“WITH ACTUAL PEGS.”
“Also aware.”
I grab Isla’s rucksack and sling it over my shoulder.
“You excited?” I ask her.
“Obviously,” she says. “We get fires.”
“Supervised fires.”
She rolls her eyes.
The instructors gather everyone together and start directing groups toward rows of piled up canvas, ready to be turned into tents.
Freya and I end up helping the kids drag their bags through the grass. Theo immediately begins issuing instructions like he’s leading an expedition.
“I’m having this one,” he says very seriously.
Freya crouches down beside the canvas to help unroll it.
“Well that means I’m in this one,” Isla adds pointing to the pile of canvas next to Theo’s. “Daddy, you and Freya can go there.” Isla adds, pointing to the two slightly off to the side.
I kneel down on the other side of Theo’s tent to help with the poles. Freya reaches across to pass me a peg at the exact moment I reach for it. Our fingers brush. Just for a second. But it’s enough. She pulls her hand back quickly.
“So,” she says, slightly too brightly. “Camping.”
“Camping.”
Theo sticks his head between us.
“Rory can you hammer this one?”
“Absolutely.”
I take the mallet and knock the peg firmly into the ground. Freya watches for a moment.
“You’re suspiciously competent at this.”
“I’ve camped before.”
“Voluntarily?”
“Believe it or not.”
She smiles.God.That smile. I look away quickly and focus on tightening the rope instead. Because the alternative is staring at her mouth like an idiot.
When we stand again we’re closer than I expected. Freya brushes dirt off her hands and our shoulders knock lightly.
“Sorry,” she says automatically.
“You really do apologise a lot.”
She rolls her eyes but she’s smiling again.
Theo suddenly throws his arms around both of us and Isla joins in, wrapping her arms around the back of Theo.
“This is the best day ever!”
