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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

The look in his eyes thawed her instantly yet she was painfully aware that everyone was inside waiting for her.

‘I am turning into an icicle,’ she said, albeit one that was rapidly melting. ‘I think we’d better go back inside and then go home?’

He nodded and they hurried inside.

While Arlo went to collect their coats from their table, Katie lingered around the entrance to catch the cool night air. The floor was thronged with couples, shuffling slowly to a recording of Dolly Parton’s own country version of ‘I Will Always Love You’.

Athene was smiling in the arms of Greg, and Wanda was dancing, although not too closely, with a man in a large black Stetson.

Jess and Ned were also together, barely moving. Jess had her arms around his waist with her cheek resting on his shoulder. Katie couldn’t tell from so far away but she was convinced that Jess had her eyes closed, and Ned – he was staring into space over her head.

There were a couple of seconds when he caught sight of Katie and she held his agonised gaze and felt sick to her stomach. Realisation hit her like a hammer and she grew instantly cold again. It was obvious to her now, as it should have been long ago: Jess had fallen for Ned and Katie had been too immersed in her own world to realise it.

Almost everyone was late getting up the following morning, which, frankly, was a relief. After a restless night, Katie didn’t want to chat, at least not until she’d done some serious thinking, even if what she’d been turning over since seeing Ned and Jess wasn’t exactly pleasant. She knew she needed to talk to Jess to find out if her instincts the night before had been right.

After a strong coffee and taking a moment to find the courage, she found her friend skimming stones on the far side of the island. Katie watched for a moment before approaching.

‘Hello. You must be the only person in the house without a hangover.’

Jess turned, a startled expression on her face, still holding a couple of the flat stones from the shore.

‘How do you know I don’t have one?’ She smiled but Katie knew her too well to believe she was happy. Although, did Katie know her friend well at all, having failed to realise what had been blindingly obvious last night?

Katie had asked herself over and over if she might be mistaken. She wanted to be wrong but nothing could erase that memory of the tender way Jess had rested her face on Ned’s body, her desperate need to be as close to him as she could, and the look of guilt and dismay on his face.

‘You’re up and about,’ Katie said as cheerfully as she could. ‘Athene’s confirmed her hangover with a vomit emoji, and Wanda messaged me to say she’s having a lie-in because she might be “coming down with something”.’

Jess laughed briefly and tightened her palm round the stone. Katie grew cold but didn’t know why.

‘I – er – wonder how Ned feels,’ Katie said.

‘I don’t know. Probably a bit shit.’

Katie said nothing yet her stomach knotted instantly.

‘The question is, do you really care how he feels?’ Jess said quietly yet with such bitterness that Katie reeled inwardly.

Jess tossed the stone into the lake.

Even though Katie had tried to prepare herself for this conversation, she had hoped she could steer it gently into a discussion. She hadn’t been expecting this blunt opening.

‘You know I do.’

Jess stared at her and shook her head. ‘Really? You’ve been dancing around each other. You’ve been avoiding him yet you can’t tell him to leave. Are you afraid that you’re still in love with him?’

‘Afraid of still being in love with him?’ Katie echoed. ‘No. I’m not afraid of that. It’s just – it’s complicated with him turning up here.’

‘Yeah. I wonder if it’s a good thing. However awkward.’

Katie was shocked at such bitterness from her kind friend. ‘Maybe it is a good thing, although—’

Jess cut her off. ‘I thought Ned was good for you. I always have but I would never have said anything about you splitting up because it isn’t my business. But I did wonder if – if you like Arlo and it’s all a bit too soon? Anyone could see there was a tension between you, Ned and Arlo. It seemed like it was upsetting – well, all three of you.’

Katie struggled to stay calm. ‘I didn’t invite Ned to be part of this trip, and as for Arlo, I could hardly leave him to stay on the launch all night.’

‘I know that. I’m sorry. I only thought that it might not be the best idea to get involved with someone else so soon after splitting with Ned. Especially someone you’ve only known five minutes.’