| |
“I don’t think I’m going to need to eat for a week, I’m so full,” Becca groaned clutching her stomach. They’d finished their meals and had been talking good naturedly between themselves for the past fifteen or so minutes.
“It’s your own fault. Nobody forced you to have dessert as well,” Cam stated.
“But you said you were going to share it with me and then you didn’t! I couldn’t let it go to waste,” Becca protested.
“Like I could’ve had any! You put it in front of you when it arrived and the one time I tried to have a bite you didn’t let me.”
“But you were going to eat the best part,” she complained.
“So?” Cam countered.
“So I’d saved that bit. I was looking forward to it at the end.”
“And now you’re moaning you had too much to eat. If you had’ve let me eat that bit you wouldn’t have eaten so much and wouldn’t be complaining now.”
“But then I would have missed the best part,” Becca argued.
“And here I was thinking that I was the best part,” Cam said in a sultry voice as he closed the gap between them.
What followed was a kiss between Cam and Becca that was so filled with heat that Sarah found herself embarrassed to be watching the pair. She could see what Jamie had meant when he’d said that Cam adored Becca. The easy banter between them was teasing, but kind. Sarah felt a vague pang at seeing a couple so in love.
“Scuse me, I need to use the restroom,” she announced getting up to move away from the table.
“Meet you out by the truck after that?” Jamie asked looking up at her from where he sat. “It’s forty minutes to Penwick, so we should probably get going if you still want to do that grocery shop.”
“Okay. I’ll see you out there in a couple minutes,” Sarah nodded. Looking at everyone else at the table she gave a small wave. “Um, thank you so much for all your help today at my house guys. I appreciate it so much.”
She received a chorus of ‘no problems’, ‘no worries’ and ‘any time’ back from Gabe, Spence, Cam and Becca. As she walked away from the table Spence began to speak.
“I’m going to hang out here for a bit and have a few more drinks before heading off. Maybe have a game of pool. Anyone else in?” he asked.
“Hell yes. I need some exercise after that dessert,” Becca agreed.
“I don’t think pool counts as exercise honey,” Cam pointed out.
Becca waved him off. “Close enough.”
Sarah smiled as she walked inside and headed for the cashier’s till. She wanted to pay for lunch for everyone even though Cam had told her earlier that she didn’t need to. She figured it was the least she could do after the mammoth effort they’d all put in on her house cleaning it ready for her to move in as well as helping today with her furniture. Talking politely to the man serving her who identified himself as Clive, the owner of O’Sullivans, she quickly paid for the lunch they’d all eaten as well as prepaying for another pitcher of beer for Gabe, Cam, Becca and Spence. Realising she had walked past the restrooms as she went to the cashier’s till Sarah headed back through the mostly empty bar. As she did she heard a voice floating inside from the open doors that let outside. It took her a moment to recognise it as Becca’s. Sarah stopped as she heard her name mentioned realising that the group were talking about her. She sat down on a stool, feeling compelled to listen to what they were saying about her.
“I like her. It’ll be nice to have another girl around,” Becca’s voice floated over to Sarah.
“Yeah, she seems pretty cool,” Cam agreed.
Sarah smiled. It was nice to be accepted. Considering this was officially her first day in town she marvelled at the fact that she seemed to have fallen into a group of friends.
“She’s nice,” Gabe’s voice agreed. “How much do you know about her though? She wasn’t exactly keen to say where she was from. Plus, you’ve only just met her.”
“I don’t care where she’s from, just that she’s here.” Jamie’s firm response made Sarah start. “Besides, it’s not like I’ve just met her. I’ve known her for a while already. We’ve been emailing and talking on the phone about the business.”
“I forgot about that,” Cam admitted.
“It’s just that....” Gabe’s voice trailed off.
“What?” Sarah heard the unspoken threat in Jamie’s tone as his voice turned flat.
“Nah. It’s nothing man. She seems genuine.” Gabe backed down.
“Well, I don’t give a flying fuck where you found her. But wherever it was can you go back and get one for me?” Spence announced. “She’s bloody awesome. But can you make mine maybe five foot two, blonde hair, seriously stacked and –“
Sarah heard a sharp noise.
“Ow! Cam make your girl stopping hitting me.”
“Then stop being a pig about women,” Becca said stubbornly. “God, I can’t wait for the day you fall in love with someone Spence and she ends up being the complete opposite of what you want.”
Sarah heard a laugh coming from Cam and Gabe at her words.
“I gotta go. Taking her shopping.” Jamie reminded them.
“Look at you, pussy whipped already,” Spence joked.
“Nah man, nothing like that. It’s early days with her, but it’s good. It’s really good.” Sarah didn’t have to see Jamie’s face to know that he was smiling as he spoke, his voice filled with warmth hinting at the fact.
“So you’re serious about Sarah then?” Becca asked.
There was silence before Jamie answered and Sarah strained to hear him speak. “Yeah. I really think I am.”
Sarah’s heart quickened slightly at hearing his words and a thrill ran through her body.
Would it be so bad to try with Jamie?
The murmur of voices broke through Sarah’s thoughts as chairs began scraping and the shuffle of feet could be heard as Jamie’s friends began to say goodbye to him. Sarah looked around where she was sitting at the bar and realised Jamie would have to walk past where she was on his way to the parking lot. Slipping off the stool she quickly made her way to the restroom. Using the facilities she washed her hands before heading for the exit of the pub and to where she hoped to find Jamie waiting.
True to his word Jamie was waiting next to his truck as he’d promised. Leaning his back against the vehicle he had one leg bent at the knee, his foot resting against the wheel. Seeing him she waved and smiled. As he saw her he pushed off with his foot and began to walk towards her, his face lit up with a wide smile to match her own.
“Sarah!”
Sarah turned as she heard her name called from behind her and saw Becca running towards her. Turning back to Jamie she shrugged at him indicating she didn’t know what Becca wanted before turning to face her.
“Hey,” Becca was slightly out of breath as she stood before her.
“Everything okay?” Sarah asked concerned.
“I saw you come out of the bathroom, and I just wanted to say thank you. Clive mentioned you paid for everyone’s lunch.”
Sarah shrugged. “Seemed the least I could do after all the help you guys gave me this morning.”
“But that’s what friends are for,” she said simply.
“Yeah, but you didn’t even know me until today,” Sarah pointed out.
“But Jamie did. Which reminds me –“ Becca leaned forward and grabbed Sarah in a huge hug. “Whatever you’re doing to him, don’t stop.”
“Excuse me?” Sarah said dumbfounded as she tried to regain her balance from Becca’s enthusiastic hug.
“Jamie. He seems really happy. I’ve known him since we were kids and I’ve only ever seen him look at one other woman the way he looks at you. And she sure as hell didn’t make him happy. So, whatever you’re doing don’t stop. That man is head over heels for you. Anyway, I gotta go before Cam takes my turn at pool and pots the white ball on purpose. I’ll call you during the week and we can do something, yeah? Bye!”
Before Sarah could respond Becca had turned on her heel and was running back towards the pub. Sarah was left in wonder to stare at her retreating back.
“Everything okay?” Jamie asked coming up behind her.
“Yeah. It’s fine.”
“Ready to go then?” he asked.
She nodded and walked with him back to the car, Becca’s words about Jamie being head over heels for her reverberating through her mind.