‘Hate’s a strong word,’ said Fran. ‘It would be true to say we were a little wary of you, I suppose. You weren’t all that friendly. Anyway, enough chitchat, we’ve got work to do.’
*
By the time Sarah got back to her tipi that evening, her body was exhausted, her mind skittish with nervous energy. Finalising the menu should have been relaxing, but all it did was highlight how much there was to do the following day. Fran had been ambitious in her choices, meaning the canapés and lunch buffet contained many opportunities for messing something up.
‘Hi,’ said Felix, poking his head into Sarah’s tipi. ‘You’re back late.’
‘We were going through the menu for tomorrow.’
‘How’s it looking?’
‘Delicious, providing nothing goes wrong.’
‘You’ll be fine. Between you and Fran, you’re going to blow those VIP’s socks off, or should that be taste buds?’
Sarah laughed. ‘Are you off to bed?’
‘Not yet, I wondered if you fancied a nightcap before we turn in?’
‘Sounds good.’
Sarah followed Felix to his tipi. She’d added a few little touches to hers in the time she’d lived there, but it never felt as cosy as Felix’s, and there was never a discussion as to whose place they’d hang out in.
Felix handed Sarah a beer and pulled out a pack of cards. They sat cross-legged on Felix’s bed, sharing out playing cards and chatting through their day. They stopped talking as the serious business of Gin Rummy began, peering over their hands to outwit each other.
‘Yes!’ shouted Sarah once all their totals were counted.
‘Yeah, all right, just remember, no one likes a bad winner.’
‘No one likes a bad loser,’ said Sarah, collecting up the cards and stacking them in a pile.
‘Play again?’ asked Felix.
‘No, I need to be up early tomorrow. It’s a good game, though. Where did you learn it?’
‘From my nan when we were little. She thought it would help with our maths.’
‘She wasn’t wrong there.’
‘I used to play it with my sisters,’ said Felix, his voice becoming husky.
Sarah leaned over and took his hand in an action that surprised them both. ‘Fran told me about what happened. I’m so sorry.’
‘Yeah, well, it’s water under the bridge. I’m OK, it’s just random moments like this,’ said Felix waving a hand towards the playing cards, ‘remind me of all I’ve lost.’
Felix’s eyes filled with tears. Sarah reached up with her free hand and brushed them away with her thumb. The atmosphere in the tipi changed. Still holding hands, they sat opposite each other on the bed, neither breaking away from the look which held them transfixed.
Before she knew what was happening, Felix leaned forwards and his lips met Sarah’s. She snapped her head back.
‘Sorry, sorry that was wrong of me.’
Sarah flushed. ‘No, it wasn’t, you just took me by surprise.’ She leaned towards Felix and placed a tentative kiss on his lips. Felix pulled back. ‘Sorry,’ said Sarah, ‘are you OK?’
‘You took me by surprise,’ he said, a grin spreading across his face. He pulled Sarah closer and their lips met once more.
Half an hour later, Sarah stumbled out of Felix’s tipi. The skin on her face was sore from rubbing against his stubble, her lips dry, but her heart so full she felt it might burst. As soon as Sarah entered her tipi, she flung herself down on her bed and let out a long breath. Her body was screaming to return to Felix, but her mind knew it was better to have left things as they were.
Felix proved the perfect gentlemen. There had been no suggestion she stay with him. He had pulled away from her, telling her she had a big day in the morning and needed her sleep. Part of Sarah wished he hadn’t been so gentlemanly about the situation, but with her body leaden with tiredness, she knew it had been the right decision. Besides, there was no rush. It wasn’t like she was going anywhere.
