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.In vain, it seemed.I stalked back to the yard, cursing the fact I had at least another three hours to do before I could leave.I picked up my spade, but instead of planting more lavender, I tossed it on the grass.Shite.I couldn’t stay here.I needed space to get a grip, and here, an audience to new love in the air.it just wasn’t going to work.I’d make up an excuse.Tell Dave I wasn’t feeling well and would come during the week to finish it off.I collected my gardening tools into the duffel bag that had journeyed the length of the garden with me, and then braced myself as I walked toward the deck.The two of them were back to bantering, though their hands were no longer joined.I had no idea what that meant, and I wasn’t going to hang around to find out.“Dave,” I said, glancing briefly at Noah who’d turned to look at me.I ran a soil-covered hand through my hair.“I think I ate something a bit dodge this morning.You mind if I continue this tomorrow?”Noah stood, “Are you all right?” he asked, while Dave ran an analyzing eye from the top of my head to my feet.There was a gentle raising of his brow, like he couldn’t one hundred percent believe me.I knew then for sure that he’d seen through my starry-eyed “Noah” gaze as easily as I had seen through his.I gave Noah a quick nod.“I’m sure I’ll be fine.”Dave looked between the two of us, and then said, “It’s no problem.Take whatever time you need to get over it.”Ohh, nicely said, Dave.I attempted a smile that felt more like a grimace.“I’ll call.”Noah grabbed his jacket.“I’ll drive you home in your truck.”I shook my head.“That’s not necessary—”But Noah wasn’t paying attention to that.“Dave, you don’t mind if I keep my car here and pick it up tonight, do you?”“Of course not.”Of course not, because when he came to pick it up later, they could continue whatever it was they’d started.There’d be more midnight surfing—and this time there’d be no ocean involved.I was left no other choice than giving up my charade, or handing Noah the keys.I dropped them onto his outstretched hand, and we moved to my truck.I jumped into the passenger seat, while Noah took his time slipping behind the wheel and belting up.He inserted the key, and the car rumbled to life around us.More carefully than I’d ever done, Noah eased out of the park and onto the street.He changed gears and it grated a bit.“Sorry,” he said as he tried again with more success.“She’s sensitive, but no worries.”“How’s the stomach? If you need me to pull over.”“Nah, I’m good.It was just a weird moment back there.I’m feeling okay.”“Really?” He glanced over at me and I nicked my head in confirmation.“Right then.”We said nothing much more until we got to our street.Noah drove right past my place and parked outside of his.“Since you’re feeling a bit better, come on in.”He didn’t wait for my answer, but climbed out of the truck and headed for his front door.I followed.Something was up.Noah was tense and he’d brought me back to his place for a reason.What was it?Inside, he put on the jug while I slipped into a chair at the dining table and watched.He kept letting out long, deep breaths, as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t.He moved to the windowsill where he’d put Dusky’s glass cage and crouched down to stare at the skink.The bubbling of the jug filled the silence between us.On the one hand, I wanted it to keep boiling and boiling because I had no idea what to say to him.I might not really be sick, but there was a greasy, heavy feeling inside when I replayed the scene with Noah and Dave.On the other hand, I wanted the jug to finish boiling because maybe it would make Noah speak.To say whatever it was he was preparing himself to say.Click.The bubbling waned, and the only sounds left were our breathing and the shift of Noah’s feet over the floor as he moved to make us some peppermint tea.“Honey?”I startled, but then I saw the jar of honey he was lifting down from the overhanging cupboards.So, not an endearment then.I berated myself for even considering the possibility.“Just a spoonful.”Stripy pattered into the room and smooched around my ankles, and I used the excuse to focus on something else, petting him and lifting him to my lap.Except it didn’t work so well [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]