Page 157 of How To Not Need You

Luca notices him too. Of course he fucking does.

One second he's arguing with someone over raffle tickets. The next he's abandoned his post and is strolling towards Wren's table like he hasn't spent the last few weeks helping investigate the man standing beside it.

“Subtle,” I mutter.

Liv follows my gaze. “For Luca? Extremely.”

We watch him introduce himself.

I can't hear most of the conversation from here, but Luca can talk to anyone. Within thirty seconds Jarod is smiling. Another thirty and they're chatting like they've known each other for years.

“He's terrifyingly good at that,” I say.

“You have no idea.”

Natalie has gone back to serving someone, although she keeps looking over. Then the customer leaves. Natalie picks up an empty tray and heads towards the sanctuary table.

Liv straightens beside me. “What's she doing?”

“No idea.”

“Should we stop her?”

“Do you want to stop her?”

“Absolutely not.”

“There's your answer.”

Natalie doesn't confront him though. She doesn't even look at him when she reaches the table. She starts rearranging a stack of empty trays beside Wren like that's what she came over to do. Luca keeps talking. Liv and me have slowly moved closer until we can hear what they are saying.

“Rebecca mentioned you guys were raising money,” Jarod says.

Liv's head snaps towards me. Mine does the same. Natalie stops moving. Luca doesn't miss a beat.

“Rebecca?”

“Yeah. She said the sanctuary was doing a fundraiser this weekend.”

He says it casually. Like there's absolutely nothing interesting about Rebecca knowing what Jarod does with his Saturdays. Luca smiles.

“Nice of you to come down.”

“Mum adopted from here a few years ago. Figured I'd bring some stuff over.”

“That's generous.”

Jarod shrugs. “Better than throwing it out.”

His phone buzzes. He checks it, says a quick goodbye to Luca and Wren, then heads back towards the car park. Natalie watches him go. Liv looks at me.

“Rebecca told him?”

“Sounds like it.”

“So they're still talking.”

“Also sounds like it.”