Maddy’s head shifted slightly. ‘Did I? Oh.’ She tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. ‘Well. That was ages ago.’
‘It was two weeks ago.’
Maddy smiled. ‘People are allowed to change their minds.’
‘Mmm.’
Silence stretched.
Eva told herself to leave it. To trust that if something mattered enough, Maddy would say it.
But something was bubbling up.
‘You don’t have to like things just because he does,’ Eva said.
Maddy’s shoulders stiffened. ‘I do like it.’
‘Doyou?’
‘Yes.’
Eva felt irritation seep up, spilling over. ‘Maddy.’
‘What?’
‘You don’t have to—’
‘I know I don’t have to,’ Maddy snapped.
Eva blinked.
‘God, sorry,’ Maddy said, looking horrified.
‘Don’t do that. Don’t apologise for the first real emotion you’ve shown all day,’ Eva said.
Maddy looked confused. ‘I’m just tired.’
Eva knew she shouldn’t let out what she said next. But it came out anyway. ‘I’m not surprised. Pretending to be agreeable is exhausting.’
Maddy looked frightened. And then her jaw set in annoyance. ‘What does it matter if it’s not exactly what I want?’
Eva wanted to say, Because I watched you light up in that greenhouse. Because I watched you shrink when it disappeared.But that was a crazy thing to say to a client. She needed to pull this all back and be more Eva.
‘Itshouldmatter,’ Eva eventually said evenly.
‘It’s not like I don’t like it.’
‘Maddy.’
‘It’s not,’ she repeated, but her voice wavered.
Eva felt her temper flare. ‘You were clear on not wanting a carriage. You didn’t want to be a Disney princess. Your words. And then he mentions it, and suddenly it’s magical.’
Maddy’s blue-green eyes filled so abruptly that it stole Eva’s breath.
‘Oh,’ Eva exclaimed. ‘Oh no.’
Maddy looked away, blinking rapidly. ‘I’m fine.’
