They exchanged a look, clearly deciding to let it drop.Butas the film resumed,Philreached down to his side.
“I have something that might cheer you up,” he said, producing a tote bag.Icould already see green fabric poking out the top, and by the time he held it out for me,Iwas already tapping my feet and holding my hands out.
Phil had outdone himself with my outfit for this year’s fantasy festival.Afterswearing off making costumes for all of us– we went to too many events for him to keep up, and it had become a full-time job– he’d made an exception, and even broken his no-corsets rule, whenI’ddescribed whatIwanted and assured himI’dwear it to every festivalIworked forGwenynen.Wewere all going in monochrome outfits, andI’dbeen assigned green– or, rather, as the group redhead,I’ddemanded it– soIwanted a corset top in the exact green of theGwenynenlogo, with tiny, embroidered bees scattered across the fabric.I’deven found a linen skirt that he could dye to match.
It was perfect.Professionalenough to represent the farm well–Iwasn’t about to have my titsallthe way out at work– but beautiful enough to make me feel confident and powerful.Thetiny black and gold bees were so detailed, andIloved it.Ileaned over to squeezePhilin a hug, thanking him profusely.
Morgan showed me some of the things she’d sourced for her all-pink look on her phone, andIscrolled through the images, feeling more and more excited about the weekend.Icouldn’t wait to see all our costumes together.But, ifIwas being honest with myself, whatIreally couldn’t wait for was to seeTeddy’sreaction when she saw me in the top.Thegreen would bring out my eyes, the cut would hopefully have the girls sitting right whereIwanted them, and the tiny, embroidered bees were a detail only someone who really looked would notice.
Someone likeTeddy.
On screen, the chestburster was finally making its grand entrance in spectacularly gruesome fashion, butIwas barely payingattention.Instead,Iwas imagining the festival, just a fortnight away– the music and the costumes and the energy of the festival, yes, but mostly the moment whenTeddywould see me, and her eyes would widen just slightly, like they had in the moment that photo had been taken.
And maybe it was time to stop pretendingIdidn’t want her to look at me that way.
Chapter22
Teddy
I’d forgotten how good it felt to wake up to nothing but birdsong.
The hammock swayed gently asIstretched,Willow’swarm body pressed against my legs where she’d somehow managed to wedge herself between them.Ididn’t know any other dog who enjoyed being three feet off the ground.Sheopened one eye asImoved, her tail giving a couple of lazy thumps against the nylon fabric before she settled back into sleep.
Jack had been right about this place.Thecampsite was tucked into a valley about forty-five minutes from the farm, surrounded by dense woodland that insulated it from any hint of civilisation.Icould hear water trickling somewhere nearby, and the morning air carried the green scent of moss.Afterweeks of navigating more and more nonsense at the farm and withChloe, the solitude felt like medicine.
I’d almost cancelled the trip twice.First, because of the weather forecast, worrying it would be too hot to bringWillow, and then becauseJenhad mentionedChloemaybe needing help with festival prep.ButTuesdaymorning had dawned cool and overcast, andChloehad said she’d be working from home, soI’dthrown my camping gear into theSubarubeforeIcould talk myself out of it again.
Now, watching morning light filter through the canopy above,Iwas gratefulI’dstuck to my guns.Thiswas exactly whatIneeded.
Willow stirred properly whenIclimbed out of the hammock, andIset her down so she could stretch, elongating in that satisfying, whole-body way dogs managed.Ifound a stick at the base of a nearby tree and threw it for her, smiling as she bounded after it with the enthusiasm of a puppy.
“Again?”Iasked as she dropped it at my feet, panting.Hertail wagged harder. “Alright, but thenIneed coffee.”
AsIthrew the stick again, my phone buzzed with a text.Iexpected it to beJenchecking in, but it wasFatima.
FATIMA
Morning!How’sthe great wilderness adventure going?
I smiled, settling onto a fallen log.Fatimahad been texting more frequently lately, and it was nice, having someone check in who wasn’t paying my wages or making me feel all confused and flustered.
TEDDY
Still alive.Willow’shaving the time of her life.
FATIMA
And what about you?Havingthe time ofYOURlife?
TEDDY
It’s peaceful.Noone asking me about mite management or soil pH.
FATIMA
Ah yes, the simple pleasures of avoiding agricultural conversations
TEDDY
