Page 26 of Brighter Together

“And I bet our resident workaholic hasn’t given you enough time to make any friends,” Christina says.

Before I can respond, she gives me a slap on the chest and loops her arm through Ella’s.

“You should have lunch with us,” she declares with a certainty that doesn’t leave much room for objection.

I feel the situation slipping rapidly out of my control.

“You don’t mind, do you, Tommy?” Christina asks.

Yes.

I mind enormously.

Christina has no filter on a good day.

Today she knows I fancy Ella.

There is no outcome here where I walk away without Ella finding out about me and my very inappropriate feelings.

“I… no. Of course not. If Ella wants to.”

“She does,” Christina says.

“Apparently I do.” Ella laughs. “And Chef has a new pie on the menu I’ve been meaning to try.”

“See?” Christina says triumphantly.

I rub a hand over the back of my neck.

“Put lunch on my tab,” I say and I think I detect some panic in my voice.

“Oh, Tommy, you don’t have to,” Emma says.

“Thanks, Tommy,” Christina says with a laugh at exactly the same time.

Charlotte just shrugs because she knows as well as I do that Christina can’t be stopped.

“Come on.” Christina starts steering Ella towards the restaurant with Charlotte in tow.

Emma turns to follow them, but I catch her gently by the arm.

“What did Alex tell you?”

Her face crumples immediately. “I’m sorry.”

“What did he tell you?” I ask again.

“That you said you liked Ella,” she mumbles.

I close my eyes briefly.

“And then?”

“I might have mentioned it to Christina,” she says sheepishly.

I stare at her.

“She asked,” she tries to explain.