I looked away from them and at Henry who was opposite me and definitely sulking. He picked at his pasta like he couldn’t bring himself to enjoy it even though it was delicious. I shifted my gaze from him onto Sarah, who was also sulking because she wasn’t eating alone with Blake. She too picked at the pasta as if carbs were her enemy.
When I turned back the other way, Blake caught my eye, like he also had been looking at Henry and Sarah. His mouth twitched like he was trying not to laugh and I hid my smirk by scooping up another mouthful of food.
‘Well, I’m grateful Daisy and Henry were around to rescue me,’ Blake said. ‘I was about to attempt the walk back to the farm. It would have taken at least an hour.’
‘We need to harden you city folk up,’ Willow said, accentuating her accent for effect. ‘An hour’s walk is nothing. I do that every morning around the farm.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘You’re all too delicate.’
Blake and I laughed. ‘Fair point,’ he replied affably.
‘It was very convenient for you to be at the side of the road we were driving along,’ Henry suddenly said. ‘Anyone would think you two had planned it,’ he added, looking at me and Blake.
That caught Sarah’s attention. ‘What do you mean?’
‘You promised me a dinner together to talk about repairing our relationship but there is your “old friend” waiting to ambush us.’ Henry ignored her, doing cringey air quotes.
‘It definitely wasn’t planned,’ I said. ‘I was as surprised as you were to see Blake. It was an accident. And we helped him out, which I would have suggested we do for anyone.’
‘But this is the man you claim to be dating,’ Henry pointed out.
‘I’m sorry but are the two of you dating or not?’ Sarah said then. ‘He’s right. We were meant to eat together too,’ she said, pointing to Blake. ‘So maybe you two did cook it all up so we’d get stuck here all together again.’
‘Charming,’ Willow muttered. ‘They make a much better couple than they did with you two,’ she added, louder.
‘Willow…’ I began, uncomfortable with all the lying and anger around the table.
‘Sarah, I know we have to talk about work but I asked for time about us. You were with someone else,’ Blake said. ‘You cheated on me. I left. You can’t be pissed off with me.’ His calmness was cracking now. And I didn’t blame him.
‘He didn’t mean anything!’ she cried. ‘I keep telling you that.’
Blake shook his head. ‘How can I trust that?’
‘I’d never cheat on you,’ Henry cut in smoothly to me. ‘You know you can trust me.’
‘Can I say something here?’ my uncle saved me from responding. He spoke with calm authority and we all turned to him. ‘There seems to be a lot of hurt feelings and no one is at their best right now. I suggest you all park this now. And both Blake and Daisy seem to be asking for space. It would be respectful to give them that, wouldn’t it?’ he said gently to Sarah and Henry.
‘But they will be here together,’ Sarah said.
‘Maybe that’s what they need right now,’ Adam suggested.
‘This is bullshit.’ Henry stood up abruptly. He looked down at me. ‘You said we’d spend time together tonight and you’ve gone back on that. I won’t listen to them any more,’ he added, gesturing dismissively at the rest of the table. ‘Please see me out at the very least?’
‘Daisy, you don’t have to,’ Willow said quickly.
Guilt settled on me, though. I had said we’d eat together. And Henry had been part of my life for five years. I stood up. ‘It’s okay, let’s go.’ I followed him outside.
‘I feel really confused, Henry,’ I said before he could say anything more. ‘I know I asked you to stay. It was wrong of me when I don’t know what to do.’
He sighed. ‘I just want us to go back to how we were.’
‘But we can’t. I keep telling you that we want different things. And I never let myself love you. Or let you love the real me.’ I honestly didn’t know if I could have loved Henry if I had been open to it. The way he was behaving right now made that seem unlikely. I was seeing more sides to him that I didn’t appreciate. ‘How about this? My uncle is right that we’re going round in circles. Give me some space; how about you give me tomorrow to think and then I’ll meet you the day after, okay?’
Henry sighed. ‘I suppose my dad does want me to have a meeting tomorrow. If I don’t see you tomorrow, you promise me we can be alone afterwards, properly, and sort this out once and for all?’
He still seemed confident I would choose him. I nodded, relieved I’d be able to sort my head out. ‘I promise.’
‘I’ll convince you that the right thing is to be with me.’ He leaned in to kiss me but I turned my head so he had to kiss my cheek. ‘I’ll wait then. I just want you back, Daisy. I have to be persistent. I always am.’
I had the feeling that he just didn’t want to lose like he never wanted to lose. It didn’t feel like this was about me. But about him. I nodded, though. I was too tired now. ‘I promise.’
