Page 53 of Brighter Together

Relief comes so fast I almost laugh.

At least I’m not the only person nervous today.

“Morning,” I say with a nod.

John closes the boot.

“Everything’s in.”

“Cheers,” I say.

He hands me the keys and I nod towards reception.

“You’re in charge.”

“I’ll let Sheila know,” he chuckles.

Ella laughs behind me.

I glance over my shoulder and catch her smiling into her coffee.

“She’ll make you spend the afternoon polishing cutlery.”

“She’d never.”

“Try her.”

He heads back inside.

Ella watches him go. “He’s lovely.”

“He is.”

“You like him.”

“I like most of my staff.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Do you?”

I give her a look.

Her mouth twitches.

The awkwardness between us eases just enough to let me breathe normally again.

“We should go,” I say. “Roadworks on the M6.”

“Yes, sir.”

I stop.

Ella’s face is completely innocent except for the sparkle in her eyes.

Fuck me.

The first ten minutes are painfully awkward.

Neither of us seems capable of finding a normal conversation, so the radio fills the silence while Ella watches the scenery and I concentrate far too hard on driving.