Page 62 of Take Two

‘If it hadn’t been you, it would have been me,’ Callie murmured.

‘No,’ Mae said, stepping back. ‘No, we can’t—’

Callie stepped back too, palms raised, heart thundering.

‘Mae, I’m sorry—’

‘Don’t apologise,’ Mae snapped, running a hand through her hair. ‘I did this. I’ve obviously lost my fucking mind.’

Callie fought the urge to speak. She knew this wasn’t a conversation.

Mae paced around the small room as if trying to outrun the kiss still hanging between them. ‘What a mess,’ she muttered. ‘And I knew. I should have known… This was how it always… the same, theexact same…’ She stopped and half looked at Callie. ‘I hope you don’t think this means I’m saying yes to the cameras,’ she muttered.

Callie laughed, dizzy. ‘Right now, I can’t remember what cameras are.’

Mae exhaled a shaky breath that might’ve been a laugh, too.

Then she stopped it, hard.

‘I need a minute,’ she said. ‘I can’t think.’

‘Yeah,’ Callie said. ‘Me neither.’

They stared at each other.

Back Then

Callie was still sitting exactly where she’d been left: cross-legged on the blanket. The remains of the world’s least edible picnic lay in front of her like a crime scene. Evidence of her incompetence.

As soon as Mae stepped back into view, Callie scrambled upright.

‘You came back,’ she blurted, far too fast.

Mae blinked at her. ‘Of course I came back.’

‘You were gone ages.’

‘It was ten minutes,’ Mae said.

‘It was fourteen,’ Callie said and then realised how she sounded. ‘Let me get rid of this crap,’ she said, getting back down on her knees and shoving aside her embarrassing wares.

Mae began unpacking. Callie watched as she laid out hazelnut croissants, soft blueberry muffins, cheese-filled rolls and mini fruit tarts, filled with creamy custard and topped with fresh, glistening berries. ‘Just a few bits’

Callie was so embarrassed. ‘This is… very nice.’

Mae shrugged. And then she looked around. ‘I should have grabbed some cans. Damn.’

Callie went into her bag and pulled out a wine bottle and two paper cups. ‘I do have wine.’

‘That’s not from the mart,’ Mae said.

‘Nope. Got it from the pub. It’s a nice one. Though you should know I nicked it.’

Mae smiled at her, melting Callie a little. ‘I can’t believe you’re only mentioning this now.’

Callie poured. ‘So, I got something right.’ She sighed as she passed Mae a drink.

‘Stop it,’ Mae said. And then, more meaningfully, ‘You didn’t mess anything up.’