‘There in a sec,’ someone called back.
Eva turned to Maddy. ‘You coming in?’ she asked gently, already at the counter.
Maddy realised she’d been standing just inside like an umbrella tossed aside at the threshold.Come on, stop being a mouse.She lifted her chin and did her best not to scuttle forward.
The display case glowed with neat rows of pastries: glossy fruit tarts, sugar-dusted croissants, small cakes with meticulously piped icing. There were serious skills present in this bakery.
Eva leaned casually against the counter, scanning the pastry display. ‘Your ankle okay now?’
Maddy flushed. ‘Oh. No. I mean, yes.’
Eva raised an eyebrow. ‘Which is it?’
God, she was soconfrontational. Maddy wasn’t used to this. She was used to people who smiled and nodded and pretended Maddy wasn’t awkward.
But Eva wasn’t like that. She didn’t let things go.
‘It’s fine,’ Maddy blushed.
‘They say dark chocolate can act like a painkiller. Something about endorphins.’ Eva handed her a tiny dark chocolate macaron from a sample plate. ‘Try this.’
Maddy took it and ate it. It was delicious, and Maddy didn’t even like dark chocolate.
Eva watched, smiling. ‘How is it?’ she asked.
‘Lovely.’
‘Did it help?’
Maddy’s ankle actually did start to feel a bit better. But that was more likely the power of suggestion than magical painkilling chocolate. Either way, Maddy was pleased to be able to honestly say, ‘I think it’s helped.’
‘One thing I think we’ve learned today…’
‘Yes?’ Maddy asked.
‘You probably shouldn’t get too high a heel for the big day.’
Maddy was about to start spluttering apologetically when she realised that Eva wasn’t being rude. She was smiling. She was being playful.
Maddy found herself grinning at the floor. ‘Yeah, maybe.’
Maddy popped the rest of the macaron into her mouth, trying not to notice that Eva’s dark eyes were tracking her every tiny movement.Why does she do that?Maddy thought.Is she judging me?
Maddy couldn’t tell. Because she always thought she was being judged. And someone like Eva might think she had the right. She probablydidhave the right, such as she was. Competent, confident, and poised.
Yet, Maddy didn’t think so. She didn’t know why.
‘So,’ Eva said casually, leaning one elbow on the counter, ‘how are we doing so far? Enjoying the process?’
‘Sure,’ Maddy said automatically.
‘There’s no need to lie to someone you pay. That’s the beauty of it.’
‘Ha, right.’
‘Don’t forget, I know,’ Eva said.
Maddy felt suddenly, inexplicably panicked. ‘You know what?’
