Page 31 of Whimsical Ink

Are they talking about me? Blood pounds in my ears, and I inch closer to the door.

“I know I’m lying, but I don’t know how to tell her.” Something bangs on the bench. “What if she’s only responding because she’s on holiday? What if she doesn’t want anything with me?”

“It’s her decision, Danny. You can’t keep doing this. You need to tell her. And you might be surprised. Maybe she’s in love with you too and everything will be fine?”

I suck in a breath and rub a trembling hand over my racing heart. Love me? Lying to me? What’s happening?

The door flies open in front of me, and I jump. My eyes lock with Daniel’s, and I notice numbly the cups of coffee he’s holding. The coffee he was going to bring me in bed.

I swallow harshly and my eyes scan the cautious look in his eyes and the grimace on Emma’s face behind him. “You’re lying to me? About what?”

Daniel inhales sharply and opens his mouth, but doesn’t say anything.

“Daniel? Is everything okay?” I watch his face pale. “Are you okay?”

He shakes himself. “I’m fine, sweetheart. Nothing’s wrong.” He turns and puts the coffee down, and I follow him into the kitchen. Daniel breathes deeply. “I wasn’t entirely honest about getting you here.”

“Okay.” I frown and try to remember what he said to convince me to come here, and my eyes narrow when I remember what he told his family. My eyes dart to Emma, who’s making tea and pretending to ignore us, and back to Daniel rubbing a hand over his jaw. “Do you have an explanation?” My voice is hard and brittle.

“My family doesn’t think we’ve been dating for six months. They didn’t know you were coming until we showed up,” he says in a rush.

I blink at him and take a step back. Thoughts race through my mind as I try to reorder everything that’s happened since he appeared at my studio a few days ago.

My chest tightens, and heat races through my body and stains my cheeks with red. Fury runs through me, bright and hot with a tinge of betrayal making everything worse. “You lied to me. You lied to get me here and what? What was the goal?”

“No, I?—”

“But you did lie. You lied, so I’d come with you. Why?” I demand. “And I showed up here and imposed on your family for no reason? They had to spend their holiday with me because you felt like dragging me along? What the fuck, Daniel?”

He stands in front of me silently, not attempting to defend himself or give me context for the last few days. I glance at Emma, whose lip curls staring at Daniel.

My hands tremble as embarrassment floods me, as I remember everything that’s happened. The cricket and thetouching and the kissing and his fingers inside me after the best day I’ve had in years.

But it was all a lie. And he won’t tell me why.

“Give me your keys.” I hold my hand out and ignore the shaking.

“What? What do you need my keys for?” He runs a hand through his hair.

“Because I’m going home. Give me your fucking car keys, Daniel. I’m leaving so your family can enjoy a little peace without a random woman showing up.”

“You aren’t random, they’ve known you for years, Maddy?—”

“Give me your keys. You brought me here in your car, and I have no other way home. Give them to me.”

“Maddy.”

I whirl towards Emma’s voice and the sound of metal clinking together. She throws keys at me and I catch them. “I’m sorry for invading your holiday. Please apologise to your parents for me.” When she nods, I turn to Daniel. “I’ll see you around.”

I storm out of the kitchen, down the hall, out the front door, and into Daniel’s car.

He doesn’t try to stop me. Doesn’t follow me to the car, and before I know it, I’m on the motorway towards home.

The only stuff I have with me is my phone and handbag. I didn’t want to go to our room and pack everything, not when the room smells of citrus and I’d have to decide if I take the presents he gave me.

My hand clutches the necklace, but I can’t bring myself to remove it. Not yet.

The drive doesn’t distract me from the conversation. Or from dissecting it. But it’s not until I’m halfway home that I remember what Emma said before he opened the door. ‘Maybe she’s in love with you too and everything will be fine.’