Page 32 of The Reality of Us
“Anyway,” Lulu cut in, offering Alice the sandwich again. “Eat up while we tell you about a very exciting opportunity.”
Alice leant back, away from the soggy mess of corned beef, bread and gravy. “I can’t eat that, actually. I’m gluten free.”
Her stomach rumbled, the flush on her skin deepening. What Owen wouldn’t give to know if she blushed all the way to her toes.
“Are you coeliac or gluten free by choice?” Owen’s tone was gruffer than he intended as he tried to banish the image of her naked body from his mind.
“Coeliac.”
“My salad’s gluten free. You have it.”
“But what about you?” Alice asked.
Lulu nudged the sandwich of doom towards him. It was everything he didn’t want to eat on a plate.
“Eat the salad,” he said. “Please?”
Lulu wiped her mouth with a serviette, leaving a red smear of lipstick on the crepe paper. “Now, Alice, you know about Kathleen’s Place, right?”
Oh, crap. He’d forgotten to ask her about the calendar.
Alice speared a snow pea. “I’ve seen the signs around town.”
Owen watched as realisation dawned on Alice’s face as his mother explained about the calendar.
“You could pick your puppy and month. Outfit, too. Whatever you want, really. Think of it as a great way to meet a few more locals!”
Owen shoved a too-big bite of sandwich in his mouth when Alice bit her lip, probably searching for a polite way to say no.
“Come on. It’ll be great fun. My boys are posing too.”
Wait, what?
“Uh.” Owen wiped his mouth. “No, we’re not.”
“Yes, you are. The Old Girls and I decided. Didn’t we tell you? Oops.” Lulu saluted him with her wine.
“Mum,” he groaned. This must have been what Raff was talking about yesterday.
Lulu smiled widely. “Just agree, darling. Or we’ll dress you all up as firemen.”
Alice tried to cover up her shocked laugh with a cough, but there was no hiding the sparkle in her eyes. Not that he was noticing things like that about her anymore. Nope. No, sir.
“Don’t you think Owen would look good in a fireman’s uniform?” If Lulu smirked anymore, her face would split in half. “Shirtless, of course. Joan thinks we should oil them up, too. See if we can break the internet or something.”
Alice choked on a sip of water, her eyes wide.
Lulu squeezed her shoulder, winking at Owen. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shock you. Although, it’s not the most dramatic reaction we’ve ever had to someone seeing Owen without his top on. His first girlfriend fell in the pool the first time he brought her home for a swim.”
“Mum,” he groaned again. “Please stop.”
“I’m serious,” Lulu said to Alice. “He took his top off, and of course, he did all the sports. All my boys did. The poor girl never stood a chance. She was so busy staring, she …” Lulu mimed faceplanting into the pool. “She was an idiot, though. Left him without even a goodbye.”
Owen shook his head slowly. Camille was the last thing he felt like talking about right now. “She slipped.”
“Whatever you say, dear. He’s back at footy too, you know. Always been keen to keep fit, our Owen.” Lulu twisted towards him when he sighed. She batted her eyelashes at him innocently. “What? I’m making conversation. A skill you might like to work on, darling. Great, you’ll both take part. I’ll tell the committee. Goodness, I’m going to be popular.”
And with that, she bustled off into the back room, her footsteps drowned out by the music and the rain outside.
