The Sun in My Eyes

36 Keep Glowing, I'll Follow Your Explosions

Noah and Hope continue their epic fight, Bobby and Lili avoid them by having... adult conversations, Something unnamed gets a name, and a recoupling announcement looms ominously over everyone.

Oh and click on the link at the end of the chapter for a treat! The talented Tashiecake made an accompanying comic for a scene in this chapter. 

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"I said I made a mistake and I'm sorry. What the hell else do you want from me, Hope?"

"I don't want anything. I've had all I can stomach from you, thanks." Hope's towering heels click-clacked through the kitchen as she stormed by, snatching a bottle of wine off the counter as she went.

Bobby watched her warily, as he slid the mini mango galettes he'd made onto a platter. The rustic tarts weren't up to his standards for beauty, but they tasted amazing. And someone had squeezed the hell out of the mangos, so they needed to be used or thrown out.

Noah raced past. "The reason you don't want to talk this through is because you'd have to own up to your own choices instead of crying over mine."

She spun and pointed the wine bottle at him. "What did I do except try to make us work?"

"You tried to force us to work! Every time a girl so much as glanced in my direction you had your hand in my pants. And you knew I had one foot out the door, and you fucked me to keep me from putting the other one out. Stop pretending like you're innocent here!"

For a moment, he was sure she was going to smash that bottle right over Noah's head. Thankfully, she just glared at him silently before turning and walking away again.

Bobby blew out a breath. Jesus. They'd been arguing like that all evening and he'd found himself shrinking in the wake of it. Too familiar. It was all too familiar.

So, he'd busied himself by baking.

Maybe the tarts would bring some smiles back to the villa.

He cleaned the kitchen slowly and then sat the platter on the counter, covering it with a towel. They probably wouldn't get eaten tonight. Most everyone had made themselves scarce, finding quiet corners to hide from the fighting.

As he headed for the villa, he passed Priya on the daybed, where she'd been parked all evening, red-eyed and feeling sorry for herself because everyone was upset with her. Again.

He cared about her, he really did, and he felt drawn to stop and talk to her, but he knew he couldn't. She'd spited her face so many times, she had no nose left to cut off. And he couldn't jeopardize his shaky relationship with Lili by picking up any more of Priya's pieces.

Sighing, he grabbed his pyjamas and made his way to the bathroom. He stared into the mirror and ran wet hands through his locs, which had a fine dusting of flour. He'd gotten a little aggressive with the dough. Ah well. He'd wash it in the morning.

After brushing his teeth, he changed into his cupcake bottoms, ready to sleep away the misery of the evening. With a yawn, he emerged from the bathroom and found Lili kicking off her heels in the dressing room. He'd only seen her in passing since the girl council stole her away. At some point she'd changed into a white mini dress that hugged her body in the most mouthwatering way.

"Ya look like spun sugar, lass," he said.

She turned and smiled softly. "Thank you. I didn't realize you were up here."