Sticks and Stones by Susie Tate Page A

enclosed by a much larger and far warmer one and she was tugged forward through the door.
    ‘What on earth – ?’
    ‘Babes,’ Dylan cut her off, not even bothering to look back at her as he dragged her along behind him down the pavement, ‘no lip.’
    ‘Dildo,’ she shouted, trying to twist her hand free as she felt one of her feet step in something wet (the fact that there had been no rain that day did not bode well for the identity of said liquid outside a busy pub). ‘Will you stop, you big Welsh lunatic; I’m not wearing any bloody shoes.’ He drew to a halt so suddenly that Lou careened into his back and nearly lost her balance, but was steadied by Dylan’s large hands enclosing her upper arms.
    ‘Why in the fuck not?’ he asked, frowning down at her. ‘Jesus, sometimes I forget just how short you are.’ Lou straightened to her full five foot six height and glared at him.
    ‘I’m not short; not all of us can be great, hulking, overgrown, Neanderthals.’
    ‘You’re not tall either. You just prance around in those stilts all day so it seems like you are. Now why aren’t you wearing shoes? And why are you running away without saying goodbye to everyone at your own Goddamn party? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you make any entrance or exit that wasn’t laced with more than a little drama.’
    ‘Look Dildo, I’m in no mood for the third degree alright.’ Lou sagged slightly, and his hands tightened fractionally around her arms.
    ‘And that voice,’ he went on, frustration evident in his tone. ‘Stop using that ffwcin* voice.’
    ‘What are you talking about? And what’s f…ffwcin*? I hate it when you swear in Welsh.’
    ‘I can’t stand it Lou,’ he abruptly released her arms and stepped away, running both his hands through his already messy hair and looking down at the pavement. He took a deep breath, looking back at her, his green eyes boring into hers and then stepped forward, right into her space, and cupped her face with one of his hands. Lou tipped her head up so as not to break eye contact and her breath caught in her throat.
    ‘Please babes, I can’t stand this small, lifeless voice from you. Nothing about you is small and lifeless.’ His eyes flicked down to her chest before he looked back up with a cheeky grin on his face, breaking the tense atmosphere. Lou rolled her eyes but felt her mouth curve into a smile despite herself. Dylan was right. Louise Sands was not a shrinking violet. She was bold and brash and in-your-face. She didn’t slink away from her own party and she certainly didn’t take any crap.
    After shoving her heels back on and wincing as her wet foot squelched into the expensive leather, she straightened to her new, improved full height, shook out her hair and put both hands on her hips. Dylan’s smile grew wider and what looked like relief flashed through his features.
    ‘Let’s get a few things straight Dildo,’ Lou said, all traces of small and broken swept away. ‘You’re going to pull your sodding finger out on the ward from now on.’
    ‘Yes,’ he replied immediately and her eyebrows shot up, blatant disbelief colouring her expression.
    ‘I will babes, I promise. I’m a prick, I’ll do better.’
    His hands came up to cup either side of her face, and he shocked her by bringing his forehead down to rest against hers.
    ‘I’m so ffwcin* sorry,’ he whispered, the pain and regret in his voice almost painful to hear.
    Lou closed her eyes. There wasn’t anyone on the face of the earth with as much power to hurt her as this man, but he wasn’t to know that. How could he know how much he’d crushed her? She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
    ‘I forgive you,’ she whispered back, opening her eyes and meeting his. She’d said it before, but it was clear that this was the first time it really meant anything.
    ‘Thank you,’ Dylan breathed, as he took his hands from her face and pulled her in for a tight hug.
    ‘Okay Dildo, calm