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“Great. Maybe Emma can go with you, give you a hand.”
I looked up from the sink, where I was wringing out the wet cloths, sensing the immediate tension in the air. Emma said, “Sure, okay,” but I noticed she kept her head down, staring at her shoes. Jake looked just as uncomfortable.
After they left to get the pizza, Matt said to Lucy, “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“Yes, I should.” Lucy folded her arms, looking like she was ready to get into an argument about it.
Heaving a sigh, Matt turned to me instead. “Might see if I can find some kindling somewhere. We can get a fire going in the fire pit if you like?”
“Sounds great,” I replied with a smile.
“I’ll go look,” Gabe said, giving Lucy a pointed look. “Why don’t you help me out?”
“Sure.”
After they’d gone out, I turned to Ally. “What was all that about?”
“No idea,” Ally replied.
“But it wasn’t my imagination, right? That was all definitely weird?”
“Definitely.”
Ally didn’t seem too keen on continuing the conversation, or any conversation for that matter, so I suggested we grab plates and napkins from the guest house kitchen. She was still uncharacteristically quiet while we got everything together, and as we were walking back to the main house, I asked, “Ally, seriously, are you okay?”
“What? Yeah, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know, you just seem so quiet. It’s not like you.” I watched her for a moment as she stared out at the patio, where Gabe was arranging paper and small pieces of kindling in to the fire pit. I went to say something, push further, but was stopped by Matt, opening the sliding door.
“Do you have a lighter for the fire?”
“Sure.” I grabbed it from the box and took it to him.
“Thanks,” he said softly.
“No problem.” I forced myself to turn away, to ignore the way my fingers tingled when they brushed his. The way my heart thudded when our eyes met.
It made me a terrible friend, and in hindsight I would kick myself for it, but by the time I got back to the kitchen, I’d completely forgotten I’d been mid-conversation with Ally.
CHAPTER14
Matt
Get a grip, I said to myself as Zara closed the sliding door. I was finding it very difficult to keep my thoughts straight when it came to Zara. Even though I was trying to give her space, I just couldn’t stop fantasizing about being with her. Having her. Heaving a sigh, I helped Lucy get the fire going and arrange the furniture, so we could all sit around a low table to eat our pizza.
Zara and Ally brought out the cutlery and plates, Ally murmuring quietly to Zara, “I think it’s too cold, even with the fire, to sit out here without a jacket. You want me to get yours too, Zee?”
“Yes please, Al, that’d be great.”
I frowned as I watched Ally head back inside. I didn’t know her at all well, but I’d never seen her this subdued. I caught Zara’s eye and quirked my eyebrow up in question. She’d definitely noticed it too, I could see, but her only answer was a bemused shrug.
“Great, pizza’s here,” Lucy announced, taking the boxes from Emma and putting them in the middle of the table just as Ally returned. “Ally, if you’re cold, you can take this seat next to the fire. Gabe can move over one, because he doesn’t feel the cold.”
“I don’t?’
“No. Scoot over.”
“Pass me a slice of pepperoni and I will.”
