Page 37 of Not So Very Sensible

A rumble in her belly reminded her that she needed to eat, something reiterated when a server came to tell her they were closing the buffet in ten minutes.

She moved to the buffet, served herself a bowl of muesli and Greek yoghurt and fresh berries, then grabbed an orange juice. She placed this on the table, then returned, and on another plate she served herself the last of the bacon, a fried tomato and hash brown, along with the last of the scrambled eggs. She eyed it dubiously, hoping it was hot. Then she perched a couple of small pastries on the side, along with a banana and apple for Katie to have if she desired.

“Hey, it’s the peacock girl.” One of the elderly men she recognised from last night smiled as she lined up behind him to get her coffee. “I recognised you from your hair.”

“It was a good night, wasn’t it?”

“We had a ball.”

She smiled politely, then, a pour of coffee later, she finally sat and got to eat.

But the food tasted a little bland, as she kept searching for any new arrivals. Where was Ethan? Surely he’d know that she wanted to see him again. It didn’t feel like their good night had been goodbye. At least, she hoped it hadn’t been.

She sipped her orange juice, smiling at a couple of others she recognised from last night, those who had been kind in saying how nice she looked. She glanced at her phone, at the photos she’d taken. She should’ve charged it.

“Is this seat taken?”

She glanced up, heart fluttering. “Good morning.”

“It is now. May I?” Ethan gestured to the empty seat, and at her nod, slipped into it. “How are you this morning?”

It took her a moment to refocus, so glad was she to see him again. Or was that relief to know he was still talking to her? “Oh! Um, sorry. What was the question?”

His eyes crinkled behind his glasses. “Did you sleep well?”

“Mostly. Although I’m a little tired still. Hence why I’m here now, and why Katie is still in bed.” She hoped.

“Well, don’t let me stop you.” He gestured for her to keep eating. “I’ll go grab a pastry. I ate earlier, but seeing they’re closing the buffet, they probably won’t mind if I grab a piece of fruit for the road.”

He left, and she did her best to shovel in as much as she could, hoping he hadn’t noticed just how much she’d piled on her plate before. And while she knew she didn’t have to apologise for enjoying food, she also didn’t want to look like a glutton.

She was nibbling the last of her hash brown as he returned.

He smiled, which instantly lit warmth within. “Hungry, huh?”

“You weren’t supposed to notice, let alone comment.”

“Sorry. But if you are still hungry, you might want to get more now, as they’re clearing things away.”

“I’m not sure if I’ll need to eat again this week.”

His smile faded a little. “That’s a shame.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was hoping you might be willing to share a high tea with me today.”

“I beg your pardon?”

He half shrugged. “I went to check out and found that as part of my package, they’d included a high tea. And after your comments about the one you enjoyed the other day, I think it’ll just go to waste if it’s not eaten.”

Oh, what a shame. If only she’d known.

He leaned forward, eyes intent on her. “I wish I’d known earlier, because I would’ve mentioned something to you last night. Because it’d be great to spend more time with you.”

“Even after all the embarrassing things with my sister?”

“Hey, family is family, right? We all have moments we’d rather forget, don’t we?”