Annie finished her food and quietly crossed her cutlery on her empty plate.
‘More drinks?’ Harri said, and Anjali momentarily stopped describing the dogs’ various ailments to say she was fine, thanks, and Kit asked for a second cider but kept their attention fixed on Anjali like those old greyhounds were the most fascinating thing in the world.
‘I’ll help you,’ Annie said, springing to her feet.
‘So… what do you think?’ she asked in a whisper as soon as they slid onto stools at the opposite end of the bar from Bovis (who probably thought he was texting surreptitiously; no doubt updating the gossipmongers of Clove Lore).
‘Think of what?’ Harri said, taking an exaggerated interest in the different ciders in the pumps.
‘Of Kit? They’re super cute, right?’
‘Sure.’
‘What do you think of Anjali? She’s gorgeous, right?’ she pressed.
Harri screwed his nose. ‘Yeah, she’s lovely.’
‘But?’ Annie leaned closer. Her warm almond blossom perfume swelled around them.
‘But, things aren’t exactly flowing,’ he said, amazed she hadn’t picked up on that.
They both glanced back at their dates who were leaning elbows on the table now, mirroring each other, exchanging easy conversation. Anjali was more animated than she’d been all evening.
‘Besides,’ Harri put in, ‘I thought we were just here to get off the hook with Mrs C. You’re not really into Kit, are you?’
Finan made his way down the bar and took their drinks order, preventing them getting into it further. They kept quiet while he worked the pumps and took their money.
‘Would you have been up for a thing with Anjali?’ Annie whispered, as soon as Finan left.
Harri shrugged. It might have been nice if she’d liked him a tiny bit. Maybe he would have asked her out for a proper date. ‘Would it have mattered?’ he said, taking his drink in his hands but not wanting to go back to their table for four.
‘What? To me?’ Annie seemed confused. ‘Why would it matter to me?’
‘Because we’re on holiday together? Would you have minded if she’d been into me?’
Annie’s expression was unreadable, and a little alarm bell sounded in Harri’s brain warning him not to pursue this, whatever it was, any further.
‘I want what’s best for you.’ Annie shrugged. ‘Do I think a rebound holiday fling would be good for you? Probably not, but I wouldn’t stop you.’
Harri took a quick drink from his cider, unaware he was jogging his feet up and down on the footrest.
Annie glanced back at their dates. ‘They’ve forgotten we’re here. I guess there’s going to be another match made in Clove Lore. Dunno if Mrs C. will be pleased or not?’
Harri sniffed a wry laugh. ‘Jowan will be pleased. He did say his money was on us two.’
He wished he hadn’t said it. He was being a dick. And yet, inside he was fighting a losing battle with the self-sabotaging part of himself.Don’t say it, the gentler part was warning.Don’t say it.But the ill-fated double date and seeing Annie flirting with Kit, and of course, the cider, had loosened up the words, and out they came, all in a rush. ‘Annie, when did you have a crush on me?’
Annie’s eyes narrowed. ‘Huh?’
He pulled his lips together, regretting all his life choices. He knew he was being petty but evidently couldn’t stop himself. ‘It’s just I heard you talking the other night at the Big House, saying you had a crush on me, back in the day.’ He forced cheerfulness into his voice, but Annie wasn’t easily fooled.
‘Oh, that was nothing,’ she said, shrugging it off. Annie stood and lifted her drink. Harri followed, only just remembering Kit’s pint as well as his own.
‘I’d have known,’ Harri said briskly, wishing he could shut up.
Annie stopped in her tracks, right in the middle of the bar room, fixing him with a look both pleading and impatient.
‘If you liked me. I’d have known,’ he said again.
