‘Elsa.’
Ah, that’s why she was in Julian’s office – shewassnooping.
‘Is snooping something you enjoy doing together? Because most couples choose something a little lessespionage-y. You know, like playing pickleball – which is aridiculousname, by the way –ortaking a cooking class.’
Tommy flinched at the cooking-class comment as if I’d said it to wound him. I hadn’t; it had just slipped out.
‘Can we please get back to you leaving Aetheria?’ he asked, his tone softening.
‘I’m not going – well, obviously I will eventually, I’m not moving here or anything. But not today. Or tomorrow. I’m worried that Julian needs me.’
He sat back, crossing one ankle over the opposite knee, his foot jiggling like it had a mind of its own.
‘What aren’t you telling?’
His eyes darted away.
‘Jesus, Tommy!’ I snapped. ‘You’re deliberately being evasivewhiletrying to convince me to leave the island. You do realise you’re terrible at this, right?’
I was about to kick him out – this was getting futile – but seconds later, he dropped the evasive act.
‘Go on, ask me anything.’
I blinked at him.Ask me anything.
The thing about parameters is that they make it easier to pinpoint what you want. Take them away, and choice paralysis sets in – like it did when I was offered carte blanche access to Tommy’s thoughts and feelings.Andhis relationship with Elsa. Where did I even begin?
I searched his eyes. He met my gaze, but his expression gave nothing away. And had he really meantanything, or just the situation with Julian?
Fuck it.
‘When did you and Elsa meet?’
His eyes widened – I’d surprised him. ‘Er…’ His gaze slid to the left as he did the maths. ‘Just over a year ago now.’
‘Where?’
‘At work.’
Yep, like pulling teeth.
‘Engineering work or skipper work?’
He hesitated. ‘It was before this,’ he replied vaguely.
‘So, she’s an engineer too?’ I prodded.
‘No, a communications specialist.’
‘Hah!’ My cynical laugh escaped before I could stop it, echoing through the villa. The idea of that scowling, monosyllabic woman working in communications washilarious. But Tommy clearly didn’t share my amusement. ‘I’m sorry.’ I wasn’t. ‘So,’ I went on, ‘why the left turn – the change of careers? Was it the Sicily job?’
‘Sicily?’
‘Where you learned to sail?’ I prompted, sensing something wasn’t quite right.
‘Oh, right, yes exactly,’ he replied.
‘So?Tell me about it.’
