“You needn’t be concerned,” I said. “I pickle the hearts instead.”
He shook his head and stood up. “I’m going to rescue your brother.”
I turned onto my front and shook my head, watching as Eli strode across the lawn to where Callum was sitting with Frankie-Philippa.
My brother’s face lit up as Eli approached and I figured that he really did need saving. If he had any sense he would persuade Seph into taking her into the nearby village and breaking the news to her that he was secretly in love with his childhood sweetheart or some other routine that had been tried and tested.
I watched Eli and Callum start talking and heard their laughter carry over the still air. Callum’s date tried to look interested and reached for his knee and I felt sorry for her. I debated going over and trying to offer some consolation to the fact that her heart was about to be trashed by my manwhore brother.
Callum started to walk over to me, leaving Frankie-Philippa talking to Eli, a move I wasn’t entirely sure I was happy with. He was wearing combats and a white vest that did nothing to protect the rest of the world from his over-pumped muscles.
“What?” I said, glaring at him. “Why have you left Eli entertaining your non-date?”
“Because I need to be nice to her and I’m not nice-ing very well right now,” he said, sitting next to me. “I shouldn’t have invited her.”
“So why did you?”
“Long story,” Callum said. “And one with no significant ending. That show is happening, by the way. I signed a contract yesterday.”
He sounded disgruntled.
“Why didn’t you say no?”
“Because it wasn’t really an option. The donation the zoo gets from the production company is significant and they were adamant they wanted me, else they were going to offer it to a vet at Chester Zoo – the one who treats Instagram like a dating site.”
I widened my eyes at him. “And that isn’t something you’re familiar with at all?”
He shook his head. “Not really. I haven’t dated anyone I’ve met via social media. To be fair, Aves, I haven’t needed to. Frankie works at the zoo – she’s one of the keepers there.”
“So why is she here because she’s clearly not got a chance of keeping you?”
“Clever,” he said. “Because I needed – forget it, Aves. She’s not staying though. Her friends are going out in Oxford tonight so Seph’s going to give her a lift when he’s finished pissing around with Max.”
“Okay,” I said. “If I assume you asked her because you wanted to get someone’s back up, would I be on the right lines?”
“Check her Instagram,” Callum said.
“I will if you try to look happy,” I said. “The girl seems to really like you. At least make it a pleasant experience before you dump her.”
Callum laughed. “Yeah, I know. It’s not her fault and I shouldn’t be using her. She is a nice girl.”
“A nice girl you need to get away from Eli,” I said before I actually thought about it.
“I thought it was just casual between you?” he said, amused. “You know, them sat over there now could lead to true love between them. She could be the one for him.”
I resisted the temptation to both hit my brother hard and run over to Eli and drag him away. Neither was a sensible plan, given that what we had wasn’t permanent, but I wasn’t ready to deal with how I felt at Callum’s suggestion.
“You may as well admit that there’s more to what’s going on between you than casual,” Callum said, watching me like I was one of his endangered animals. “Everyone can see it.”
I shook my head. “I’m not ready for the responsibility for someone else’s feelings.” My eyes continuously wandered over to where Eli still was.
Callum frowned. “Don’t you think you’re past that? Ava, it’s fucking obvious that he really likes you. He’s letting you live in his house, for fuck’s sake. You spend pretty much all your time together.”
“I know, but he’s probably ready for more than I want to give at this point,” I said as I looked over to where Kitty and Margot were entertaining Eliza while Claire and Katie watched. “That’s not for me. Not yet at least.”
“And has Elijah said that’s what he wants in the next two years?”
“No, but…”
