Page 57 of Enemies to Lovers

I sit down gingerly, amongst everyone trying okra in tomato sauce, because they have indeed started without me, despite my asking them not to. Obviously, in this state, I don’t mind. They’re all too busy to notice my altered headspace, too wrapped up in acting like they’re giving tasting notes on a high-end TV show about celebrity chefs to pay me any mind.

‘I’m getting hints of ass-crack and a texture of rubber,’ Alex is saying, his face screwed up.

I think I smile at him. I’m not sure.

‘Okay!’ Mum announces. ‘These are … oh, I think they’re called carob rusks? I assume they’re sweet.’

She rips open a packet of small biscuits and everyone grabs one. I sneak a look at Jamie, who is busy being handsome behind his sunglasses and pretending to be very interested in reading the back of the packet.

I grab my phone and surreptitiously text Hope.

Me

I ALMOST KISSED JAMIE

WELL, HE ALMOST KISSED ME ACTUALLY!!

ARE YOU IN PRAGUE YET?

I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ABOUT THIS!

Hope

Yes, in Prague! No wi-fi on train for messaging, sorry!

YOU ALMOST KISSED?

ARE YOU DATING TWO MEN NOW?

Me

Long story short. Adonis is a dick … so that’s done

Jamie looked after me when I was a bit shaken up

I think I knew this was coming …

Something has been building. I can’t decide if it’s good or bad, or if I should make a move or accept that he didn’t or WHAT

Hope

Take a breath, babe!

Take several!

‘Oh wow,’ Dad says, interrupting my thoughts. I lock my phone and put it away. He’s dug deep into a bag of crisps. ‘Oregano flavour, I think. These are outstanding! Flo, try one.’

I take a crisp and chomp on it. As we navigate someoatmeal cookies and cherry-filled chocolate-and-wafer rolls, I calm down a bit. I’m going to expect nothing with Jamie, because that’s safest. There’s not long left of the holiday anyway. How much trouble can Jamie and I possibly get in? This is fine. It’s all going to be fine.

It’s a happy coincidence that we’re nominated to make dinner together. It puts us in close proximity in the tiny kitchen, and I find myself excited to spend time with Jamie, one on one.

‘You gonna sous-chef?’ he asks, looping an apron over my neck and reaching behind to tie it for me. His breath tickles my ear when he leans in, making every hair on my body stand to attention. I look at him, sideways on. He’s so close, and thenpoof, the apron is knotted and he’s stepped back, leaving only his cedary scent around me. I’ve replayed that moment we could have kissed over and over again in my head. I do it again now. I tingle with excitement.

‘I’ll do whatever is required of me,’ I tell him. ‘I am at your culinary mercy.’

‘Duly noted,’ he replies, one half of his mouth cocking up into a smirk. I smile, too.

A pot of boiling water threatens to overflow then, and Jamie catches it just in time.

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