He looked down at the table then back at me. ‘I can understand that and, if that’s what you want, I’ll take you.’
‘I don’t mean your house. I mean home.’
His eyes narrowed just a little. ‘Your house?’
‘Yes.’
‘I thought you were staying tonight.’
‘I know. I’ve changed my mind.’
He took in a deep breath before speaking. ‘You know what, maybe you’re right. This has been a disaster and we’ve only been here ten minutes. Maybe it’s safest just to cut our losses now.’ I wasn’t sure if Jesse was referring just to the meal or our fledgling relationship and my pride wasn’t about to let me check.
‘I agree.’ I kept my voice even and my back straight, just as Nanny had taught me all those years ago.
Don’t let them see they’ve hurt you, love. They don’t deserve to know.
I felt Jesse’s eyes on me but I refused to meet them.
‘Can you give me a minute to talk to the others?’
‘Of course.’
How had everything gone so wrong in such a short space of time? When we’d come in the door, Jesse and I had been almost as one and now we were conversing like over-polite strangers.
He stood from the table and headed for the bar and I took a sip of my wine more for something to do than because I wanted it. It tasted sour in my mouth now, along with what had once promised to be a wonderful day.
I kept my head turned away from the direction that Jesse had strode off in and pretended to take an interest in the polished brasses tacked to the beams above me.
‘Fliss?’ Jules’ voice was soft and I turned as she sat beside me. I kept my expression neutral. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to come across so hostile.’
‘It’s fine.’ I gave her a smile but even I knew it hadn’t reached my eyes. ‘It’s perfectly understandable you’d be protective of your brother, just as he is of you.’
‘Yes.’ She rolled her eyes but no one could mistake the love in them for her sibling. ‘He’s already told Pete if he hurts me, he’ll be in the foundations of the next house he builds. Good job he’s joking. I think.’
I did the smile again and hers slid from her face.
‘Oh God, I’m really sorry about being snippy. I just thought…’ She looked down at her nails, painted a vivid peacock green that went wonderfully with her dark looks. ‘I don’t know what I thought, if I’m honest. But I do know I should have spoken to you first before I said anything. That’s what friends do.’
I’d begun to let my attention drift but at her words, I met her eyes.
‘I’m a shitty friend, aren’t I?’
‘Not at all.’
‘Obviously, I am, because you’re doing that “being terribly polite” thing that people do when what they actually want to say or do is frowned upon in public. But go ahead. I deserve it.’
I felt a chink in my defence and the palest hint of light shine through.
‘No, Jules, you don’t. You were looking out for your brother. That’s all.’
‘I know, but I judged you in a way that I wouldn’t someone I’d known for longer, or that grew up around here. That wasn’t fair and I’m really sorry.’ She tentatively laid a hand over mine, which had been clasped together neatly on the table in front of me the whole time. ‘Can we start again?’
‘Funny, your brother suggested the same thing.’
‘I’m assuming you said no to him, bearing in mind he came over with a face like thunder to tell us you were leaving and that he’s spitting mad with me because of it.’
‘What? No, he shouldn’t be. The last thing I want is for you to fall out because of me!’
