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‘In fact,’ Georgia said, slipping her arms into Ben’s as she spoke, ‘everything’s been going so well, Evan and I were just saying the four of us should head out for a double date? What do you think?’

12

Holly didn’t know how to reply. Double date? With her ex and his new partner? Was it a joke? Perhaps Georgia just had a really peculiar sense of humour and that was why Ben liked her. That was what Holly hoped at least, but that hope faded rapidly as Georgia carried on speaking.

‘Well, I’ve been saying to Ben for ages that I want to get to know you better. After all, alongside Ben, you’re the joint most important person in Hope’s life.’

There was something about the way she saidalongsideandjointthat made Holly’s teeth ground together. Trying to disguise the action as best as she could, she stretched her lips out tightly into a smile.

‘Yes, yes, absolutely. I’m really sorry, Georgia, but I just need to take Evan here. My Aunt May has been wanting to meet him properly.’

‘Your Aunt May? I thought you said?—’

‘Come on Evan, honey. Ben, Georgia, I’m sure we’ll catch you later.’ Looping her arm in Evan’s, she pulled him across into June and Lenny’s garden, only to stop and hiss at him.

‘A double date? Really, Evan?’

‘Why do I feel I’m in trouble?’ he said, his eyes narrowing in confusion. ‘I thought it would be nice. You and Ben get on, Georgia seems nice. There’s the whole extended family thing, but I guess I misread that. Sorry.’

Holly shook her head and let out a sigh. ‘No, no, you didn’t misread anything. She is nice, and Ben and I get on great. But that doesn’t mean I’m planning on double dating with my ex. At least, not until we have things like school performances, or university graduations, and events that we really can’t avoid.’

‘Sorry,’ Evan said again, his wide eyes back in that puppy-dog manner. ‘We can just say I’m too busy. Iambusy. I’m very busy and very important. I don’t even know when I’ll have time to see you next.’ He laughed. ‘I probably don’t. Maybe we should just call it quits. No dating for me, of any sort. Not double dating or single dating. Nothing at all.’

Holly slapped him playfully on the shoulder.

‘Now you’re just being ridiculous. How about this? You keep your arm looped in mine for the rest of the evening, and then you won’t have the opportunity to say anything wrong again?’

‘That sounds good,’ he said, before kissing her long and hard. It was the type of kiss that could have gone on a lot longer had Evan’s phone not buzzed in his pocket. Shifting away, he pulled it out and frowned at the screen.

‘What time are we planning on heading back to the cottage tonight?’ he asked. ‘It’s already quarter past seven. You said eight thirty, right?’

‘That was the plan,’ Holly replied. ‘I’m not sure. It depends how long people stay, I suppose. I’ll need to help Mum tidy up. And we need to give Dad his present, too.’

‘Well, that might be a lot later, right?’

Evan’s face was surprisingly serious. He fixed his gaze on Holly, awaiting an answer.

‘I don’t know. Maybe. Why? Is everything okay?’

‘Yes, yes, it is.’ His expression shifted back into a smile, but it was tighter than it had been earlier. Less easy? Holly tried to read the situation the best she could.

‘Are you sure you’re okay? I mean, you can slip off earlier. I’m sure Caroline wouldn’t mind giving you a lift back to Bourton.’

‘No, no, it’s fine. It’s just the jetlag, you know. Long flight. Baggage delays.’ He took a step towards her. ‘And as I’m only here for one night, I’m desperate to get you to myself for a bit.’

Holly smiled. She hadn’t even thought about him and his jetlag, and that he’d come straight off the plane to her parents’ house. She hadn’t even offered him a shower or the opportunity to freshen up.

‘You know, you can always have a kip upstairs? I don’t mind.’

‘A kip?’ It took him a second. ‘You mean a nap? No, no, it’s fine. I just want to make a couple of phone calls. That’s alright, isn’t it? You know, working things.’

‘Yes, of course.’

A moment later, Evan was walking back into the house with his phone pressed to his ear, leaving Holly confused.

Holly had never been in any doubt about how much Evan worked. He didn’t get a house in London and one in the south of France by spending his evenings watching reruns of American sitcoms on television, but for the next hour, he remained almost entirely glued to his phone. It even rang at the exact time she brought out her dad’s birthday cake. Rather than waiting for the song to end and calling the people back later, Evan blushed with embarrassment, headed into the kitchen and immediately answered it. By the time he came back, the candles were all blown out, the cake cut and slices already being dished out.

As Holly tried to keep her cake out of Hope’s hands, Evan reappeared and placed his hand around her waist.