Page 111 of That Island Feeling

Time feels like it slows down. Is she really here, or is she some kind of illusion?

‘Hey.’ My legs tremble as I approach her, as if I’ve stepped off the river boat after a particularly turbulent journey.

‘It looked like a great spot for a picnic,’ she says casually, her sandals kicked off to the side of the rug, leaving her feet bare.

I swallow hard. ‘It is a great spot,’ I agree, noting that she’s laid out the rug on top of Flat Rock. ‘The best spot to catch the island’s sunset.’

‘Yeah, Charlie may have mentioned that.’

Charlie? When did she speak to Charlie?

She nods at my full hands. ‘Thanks for taking care of the food.’

‘Oh, ah, you’re welcome,’ I say slowly as things start to click into place.

She reaches up to grab the coffees out of my hands, then shifts over to make room for me to sit. ‘I brought us dessert. Chupa Chups, and Hazel gave me some fruit.’ She gestures to the lollipops and Tupperware container resting next to her, then crosses her bare feet under her dress. ‘I can’t say that it didn’t take some convincing. She wasn’t exactly thrilled with me. Did you know that your mother can be a little snippy when she wants to be?’

I chuckle, feeling my body relax slightly. ‘Yes, I did know that.’ I try to catch her eye, but she averts her gaze. This back and forth is cute and all, but I’m desperate to know why she’s here.

‘Not that I blame her,’ she continues, tentative. ‘I’d be the same if someone messed with my son’s feelings . . .’ She trails off.

‘Is that what you did?’ I ask, breath hitching in my throat. ‘Mess with my feelings?’

Finally, her amber eyes meet mine. ‘Maybe a little. Didn’t I?’

I gulp, nodding. ‘Yeah.’ I take a seat next to her, immediately soothed by her familiar warmth.

‘I’m so sorry, Jack,’ she says, reaching for my hand.

‘I’m sorry, too. I should hav–’

Someone yahoos downstream, cutting me off mid-thought.

‘Sorry, I didn’t invite the randoms,’ Andie says lightly, gesturing to the crowd. ‘I actually told Brad that he couldn’t anchor here, and that Bob would be along shortly to book him.’

I burst out laughing. ‘You did not!’

‘I did!’ she exclaims gleefully. ‘He didn’t listen, of course. Care to swap a bap for a cap?’ she asks, nodding to the food.

As our hands brush, a surge of electricity passes between us. ‘I would have thought you’d order a bacon-and-egg sandwich.’

She stops unwrapping her bap, her head snapping up to look at me. Her freckles have faded, and her nose is peeling slightly. It’s taking all my restraint not to lean over and kiss its tip.

‘I wasn’t sure if it was on offer . . .’

‘You’ll always be welcome to order off-menu,’ I say, huskily.

Chapter Fifty-four

ANDIE

This is going better than expected. I didn’t know if he’d be glad to see me, and although he hasn’t said as much, I can tell by the way his eyes keep flicking over my body that he’s at least still attracted to me. But I’m interested in more than just a holiday fling.

By the time we finish our baps and coffees, our conversation hasn’t delved any deeper. I’m scared to probe too far below the surface and confront the very real possibility that Jack no longer wants a future together. I’ll obviously have to accept it. At the very least, I’ve learned that I still want to live a more joy-filled life, even if it’s not with him. But I so badly want it to be with him.

The sun has reached its boldest shade of orangey red and is about to disappear below the horizon as I take a gulp of tangy, salty air.

‘So, the hot oyster guy, hey?’ I say, exhaling, veering away from what I really want to ask about.

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