Page 57 of Coming Home to Wishington Bay
‘What’s not funny?’ Carrie said, pushing her oversized sunglasses to the top of her head as I stepped out. ‘I can’t get a sensible word out of him.’
‘Looking at your face, I’m sensing whatever it is that’s going on just somehow backfired big time?’ Ned said, wiping his eyes with his sleeves.
‘Will someone tell me what I’m missing out on here?’
‘Gabe and Holly here have been having a secret affair!’ Ned explained, his eyes full of mirth.
Carrie’s eyes widened so much she was giving her sunglasses a run for their money. ‘They are? You are?’
My eyes, in contrast, narrowed at Ned. ‘No. We’re not.’
‘He was holding your hand and his mum just went on about how happy she was that he found you – even though you spent so much time apart.’
‘He was? She did? Holly! How could you not tell us this?’
‘Ugh!’ I said, sloping down onto the other lounger as if it were an effort for my body to even stand anymore. ‘Because there was literally nothing to tell. It’s not real. It was something Gigi helped Gabe make up ages ago because his parents were really stressed about his brother’s love life going down the pan, and knowing he was lonely over here. They thought if his parents thought he’d found someone, it would keep them happy until he actually did. For real. They were never supposed to bloody meet me! And they don’t normally stay more than a couple of weeks so we’d planned that I’d just have to see them a handful of times. Now they’ve just told him they’re here for the whole summer!’
Carrie tilted her head. ‘Is it that bad?’
‘What?’
‘Pretending to be going out with the most gorgeous man in the village?’
Ned coughed.
‘Second most gorgeous man in the village,’ she corrected herself, grinning.
‘I should think so too,’ Ned mumbled under his breath, but I saw the smile. ‘I’d better get back in there. Take it easy out here.’ He kissed his wife, then gave me a peck on the cheek. ‘Just go with it, sis. Who knows? You might have some fun for once.’
‘I do have fun!’ I called to his retreating back. ‘I do,’ I said, repeating the sentiment to Carrie, although I was no longer entirely sure who I was trying to convince.
‘I know,’ she replied, but her face told me differently.
‘I’d better get back to the table.’ I stood, smoothing out my dress.
‘So, are you dating him?’
‘No. Obviously.’
‘Why not?’
‘What?’
‘Why aren’t you?’
‘Because … I’m me and he’s … him.’
Carrie gave me a perfectly raised eyebrow. ‘Oh, of course. That makes it all so much clearer. Thank you for explaining.’
I dropped my head back and gave a groan. ‘I’m sorry,’ I said, leaning down for a hug. ‘I’ll talk to you later. Love you.’
‘Make sure you do! Love you too. And tell Gabe I said hi.’ She gave a little finger wave and winked.
I rolled my eyes and headed back into the restaurant.
‘Sorry about that, got chatting. You know how it is,’ I waffled, not really making eye contact with anyone at the table.
‘Everything OK?’ Gabe asked, and I felt him turn towards me a little.
