Page 46 of Courting Trouble

And that was it.

Delilah watched her go. She didn’t want to push, but she hated the way last night was being erased, like it had never happened.

She wasn’t naïve. She didn’t mistake closeness for romance. But there’d been a moment…

But fine. Delilah could wear masks, too. It was actually her job. She just never thought she’d need one with Cassie.

***

Delilah had beaten the dinner rush today, and the dining hall was quiet. She ate slowly, trying not to look like she was brooding.

Cassie had begged off a little early with a vague excuse about ‘something I need to attend to,’ which Delilah had pretended to accept without question. But her stomach was tight, and it wasn’t the food. She was starting to get the feeling that Cassie was putting distance between them.

She was halfway through a piece of shockingly unseasoned grilled chicken when someone slid into the seat across from her brusquely. She didn’t have to look up to know who it was, but she did.

‘Hi.’

Delilah smiled politely. ‘Hello.’ She glanced around. The woman could have sat anywhere. This was athing.

Petra had a glass of something green in front of her. She didn’t touch it. Her eyes stayed on Delilah like she was trying to read small print on her forehead.

‘How’s the training going?’

Delilah wiped her mouth with a napkin. ‘Good. You know. Pushing through.’

‘That forehand’s a mess,’ Petra said bluntly. ‘Watched you yesterday. You’re all over the place.’

Delilah laughed awkwardly, trying not to look as shaken as she felt. ‘Yeah… well. It’s a work in progress.’

‘Interesting mechanics,’ Petra said, eyebrows raised. ‘Definitely not standard.’

Delilah nodded slowly. ‘I guess so.’

Petra tilted her head. ‘Cass is being quiet about you. Very quiet.’

Delilah licked her lips nervously. ‘Yeah?’

‘Where did you play before this?’

Delilah sipped water, buying herself a moment. ‘Here and there,’ she said finally, trying to keep her voice casual.

Petra’s mouth slipped up at one side. ‘Here and there?’

‘Yeah,’ Delilah said quickly, trying not to fidget. ‘Here at the moment. There before. You know.’

Petra leaned back, eyes sharp. ‘Look, you’re clearly not here to compete. You move like someone learning it from the ground up.’

Delilah laughed, brittle. ‘Guess I’m rustier than I thought.’

Petra stirred her drink with the tip of a straw, unimpressed. ‘Right. So, while I’ve got you, I need you to sign a waiver.’

‘Oh?’ Delilah asked. Now she was seriously nervous.

Petra pulled out a scrap of paper, as though from her actual arse, along with a pen. ‘Name, date and sign. It covers us for liability. Cassie signed one, but we didn’t do yours. Remiss of me.’

Delilah cleared her throat. ‘Ummm….’

‘I’ll need it now, or we can’t continue service,’ Petra added.