Page 134 of Secret Paths

“I am being careful.”

“You are vibrating.”

“I am happy.”

“You are alarming.”

Alexandra turns to me. “You. You did not tell me.”

“I was not allowed.”

Mandy looks at me sharply.

I lift both hands. “Sorry. Poor wording. I chose not to.”

“Better,” Mandy says.

Alexandra looks between us, and her smile softens into something far more dangerous than excitement.

Affection.

“Oh,” she says. “You are both ridiculous.”

“That is not new,” I say.

“No, but it is usually less romantic.”

Mandy makes a choking sound. “Romantic?”

“You are at a village harvest festival admitting a secret relationship beside a baked-apple stall. That is either romantic or a very niche nervous breakdown.”

Ed coughs.

I turn to him. “You are enjoying this far too much.”

Alexandra beams at Mandy. “My best friend and my brother. This is perfect. You are practically my sister-in-law.”

“No,” Mandy and I say together.

Too quickly.

Too loudly.

A woman buying chutney at the next stall looks over.

Mandy and I glance at each other.

And there it is.

The old rhythm. The shared horror. The ridiculousness of the word and the warmth beneath the protest.

Her mouth curves.

Mine follows.

Alexandra sees it.

“Oh, I am going to be unbearable.”