‘Planet-gazing,’ he corrects me. ‘The weather forecast is supposed to be clear, so fingers crossed.’
‘What planets are we going to see?’
‘All of them.’
‘All of them?’
‘All of them in the sky at the same time.’
‘That’s pretty cool.’
‘And the five main planets will appear in the same order that they spun out from the sun.’
‘That’sreallycool. What time is this happening?’
‘Around three a.m.’
‘Ash!’ I exclaim with a laugh. ‘Are we not sleeping tonight?’
‘Not if I can help it.’
I look inside the tent again. There are two sleeping bags, two pillows – and is that an inflatable double mattress?
‘This isn’t camping, this is glamping,’ I tease.
He chuckles. ‘I bought the mattress this morning. It’s the least you deserve. Can I get you a drink? Cup of tea?’
‘I think what I want most right now is to snuggle up with you in there.’
He looks at me, his lips curving in a gentle smile. ‘Come on, then.’
He unzips the tent and we crawl inside and lie on the bed. He slides his arm beneath my shoulders and brings me closer. I rest my cheek on his chest and try to soak up his warmth, wishing I didn’t have so many misgivings.
‘How was Beca?’ I hope he can put my mind at ease about how the land lies with her, at least.
‘Not the best.’ His voice already sounds heavier.
‘She thought you were coming back to her, didn’t she?’
‘She knows I’m not.’
He hasn’t answered my question, but he may as well have.
‘Do you think you’ll ever be able to repair your friendship?’
I’d be lying if I said that I’d be fine with him being as closeto Beca as they were before they became romantically involved. I hate that he’s hurting, but clearly Beca still wants him and that puts me on a knife-edge.
‘I hope so. It helped, going there. I think she needed proof that I still care about her.’
My stomach pinches. How many more hoops will Ash jump through to prove to his friend that he cares? He’s given me no reason to doubt his feelings for me, but I don’t think I’ll ever relax if Beca’s back on the scene. What if he continues to put her first at my expense?
I feel uneasy as I ask, ‘Does your father know our history now?’ Everyone else does.
‘No.’
‘How do you know?’
‘I’d know. I saw him this morning. He thinks this is just a fling.’
