Page 65 of Darn Knit All

I’ll be the judge of that. What flavors we talking?

Mai

I went with buttercream vanilla, peach and blueberry

Theo

Incredible! Did you design your dress to go with the cake or the cake to go with your dress?

Mai

You know me too well. The cake came after

Theo

A perfect pairing—kudos to you, master creator

My hands fed fabric through the machine as Theo distracted the camera crew, charming them with tales of woe and wonder. His interference worked for me, allowing me to concentrate on today’s challenge and the designs we needed to achieve.

We had twelve hours to produce two designs for a swimwear brand. The winning designs would be featured in the brand’s summer collection, with all profits going to a charity of our choice.

Now that I had one day of the challenge under my belt, the anxiety of the unknown had eased marginally.

Though, I couldn’t say the same about my desire. Memories of Theo standing in just a towel assaulted me at the most awkward of times throughout the day, sending me into a blushing, bumbling mess.

It appeared that my curse of the unrequited crush had hit with a vengeance—and at precisely the wrong moment.

He’s Theo. THEO! He’s only being nice. The man isn’t into you. Don’t conflate your warm feelings of friendship with desire. It’s not worth it.

Michelle interrupted my self-flagellation.

“I heard a rumor you and Mai have come up with a team name.”

I snorted, glancing up from the machine. “I had nothing to do with it.”

“She’s right, it’s all my genius,” Theo puffed his chest out. “Are you ready for this, Michelle? I need to know if you can handle this awesomeness.”

The host laughed. “I’m ready.”

“Darn Knit All—with a k. Get it? Knit?” Theo chuckled. “Clever, right?”

Michelle shook her head. “Oh, that’s positively horrid.”

“I told you,” I called, snipping a thread. “Don’t encourage him. The puns will only get worse from here.”

I realized my mistake when Michelle took my interaction as an invitation and came over—camera crew in tow—to observe the pieces I’d begun to assemble.

“This is interesting,” she said, examining my sketch. “Tell me about it.”

“We live on the coast in a little town called Capricorn Cove.”

“North Island, right?”

I nodded. “My parents are second-generation Japanese migrants and moved there for my mother’s work. She’s a marine biologist.”

“Fascinating.” Michelle touched the suit. “And this is for her?”

I nodded, feeling strangely emotional. “It was Theo’s idea. He knows that some of my earliest memories are of watching my mother clean her wet suit at the end of each day.”

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