The Waffle House on the Pier - Tilly Tennant Page 0,75

went back to the table and handed a mug to Declan. As he took it, his hand brushed hers, sending a shockwave through her. It rested there, longer than it needed to, and his gaze caught hers and held it, and that was longer than it needed to be too.

Involuntarily, Sadie tore her eyes away and glanced at the windows. She should have closed the blinds, but to do it now might somehow imply that they were doing something wrong, something that needed to be hidden. But they were, weren’t they? Even having this conversation was wrong. Declan had just said he loved Melissa, and in a matter of hours Sadie would be with Luke again. This conversation was very wrong.

In movies and books, right about now, Melissa would appear and catch them in the act, and she’d dump Declan on the spot and then Declan would fall into Sadie’s arms and they’d live happily ever after – except for Melissa, who would prove to be a nasty person, and Luke, who would also prove to be equally nasty. They’d probably end up together and live in nastiness for the rest of their lives. But they weren’t nasty. Melissa might have been cold and distant where Sadie was concerned, but Sadie knew she was a good person. As for Luke, Sadie didn’t know all that much about him, yet she felt she’d got the measure of the man and that he was a good, kind, considerate one.

Instead of Melissa appearing at the window, April came back from the kitchen. She paused for a moment, taking in the scene, and then she smiled.

‘You two lovebirds… where are you headed tonight? To see a movie? I don’t know what’s showing but I’m sure you wouldn’t be seeing much of it anyway. Too busy kissing and hugging in the back row.’ Chuckling to herself, April went to fetch the mop and bucket from where Sadie had left it earlier. ‘Oh, if this water isn’t cold. How did that happen?’

And just like that, the spell was broken. Sadie looked at Declan, tears once more in her eyes. This time he put down his coffee and leapt up to hug her, and there was no frisson of desire, just the warm, dependable support of a good friend, one of the oldest and most reliable she had. She dragged in a breath and, despite the comfort it gave her, pulled herself from his arms.

‘I should get cleaned up.’ She forced a smile. ‘I’ve got a date tonight, you know, and I need to get ready as soon as I’m done here.’

‘Is this with the guy who just bought the Old Chapel?’

‘Ah.’ Sadie laughed through her tears. ‘Vivien told you?’

‘Oh, no, my dad. I don’t know who told him but you know what it’s like around here.’

‘Only too well.’

‘He seems OK,’ Declan said.

‘Yeah, I think so too,’ Sadie agreed. ‘It’s early days but… well, I like him.’

‘Good.’

Declan smiled, but Sadie had to wonder if he meant it. Was that why the conversation had happened? But Sadie had dated loads of men since him and none of them had prompted Declan to say anything about any unresolved feelings he might have for her. She hadn’t even been sure there had ever been any on his part, though today had told her otherwise. Was he feeling as uncertain as she was about that crossroads? Did he feel it was there for him too, the final chance to take a path that might soon be blocked forever? Was he testing the ground as Sadie felt she was, checking that it was the right way to go, terrified that she’d make the wrong turn and forever regret it?

He tipped his coffee cup to his lips and drank deep before taking it to the kitchen. When he returned he gave April a quick kiss on the cheek.

‘Stay out of trouble,’ he said with mock sternness.

‘You know it, darlin’,’ April replied with a laugh. And then Declan turned to Sadie.

‘You know where I am if you need me,’ he said.

Sadie nodded. She knew alright, and maybe that was the problem. Maybe she knew too well where he was, what made him tick, and that, no matter what, if she called he would be there. Maybe all that needed to change.

She let him out of the doors, and before he’d gone ten feet she saw Melissa come from the direction of the amusement arcade to catch up with him. Melissa threw a last glance