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‘When will you know if you’ve got it?’
‘Maybe next week?’
‘And when would you start?’
Immediately… ‘I’m not sure.’ An uncomfortable sensation scratched at his stomach. He’d been so convinced he could have the job and Estelle, but the thought of the two of them coexisting set off a jarring dissonance in his brain, like a preschooler with a recorder attempting to harmonise with a werewolf scraping its claws down a blackboard.
‘Have you looked at the menu?’ she asked. ‘The food is incredible.’
He stared blankly at the lines of text, his appetite suddenly gone.
‘They’re going for their first Michelin star.’
Really? His head jerked up.
‘Don’t look like that,’ she said crossly. ‘The countryside isn’t just turnips and village idiot competitions.’
‘Foxbrooke has a village idiot competition?’
‘Yes, and you’ve received more nominations for this year’s award than anyone else.’
He smirked. ‘Nice to know I’m the most popular.’
Estelle rolled her eyes and waved Leia over.
‘You ready to order?’ she asked.
‘Yes. I’d like the cured meat plate with fennel, then the osso bucco with seasonal greens on the side. James?’
He hadn’t taken any of the menu in. ‘I’ll have the same. And whatever alcohol-free beer you’d recommend.’
Leia nodded, then turned to Estelle. ‘Any drinks for you?’
‘Lime and soda, please. And a jug of tap water.’
‘Coming right up.’ Leia took the drinks menu and left.
Silence.
James was used to being in control, knowing what to say, and when, to make the most impact. But now, on his first semi-official date with Estelle, he was tongue tied.
Is this a date? An assessment? An ending?
She appeared on edge as well, her hands fidgeting in her lap. He wanted to reach across the table to her but wasn’t sure how such a gesture, especially one made in public, would be received.
Estelle reached for a crayon and began colouring in one of the flowers. ‘Thank you for coming.’
‘Thank you for inviting me. On this date.’
Her hand stilled. Was she about to contradict him?
‘It’s not…’ The crayon moved back and forth over the same area. ‘I’m just trying to…’
‘Would you rather be here with someone else?’
Her gaze shot up. ‘Like who?’
He shrugged. ‘Isaac?’
