Her eyes narrow. “I knew it!” She jumps down from the chair and charges off.
Wouldn’t like to be in Logan’s shoes when my girl finds him.
I watch her till she disappears from sight then glance down at my mug. Empty. Could go get another, even though the stuff here is more punishment than pleasure.
I decide to wait. If the others start their teasing again,thenI’ll go.
“Well,” Douglas says, nudging my arm, “look who just walked in.”
I glance towards the entrance, and my heart does something stupid.
Ainsley. Holding Lily’s hand and scanning the room with a guarded expression. Her gaze sweeps to our table, lands on me for half a second, then darts away again.
She picks a table on the far side of the soft play. As far from us as physically possible.
Lily, though, spots me. She points, tugging at Ainsley’s arm, and I can practically hear her voice from here:Stwuan! Stwuan is over there!
But Ainsley shakes her head, bends down to say something, and Lily reluctantly climbs into the seat beside her.
“Ouch,” Douglas murmurs.
“Shut up.”
Blair’s already on her feet. “I’ll go say hello. You”—she points at me—“stay here.”
“Wasn’t planning on going anywhere.”
She gives me a look that says she doesn’t believe me, then heads across the café.
I try to focus on what Douglas is saying—something about how bloody awful it was when the twins had their stomach bug—but my eyes keep drifting back to Ainsley’s table. She’s half-turned away from us, shoulders tight, and every few seconds she glances around the room like she’s checking whether people are staring.
They’re not. Nobody’s looking.
Well, except me. I’m staring. Can’t help it.
Blair returns after a few minutes and rests her hands on the back of her chair, a sympathetic grimace on her face.
“So?” I try to sound casual. “What’s the verdict?”
“Lily’s desperate to come over and see you. But Ainsley...” Blair hesitates. “She says things went a bit too fast. She needs to put on the brakes.”
“Right.” I nod, like this is perfectly reasonable information that doesn’t feel like a kick to the ribs. “Well, at least someone’s happy to see me.”
I mean it as a joke, but it comes out flat.
Blair reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “Give her time, Struan. She’s been through a lot.”
Didn’t think I’d miss the teasing, but I reckon the sympathy is worse. Lachlan and Douglas both just look awkward.
“Aye. I know,” I say.
Blair heads back to Ainsley’s table, and I try—really try—to engage with Douglas and Lachlan. But my gaze keeps sliding sideways. I can’t help it. It’s like there’s a magnet in my skull, and Ainsley’s the only thing made of metal.
“You’re doing it again,” Lachlan says.
“Doing what?”
“Staring.”
