Evelyn felt like the floor had dropped out from under her. Like she’d completely misreadeverything.
They’d spenthourstogether. The party planning, the baking night, the walks with Bug where they’d talked until the cold drove them inside. The way Alyssa’s hand had lingered onhers when she was teaching her to knead dough. The looks that lasted just a beat too long. The almost-kiss that Evelyn had been replaying in her mind for days, wondering if she’d imagined the heat between them.
Apparently she had.
God, she felt foolish. Stupidly, embarrassingly foolish. She’d been building this up in her head, convincing herself that something was happening between them, that Alyssa felt it too. She’d been working up the courage to ask her out properly, to make her intentions clear.
But of course Alyssa was dating. Hadn’t she said she didn’t do relationships? That she kept things casual? Evelyn had heard her, had even understood it at the time. But then they’d grown so close, and Evelyn had let herself hope that maybe, just maybe, she was different.
What an idiot she’d been.
“Evelyn?” Alyssa’s voice cut through her spiralling thoughts. “Is that okay? I can find someone else if—”
“No, it’s fine,” Evelyn said quickly, forcing her face into what she hoped was a neutral expression. “Of course I’ll take Bug. Have a lovely time.”
There, that sounded alright, right?
The words tasted like ash in her mouth.
How idiotic are you? Falling for her, when you didn’t stand a chance of keeping her.
“You’re…you’re sure you don’t mind?”
“Nope, you enjoy your date with…Josh.”
“Great…well, thanks.”
An awkward silence descended. Evelyn wanted the floor to open up and swallow her. Could she fire Josh?
No, stop it Evie, don’t be ridiculous.
“Well, I um…I should get on.” Evelyn picked up her fountain pen and gave a mock salute, then wanted to die ofembarrassment. Because who does that? Alyssa gave her a tight smile, waved, and left. After all the time spent together, how had they taken such a step back?
“What the hell was that?” Maggie bawled, rushing into the room, her face flustered.
“Sorry what?” Evelyn didn’t have time to decrypt whatever Maggie was banging on about.
“That?” Maggie shouted, pointing to the door.
“Do you mean Alyssa?”
“Of course I bloody do. What are you playing at?”
“Maggie, can you stop yelling and start explaining what you’re yapping on about?”
“Evelyn. That woman just told you she’s going on a date with someone else and you did absolutely nothing!”
“Why would I do anything?”
Maggie shook her head. “Don’t give me that nonsense. Anyone with two eyes can see you pair have been flirting up a treat. I thought you would have gone out with each other by now.”
“Maggie, give me a break. We’ve had to work close together, that’s—”
“Enough, Evie. Enough. Why can’t you just admit you fancy the pants off her? Hell, I kind of do. She’s smokin’.”
Could this day get any worse? Hearing Maggie from Croydon say smokin’ was just too much for one day.
“Listen, Alyssa can date who she likes. She doesn’t do serious, so what’s the point? I want more than a weekend shag.”
