Stuck Together: A totally addictive and perfect enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity romantic comedy by Lily Joseph

Author:Lily Joseph [Joseph, Lily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2024-10-29T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-ONE

Sunday dawned with a deep blanket of snow. I’d had a restless night, befuddled by champagne and confusion; after Penn had stalked away, I hadn’t seen him for the rest of the night. When I asked Sophia where he was, she told me he’d complained of a headache and gone up early to bed. I strongly suspected the headache in question was me.

I decided not to go to breakfast, and instead stayed under the covers, eating a bag of Quavers that I’d found in the depths of my handbag. I stared out the window, sprinkling the mangled crisp crumbs into my mouth.

What had happened last night? The reaction I’d had to Penn defending me started to seem excessive in the cold light of day. While I still believed I could have handled it myself, I remembered the intense way he’d looked at me before I’d stared him down, and how I’d never know what he’d wanted to say when he called me back. And a memory kept swimming back into my mind, one which should have been an unpleasant reminder of Gus. But when I thought back to Penn tearing Gus’s jacket from my body, all I could picture was the sensation of being undressed by him. Unexpected fantasies that merged the kiss we’d had in the ballroom with the idea of him taking off the jacket then slipping the straps of my dress from my shoulders… I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

Later in the morning, there was a soft tap at the door.

‘Annie?’ It was Bertie.

I sat up abruptly, Quaver bits scattering down my chest.

‘Yes?’ I replied, my voice gravelly.

‘Are you coming to Silly Sunday? It’s just we’ll be off in half an hour and nobody’s seen you.’

Was I going? Or did I just want to hide in here until it was time to go home? Sadly, I had no more ancient foodstuffs in my bag, and I did have a purpose here after all. No matter what had happened the previous night, I wasn’t one to welch on a deal. And I hoped there would be lunch.

‘Yeah,’ I shouted. ‘I’ll be along as soon as I can.’

‘Righto. See you out front.’ Footsteps padded away down the corridor.

After a super-quick shower, I dressed in warm clothes and headed downstairs. The whole party was assembled on the snowy courtyard, where several vehicles were waiting, engines rumbling. Penn’s entire family appeared to be taking part, as well as Sophia and some of last night’s guests. Thankfully, Gus was nowhere in sight.

Penn was standing by one of the Defenders, an envelope in hand, just like some of the other participants. The sight of him caused ripples in my stomach that were definitely not because I’d skipped breakfast. He gave me a nod and then focused on Hugh, who’d called for everyone’s attention.

‘Listen in, listen in!’ he said. ‘Now, we’re going to press ahead with the treasure hunt as planned, in spite of the appalling weather. That’s what these are built for after all.

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