Page 47 of Chocolate Cake for Breakfast
She grins. ‘Are you sure? Funny how you walked right pastLila’s lounger just minutes before the thing jumped out at her.’
I shrug. ‘Well... I might have hadsomethingto do with it.’
She shakes her head. ‘Brilliant. I wish I’d recorded it. Herface!’
We exchange a delighted and very satisfied grin.
‘So are you coming for lunch with everyone?’ she asks.
‘I can’t.’
‘Your eating plan?’
I nod gloomily. ‘I’ve brought an egg sandwich. I’ll probablyjust eat it here.’
‘You’ll stink the whole place out.’ She looks appalled. ‘Boiledeggs are the worst.’
‘Hadn’t thought of that. Maybe I’ll eat it in the car.’
She grins. ‘Don’t be a divvy. Ofcourseyou can eatyour sandwich here.’ She hesitates. ‘Have you got a headache right now?’
‘No, but I can’t risk it. I’ve no idea what they’ll beserving in the restaurant.’
‘You could just go and have a look?’
I shake my head. ‘Better not.’
She sighs. ‘Okay. Well, if you’re sure.’ She glances beyondme. ‘Ooh, eye candy approaching stage right.’
‘What?’ Bewildered, I turn, and my heart almost leaps out ofmy chest.
Logan, looking gorgeous, is walking towards us. The briefshorts he’s wearing show off his physique to perfection and my insides clenchwith desire.
‘Martha, aren’t you joining us for lunch?’ he calls.
I swallow, not quite knowing where to look, so I fix firmlyon his eyes. ‘Er, no. I... I brought a sandwich.’
He frowns. ‘But lunch here is provided. It’s Thai food. Yourfavourite.’
I stare at him awkwardly, not knowing what to say, butfeeling a little pang of pleasure nonetheless that he remembered me telling himthat.
What can I say? That I’m on a food plan that means I can’teat with them? That will just sound like another excuse.
He’s already turning away, probably thinking I’mdeliberately trying to avoid him, and panic rises up. Maybe I should just jointhem in the restaurant? But then I’ll look such a fool not being able to eatanything from the menu.
He’s walking away and I want to call after him but doubtkeeps me silent. What if he’s just being nice? I’m so confused and I can tellKatrina’s wondering what’s up with me.
‘Logan?’ she calls suddenly, standing up. ‘There’s a reasonshe can’t join us for lunch.’
He turns and my heart misses a beat.
Katrina shrugs. ‘Martha had a terrible accident and crackedher head and she was in hospital for ages. And she’s still recovering. She getsreally bad migraines that sometimes last for days on end. She has to avoidcertain foods because she thinks they might trigger her condition.’
Logan stares at me. ‘Is this true, Martha?’
I nod. ‘Yes. I... did try to tell you.’
He looks down and Katrina whispers, ‘See you later, Martha.’With a meaningful look at me, she walks away, leaving us alone together.
