If she’d felt awkward before, she felt even more awkward now.
After the chaos of the last hour she should have felt relieved to finally be alone with Will, but she’d never felt more uncomfortable and embarrassed. She wanted to hide under a rock and never come out again.
Instead Becky huddled deeper into her coat and braced herself for the fallout of her actions.
How much worse could it get?
She’d just endured the most excruciating hour of her life, accepting everyone’s congratulations, even raising a glass in a toast, and then fielding questions about her “relationship,” and generally being overwhelmed by other people’s excitement (if this was how it felt to actually announce one’s engagement, she was never doing it. Thefuss!). She’d reached the point where she was so overwhelmed and frantic she was about to scream out aconfession and tell everyone to leave her alone when Will had taken her hand firmly and steered her to the door.
We’ve been trapped in a car and we need fresh air. This is all a little overwhelming for both of us, I’m sure you understand, he’d said with a calm smile as he’d urged her gently out of the room and grabbed both their coats, extracting her from her family before they could bombard her with more questions and before she could open her mouth and confess to her terrible lies.
Outside the house he’d put his arm around her, and when she’d jumped in shock he’d pulled her closer, holding her firmly.
“They’re watching us out of the window,” he’d said, “so if you want this little charade of yours to last more than a couple of minutes you’d better play along.”
Charade.
And now here they were, alone, still playing out that charade.
She groaned and turned her face into his shoulder. What had shedone?
She couldn’t believe he was taking it so well. When he’d suggested a “walk” she’d assumed he was going to tug her behind the nearest tree and demand to know what she was playing at. And she wouldn’t have blamed him.
But so far he hadn’t done that. Which was very Will.
He’d always been a decent person. And a good friend.
And for a moment she wished she could just stay where she was, safe in the curve of his arm.
“It’s snowing again,” she mumbled. “Are you sure you want a walk? I mean, we could just find a quiet spot in the garden and you could yell at me there.”
“Why would you think I’m going to yell at you?”
“Er—I assumed that was why you suggested fresh air. So you could vent your anger without everyone hearing.”
“I suggested fresh air because I could see you were so stressed you were about to say something you’d probably regret.”
“We arewaypast that point. Were you even listening to the words that came out of my mouth?”
“I was listening. It was—interesting. I’ve never seen you so emotional before.”
“I’m sorry. So sorry.” She kept her face hidden in his coat. “I’m going to dig a hole and lie down in it until Christmas is over.”
“That sounds both cold and uncomfortable. I’m sure we can find an alternative option.”
“You could just lend me your coat. I like your coat.” She could have sworn he was laughing, but why on earth would he be laughing? And when she glanced up at him his expression was serious.
“Let’s walk.”
“You seriously want to walk? You’re not freezing?”
“I was born here, just like you. I’m used to the weather. And a walk is the only way we’re going to be able to have the talk we urgently need to have.”
“I think I’ve done more than enough talking for one day.”
“No, you haven’t.”
He kept his arm around her, his broad shoulders protecting her from the worst of the wind as they headed along the narrow path that led from the house to the beach.
