I explain how after two years of travelling almost non-stop, I attended Napier University and got a bachelor’s degree in International Tourism Management.“I lived there for four years and was head over heels in love with the city.If I didn’t live in London, I’d probably live in Edinburgh.”
“Not Ireland?”Thea asks.
I tilt my head back and forth.“It’s a toss-up.I’ve always thought it’d be cool to split my time between the two places someday.”I don’t add that I always imagined myself living in Dad’s cottage, which is no longer a possibility.Icouldlive in Scotland, though; if I end up not going back to work for On the Go, I could get myself a little flat in Edinburgh and use it as a base while I figure things out.Of course, there would be the issue of my work visa being revoked, but I stop that train of thought in its tracks.That’s something for Future Fiona to figure out.
“Maybe you, Aaliyah, and I can get together and brainstorm ideas someday,” Aneesha says.“She’d definitely want to be in on the planning.”
I don’t get a chance to respond before Aneesha waves at someone across the room.A tightening in my lower belly tells me who it is without having to look.Even after all these years, I still have a sixth sense when it comes to Nathan Holbrook.
Our eyes meet as he crosses the room.I’m not sure which is more surprising: the fact he maintains eye contact or the fact his lips are curling in a small smile as he approaches.We’ve only had a couple of brief interactions since that night at his place, and while he’s acted normal, I’ve felt antsy around him.Embarrassment isn’t an emotion I’m accustomed to, but the way I fled his house has left me feeling awkward around him.
“Ladies,” Nathan says, stopping beside me.His fingers brush my shoulder as his hand settles on the back of my chair.While I’m certain he didn’t mean to touch me, I can’t help thinking there was a time not so long ago when he would have gone out of his way to avoid being near me, let alone touching me, even accidentally.
“Can you join us?”Thea asks.
Nathan’s gaze drops to me, his eyes holding a silent question.
“You should,” I say.“Mum made Irish apple cake this morning.”
“In that case, I’ll be right back.”On his way to the counter, he’s intercepted by Mum, who hands him a small tray with a cup of coffee and a plate of cake.I hear him say something about her being a mind reader as he bends to kiss her cheek.A warm rush of affection spreads through me at the way Mum pats his face and murmurs something in response.
When Nathan returns to the table, my eyes go immediately to the plate of cake on the tray.“Hey, why does yours have custard and ours didn’t?”
“Not fair,” Aneesha says.
“Yeah, the custard is the best part,” Thea says.
Nathan gives a casual shrug as he casts his gaze over the three of us.“What can I say?I’m Mae’s favourite.”
I don’t have a chance to protest before Mum calls, “I don’t have favourites,” from across the room.
“Damn,” Thea says with a laugh.“Good to know that supersonic hearing she had when we were little is still working.”
I half listen as Thea tells Aneesha about a time when my mum was babysitting her and thwarted a runaway attempt after she overheard Thea whispering plans to her teddy bear.Most of my attention is on Nathan as he slowly forks his first bite of cake, making sure to get the ideal ratio of cake to custard.The minuscule twitch of his lips tells me he knows I’m watching.
With the perfect bite balanced on his fork, he lifts it and offers it to me.
“Oh,” I say, eyeing the utensil aimed my way.I can’t remember the last time Nathan and I shared food, even though it used to be an everyday occurrence once upon a time.It somehow feels too intimate now.At my hesitation, I expect him to realize what he’s doing and withdraw the fork, but he holds it steady, his eyebrows raised, almost as if in challenge.
“I can get my own slice,” I say.“Who doesn’t need two slices of cake back to back?”
Nathan’s eyes light with amusement.“This is the last slice; Mae was saving it for me.She said she forgot the custard earlier, and made a small test batch to see if it’d be worth making regularly.”He moves his wrist in a figure-eight motion, chuckling when I watch the swaying fork as if hypnotized.“Go on, Fi.You know you want to.”
With a huff, I open my mouth and let him slide the fork in.I close my eyes and release a satisfied hum as the creamy custard and tart apple hit my tongue.When my eyes open again, Nathan’s gaze has dipped to my mouth.I tell myself his attention is a result of the bit of warm custard I can feel at the corner of my lips, but his gaze lingers even after I’ve licked it off.When his eyes pop up to meet mine, his pupils are wide.
A giggle to my left brings my awareness back to the present with a reminder that we’re not alone.
“I feel like a voyeur,” Aneesha stage-whispers to Thea.
“Right?That was practically pornographic.”Thea gives me a sassy wink that has me huffing again, this time in laughter.
Unable to look at Nathan, I watch from the corner of my eye as he shovels a couple of bites into his mouth.I expect his cheeks to be red and for him to fall into silence; that’s how the old Nathan would have reacted to comments like that.Instead, he straightens and points his empty fork at Thea, then Aneesha.“Just for that, I’m not giving either of you a bite.”
They both laugh, and I join in, glad to be moving away from any potential awkwardness.Aneesha rises to get another coffee, offering to bring Thea and me refills too.As she leaves, she slides my notebook across the table so it sits in front of me.
Nathan eyes it briefly before returning his attention to his cake.“Planning a trip?”he asks, his tone casual yet guarded.
“Yeah, for you.Hypothetically, anyway.”I nudge the notebook in his direction.“After we talked about Ireland the other night, my tour guide brain kicked in, and…” I trail off and shrug, relieved when he draws the notebook closer.
