for a business meeting.”
“She suggested somewhere casual.”
“I bet.”
Eve grumbled a laugh, pressing her mouth against Suki’s cheek as her hands moved further down the small of her back. “By all means, come with me and be my bad cop.” Her teeth grazed on Suki’s earlobe. “Although, you might be a distraction.”
“Tempting, but I’ll leave it to you.” Suki met Eve’s gaze with a darkness in her eyes as she raised her brows. “But just keep in mind, that whilst you go for your little meeting about condiment brands…I’ll be soaking in the bath, alone .”
“You are a cruel woman.” Eve slowly started to bend. “But I have something else that I can keep in mind when I’m out.” Suki yelped with laughter when she was lifted off the ground with Eve’s arms tightly around her, and wasted no time in wrapping her legs around Eve’s waist. “I have some time to take you upstairs before I have to leave.”
“Then stop talking about it, and do it,” Suki commanded before she pressed her mouth heavily on Eve’s for an opened-mouthed kiss, their tongues welcoming each other. Suki tightened her grip on Eve’s back and moaned softly at the feel of Eve squeezing her backside. “Upstairs. Now.”
Eve grinned up at her before their mouths clashed again and stumbled towards the stairs. They made it to the bedroom and Eve dropped Suki down on the mattress, her hands going to the button of her trousers.
Suki lay back with her arms against the mattress and lifted her hips to assist Eve in taking the trousers off her body. Eve’s eyes fixated on the lower half of Suki’s body before she pushed up her sweatshirt and kissed her hip. She started to move her way up as Suki removed her jumper from over her head and tossed it to the side.
Eve groaned at the more visibility of her girlfriend and kissed between her breasts. “So beautiful. And mine.”
Suki grinned. She rolled her hips, arching her back as she moaned with impatience. “Prove it.”
“I intend to,” Eve whispered, grazing her lips along Suki’s chin before pressing firm kisses all over her face and back down her neck. “To every inch of you.” She kissed over her collarbone. “Because I love every inch of you.”
Suki hummed another moan, swimming her fingers through the back of Eve’s locks. “I love you, too.” She gripped tight onto Eve’s hair, which made the other woman groan. “Now stop wasting time…” She pulled Eve’s mouth against hers and whispered onto her lips: “And fuck me the way you know I like.”
Eve grinned at her and then stopped wasting time.
Georgie and Ash’s hands felt like they barely had anytime apart from one another as they reunited when walking out the door of their flat after Ash had quickly rushed home and the two of them got changed to hit Peggy’s bar before going out into town for a nice meal and a few more drinks.
Georgie dropped Beau off at number 41 once already dressed and returned to see Ash completely ready to go.
They made their way out of the flat and into the street. “You look gorgeous by the way,” Georgie mumbled as her eyes scanned Ash up and down.
Ash near enough blushed . “Yeah?”
Georgie grinned. “Yeah.” She leaned forward and kissed her girlfriend’s cheek.
“You don’t look too bad yourself.” Ash smiled with a laugh in the back of her throat. Their heads moved in their forward direction when Eve was spotted leaving number 41.
“Ey up!” Georgie called, waving her and Ash’s entwined hand upwards. “Where’re you headin’? I thought you were having a cosy date night in with the pupper.”
Eve chuckled. “It’s that woman you mentioned earlier, I’m heading out to meet her.”
Georgie squinted at her with a smirk when she teased as they came closer to one another. “Now, Eve. You’re my Aunt, my guardian, and I love you. But I’d beat your arse in two for Suki.”
“Oh, you’re hilarious— no , she owns a foodie business of her own and tracked me down through socials because she wants to discuss is doing a deal or something with her brand.”
The young couple looked at her, genuinely perplexed. “That’s not how she made it seem earlier on,” Ash said.
“How did she make it seem earlier on?” Eve asked.
Georgie shrugged. “Like she wanted an old friend catch up.”
“I told you, I didn’t know any Amanda at Uni. I even told her this and she said that she may have exaggerated about being old friends— it sounds dodgy, I know.”
Ash hummed. “Yep.” At the same time as Georgie’s: “Very.”
“So I’m going to get the full idea of what she wants.”
“Oh,” Georgie said stiffly. “So this is an investigation .”
Eve rolled her eyes. “Not as eighties detective film as you’re trying to make it seem. Curiosity has killed the cat, an’ all that. Anyway, where are you two going?”
“For a few drinks in Peggy’s and then for a meal,” Georgie said, squeezing Ash’s hand. “Ash has had a long week.”
Ash hummed. “And Georgie has had a really bad headache.”
Georgie cleared her throat and tightened a smile to Eve. “On that note.” She patted her Aunt’s arm. “Good luck with your scammer.”
“Cheers, have a nice date night.”
“Yeah, you have a good night too…I suppose .”
Eve snorted. “I will do, when I get back to Suki.” She shimmied her fingers through Georgie’s hair. “I’ll catch up with you tomorrow for all the gossip.”
Both Georgie and Ash laughed before they parted ways with Eve. They were fairly sure there would be plenty of gossip off the back of the inevitable disaster.