Page 44 of Bluebird

“Of course,” I assured, realising how rude I must have sounded. “I’ll just go get cleaned up.”

I left the kitchen and ran up the stairs, two steps at a time. Nate had finished his shower by the time I reached the landing, so I rushed into the empty bathroom to wash my hands and face. The cold water did little to cool the heat in my cheeks.

I gazed at myself in the mirror and for a brief moment a naive seventeen-year-old school girl stared back at me. My body encapsulated the same nervous energy that used to consume me before meeting Luke in the barn every day after school. I was still calming myself in the bathroom when Mum yelled up the stairs, for the second time, that dinner was ready.

By the time I came down, everyone was already seated for dinner. Amanda had arrived and they were all just waiting for me. We had a family rule that no one was allowed to start eating until everyone was present at the table. I quickly apologised and slid into my chair, opposite Luke.

Nate made a light-hearted joke about celebrity divas making people wait, and I discreetly picked up a pea from my plate and threw it at him. Amanda and Luke sniggered, but luckily for me, my parents didn’t see. They were too preoccupied with their own conversation about finally having their family back together at the dinner table.

Nate continued to playfully tease me about my fame throughout dinner. I mostly ignored him, but occasionally I couldn’t help but join in on their laughter. Especially when I caught Luke glancing in my direction, trying his hardest to hold it in. I missed our dinnertime banter.

I became acutely aware of the proximity of our legs under the table and found it was almost impossible to keep mine from touching Luke’s. We would nervously shoot a glance at each other after each graze, and quickly look away to avoid any attention from the others.

“So, what are your plans for tomorrow, Natalie?” Mum asked, trying to gain control of her spiralling dinner table conversation.

In a moment of panic. I pretended to chew on food I had already swallowed, before slowly placing my knife and fork down on my plate. I made every attempt not to look in Luke’s direction, but I could tell he was just as intrigued to hear what my answer would entail.

“Um, I think I’ll go for a drive. Check out the sights.” It wasn’t a total lie.

Nate drew in his eyebrows and sniggered. “What sights?”

I cringed. “I don’t know, just...the Fairleigh area I guess, see what’s changed.”

I glanced at Luke to find him leaning back into his chair, smirking in amusement. He was enjoying my discomfort, so I discreetly kicked him in the shin. A technique I had perfected in my younger years.

“Or maybe I’ll just stay in and do some writing,” I added, subtly eyeing him.

Luke quickly recovered from the pain. “There are definitely some sights worth seeing around here,” he said, with a cheeky glint in his eye. “I could take you if you like? I have the day off tomorrow.”

“That’s a fabulous idea!” Mum chimed in.

I stiffed a giggle as I peered up at him. “Sure, okay, that would be great.”

Mum and Dad led the conversation to my career and asked how long I would be in town for. I didn’t have an answer yet, nor did I want to elaborate why. The tension was rising, and I could sense the same old arguments brewing. Even Nate had become quiet, anticipating the direction of the conversation. To avoid conflict, and an uncomfortable situation for everyone, I decided it was time to leave.

I folded my napkin and placed it on the table. “I should head off, I need to make some calls and check on a few things. Thanks for dinner, Mum, it was delicious.”

As I stood up to leave, Luke mirrored my action. A true gentlemanly gesture.

“I’ll walk you out,” he said and turned to my mum. “I should head off too. Thanks for another lovely dinner, June.”

Mum beamed back at him and I rolled my eyes. We said our goodbyes and Luke followed me outside.

“You okay?” he asked, when we reached my car.

I pressed my lips together. “Sure, I’m fine.”

“They’re just…”

I held my hand up to stop him. “Please, don’t.”

Luke nodded, accepting I didn’t want to discuss it any further. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow then?” he tested, changing the tone of the conversation.

My mouth curved into a smile. “To check out the sights?”

He leant against my car with his arms crossed in front of him. “Unless you decide to stay in and write that is,” he teased.

I dropped my gaze. “I’m sorry I didn’t say—”