I lift my own mug in mock cheers.‘Of course.It’s the only one for two hundred and thirteen k’s, remember?’
His smile grows and Ella and Darcy share a look as if something strange is happening.
Daisy emits a sharp little wail.
Ella sighs.‘Nappy time.Then we’re out.Jamie, you ready?’
The question drops into the space between all four of us.
I glance at her a little startled.‘Oh.Yep!’I nod too quickly.‘Yep.Let me grab my things.’
Luke coughs quietly.Clears his throat.Then, in a voice that’s far too casual, he says, ‘You could stay.If you wanted.’
My mouth opens.Then shuts again.
‘I mean,’ I say, fidgeting with my hands, ‘I came all this way to help Ella with the bub, so …’
Ella cuts in smoothly.‘We’re fine.You’ve already helped out so much.’
I look at her.Then at him.
Luke shrugs.‘It’s your call.’
The room holds its breath.
I hesitate, my grip tightening around my opposite hand.‘Okay,’ I say finally, as smoothly as if I’d just agreed to marry him in front of a live studio audience.
Darcy, sensing my unease – bless him – swoops in and says, ‘Don’t let him convince you that chasing cattle is romantic, because it’s not.’
I grin.‘There’s nothing romantic about me running.’
Ella swoops out of the room, baby in her arms, while Darcy clears his plate and downs the rest of his water.He looks at Luke.‘Feed truck’s due tomorrow.I’ll make sure old mate swings by here after.’
Luke nods.‘Appreciate it.’
Darcy turns to me with a lazy grin and winks.‘Well then,’ he says, slinging his arm around Ella’s shoulders as she walks back into the kitchen with Daisy, ‘you’ve got nothing to worry about.’
Ella adjusts Daisy in her arms and crosses the room, eyes narrowing as she steps into my space.She wraps her free arm around me in a tight hug, her mouth close to my ear.
‘Don’t screw this up,’ she whispers.
I let out a breath that’s not quite a laugh.‘You’re relentless, you know that?’
She pulls back, smirking.‘It’s part of my charm.’
Darcy raises a hand in farewell.‘Good luck wrangling him.’
I give him a look, then flick my eyes to Ella.‘Good luck wranglingher.’
He winks again as the front door creaks open, then it bangs shut behind them.I step out onto the front porch as they buckle Daisy into her car seat and load up the back of the car.
Luke’s already standing there, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.He doesn’t say anything.Just watches them go, his face unreadable.
I glance at him, trying to catch some hint of what he’s thinking.Gratitude?Regret?A well-disguised internal scream?
Nothing.
The car pulls away in a slow crunch of gravel and red dust, disappearing down the long dirt drive.
