Page 30 of Brighter Together

Christina nods far too enthusiastically. “Exactly,” she replies, as though it’s the only logical explanation, but they seem to have reached that conclusion awfully quickly

Suspicion prickles at me.

“Has he said something?”

Emma’s eyes widen.

“No,” she says far too quick.

I look at Christina.

She suddenly finds her water fascinating.

“Ladies?” I try to sound authoritative.

Emma reaches across the table. “Ella, it's not our story to tell.”

Christina opens her mouth.

Emma looks at her.

She closes it again.

“But,” Emma continues, “if you like him, maybe stop assuming the grumpiness means he doesn’t like you.”

That sounds far too reasonable.

Which is annoying.

“What am I supposed to do? Ask my boss whether he’s been miserable for four months because he fancies me?”

Christina brightens. “Yes!”

“No,” I say.

“Worth a try.”

“It really isn’t.”

Charlotte laughs. “You don’t have to do anything. Just watch him. See whether things look different now you’ve considered the possibility.”

Tommy being my boss has never really felt like the problem. Until now, I’d barely thought about it because I was so sure he couldn’t possibly be interested in me. But if there is even a chance that he is, Emma’s right. We’re both adults. Surely we could manage that.

What worries me far more is the knot that has been tightening in my stomach all week.

Despite all his grumpiness, Tommy trusts me.

Not with everything, obviously. The man still guards his reports like state secrets and treats delegating as though it’s a personal failure, but he trusts my judgement. He listens when I tell him something is a bad idea. He involved me when he put together the tender for the extension.

And I’m repaying that trust by helping my family behind his back.

“Ella?”

I look up.

Emma is watching me.

“Sorry. Miles away.”