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Carts blushed.
Polly started to plan her escape—maybe the ladies’ loo window? Either that or another drink. She should leave, before Solo got here, but… she drained her glass. “Anyone for another?”
“We’re fine, thanks,” Judith and Carts chimed in unison. Polly did an internal eye-roll as she sidled over to the bar. She waved a desperate hand at Paddy, who was still serving someone else and winked at her.
He was finally coming her way when his gaze shifted over her shoulder and a voice that made her toes curl said, “I’ll get these. What’ll it be, Polly?”
Arggghhh. She wanted to gnaw on the fist holding up her twenty-dollar note.
“Oh, hi there,” she tried for casual but it came out as a squeak. “I’m fine to buy my own.”
“I know you’re fine to buy your own.” The patience in Solo’s voice would have been admirable with a toddler on the verge of a tantrum. “But I’m offering.”
“Right.” She felt too weak-kneed suddenly to put up a fight. “Gin and tonic then. Thanks.”
Even after a yoga class, two drinks wouldn’t be considered over the top, not in the circumstances.
“I’ve hardly seen you all week,” he said, leaning on the bar next to her.
Huh, it wasn’t her who’d dashed off on Wednesday night after the PTSD group, was it?
“Oh, you know how it is with a full ward, we’re all running around like headless chooks.”
“Yeah, you’re right, it’s been pretty crazy.”
They took their drinks and went and sat back down.
There followed another twenty minutes of Judith and Carts hitting it off big time, and Polly and Solo sitting quietly and rather awkwardly sipping their drinks. When Judith made moves to go, Carts jumped up just as Polly did the same.
“My car’s parked near yours,” Polly gritted through tight lips. “I’ll walk with you, Jude.”
Judith didn’t look enthused by the idea. “Really, Poll, I’m fine.”
Carts was jangling his own car keys. “Yep, I’m actually going. I’ll walk you. Bye, guys.”
Judith flashed him an exclusive show of teeth, leaving Polly gaping after them as they left, both instinctively ducking at the doorway.
“Interesting body language,” Solo said as she sank reluctantly back down.
She stared at the squished bit of lemon at the bottom of her glass. “I’m not sure it’s a good thing.”
“Why not?”
“Judith’s not ready yet, and Carts is always ready.”
Solo laughed in a way that made her body tingle from head to toe.
“I told him after Alice to back off women for a while and he did fine. He focused on his own wellbeing, hence the yoga. But he’s smitten with Judith. And if events were different, I’d probably say they’re well suited, but…”
“Quite a matchmaker for someone who doesn’t believe in love.”
She shrugged. “I make no secret of the fact that I enjoy it for other people. It’s just, I think I happen to be—”
“What?”
“Incapable.” It came out almost on a little sigh, not how she’d meant it at all.
“I don’t think I buy that.”
