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Chapter 20

Alyssa huddled inside her parka, wriggling her toes inside her boots to try and keep them warm. Spring might just about have arrived, but at this time of the morning the sun was still half asleep. And so was she. At least Teijo had heated seats in his car, so her rear end was toasty. They were on their way to Love Task Three, and for some reason, Alyssa couldn’t help stealing glances at Devan, who was sitting in the front.

It wasn’t that she liked looking at him. Of course she didn’t. But she couldn’t escape the weird thought that he seemed sort of different, since her mother told her he’d been separated from Sylvie for ages. And what was that thing she’d said about those two never having had a spark? Alyssa shook her head and looked away. She’d insisted on sitting in the back of the car, away from him. What on earth was she hoping to deduce from scrutinising the side of his head? As if anybody’s ear ever gave away trade secrets. Anyway, he surely looked the same as he always did. Irritatingly laid-back, and nice to the point of smarmy. Only this time, a little rumble of something like guilt stirred in her belly as she thought that.

From what little Teijo had mentioned in his email, she might have all weekend to stop judging Devan on past crimes and confront him. The thought was mildly terrifying. On second thought, maybe a liar never changed their spots – or whatever that saying was.

‘Can you divulge where we’re going yet?’ Alyssa asked, her gaze fixed on the trees and fields beyond her window. Somewhere in the middle of nowhere, as far as she could make out. This had better be swanky, because she’d entrusted Pikachu to Jess from the shop for the whole weekend. Who knew what the going rate might be for mouse-sitting.

Devan hadn’t asked Teijo any nagging questions, though maybe he’d plotted this himself, complete with big hairy spiders and buckets full of quinoa. Or was she being a bit unfair on him? He’d arrived at the car with a cinnamon apple latte, an Americano and a green tea, and had given her first choice. At six a.m. on a weekend, she hadn’t even pretended she was going for green tea, and he hadn’t smirked when she’d grabbed the latte. But it would take a hell of a lot more than a nice drink from Apple Blossom Lane to fix his list of misdemeanours.

‘You’ll see,’ Teijo replied. ‘But I can tell you’re going to love it. ’Appy Together is just brilliant at creating the perfect tasks.’

‘Bit of a shame it’s so far away from Hartglove,’ Devan said absently. ‘I ran a poll to see if the locals were feeling more love lately, so we can shake off that dreaded “loveless” stigma and make our town a more attractive place to live, though our efforts don’t seem to have changed much. Maybe we need something more.’

More than flying over the town in a heart-shaped hot air balloon and breaking your back digging over a damned love garden?

‘I must hand out more of my love coaching business cards,’ Alyssa said fake-pleasantly.

The car arrived at a clearing in a wooded area next to a lake, Teijo jumping out like an excited puppy and pulling out supplies from the boot. Alyssa and Devan joined him.

Alyssa did her best to stop her heart from sinking as she took stock of Teijo’s goods. She knew she often gave off outdoorsy vibes on social media, because photos of nature and lovely walks were far more uplifting than snaps of her watching Bake Off and eating a meat feast pizza. But Teijo’s equipment looked a hell of a lot like there would be camping involved. Had she really signed up for this?

‘Camping?’ Alyssa asked casually. ‘Just for the photos though, right?’ If she could go home to her own warm bed after a little photoshoot, she’d do the best smiles ever.

‘The seven love tasks are a genuine experiment, Alyssa,’ said Teijo, as though she’d mortally wounded him. ‘Real life isn’t just a thing we do for the pics.’

Said the guy whose middle name ought to be ‘When am I getting my exclusive?’

‘What will we be doing?’ asked Devan, helping Teijo to organise the kit.

‘Great question,’ said Teijo. ‘We have Alyssa to thank for this one. She asked the app for something involving fewer people, after the allotment task. And we know from her initial questionnaire that she aces everything from white-water rafting to campfire cuisine.’

Alyssa grimaced. She must get a touch more honest and update that bloody thing.

‘And Devan is clearly fit and adventurous,’ Teijo added, sweeping an arm at him.

Adventurous in his choice of clothing, Alyssa noted, eyeing his latest Save Hartglove T-shirt, emblazoned with ‘Don’t Play Hart to Get’, which he’d insisted was Mrs Halfpenny’s brainchild. Likely story. At least it vaguely fitted this time, and he was wearing it with suitable layers.

Devan shrugged. ‘I have most of my adventures behind a computer screen, but I’ll try.’

‘Teamwork and trust,’ said Teijo. ‘The app thinks you could both benefit from less time paddling your own canoes.’

Devan raised his eyebrows.

Teijo explained they’d be building a raft from logs, to get them across the lake to their wild camping spot. He was churning out other words, but Alyssa’s thoughts were too busy spiralling.

She’d be sleeping in a tent. With Devan. In March? Who even did that?

‘Hang on, won’t it be freezing?’ asked Alyssa. ‘What if we need anything? Are there shops? And places to eat?’

‘I’ve packed everything you need,’ Teijo insisted. ‘And written instructions, because phone reception will probably be non-existent.’

Alyssa gulped. She knew about Teijo’s haphazard organising from the one wonky wheelbarrow situation – and that was before she got started on the quinoa. And no phone reception?

‘You’ll be staying with us, for backup though?’ Hell, she’d even consider giving him his stupid exclusive, if he’d give her a lift home when it got chilly.

‘I’ll be leaving you two to take the photos, which you can send to me later. The app thinks you need some alone time. Wouldn’t a reputable love coach like you agree?’