Page 99 of The Puck Stops Here

‘I think we take Astrid’s steer on this, bro.’

‘I wouldn’t want you to be uncomfortable, but for the purposes of this article, this is what the readers will want to see.’

‘I just hope you know what you’re doing.’

‘I do,’ she assured him with a smile. ‘And Fin, the photographer, is a friend of mine. You can trust him.’

‘We trust you,’ Aiden said and Astrid’s smile gave the smallest quiver. What was that about? ‘And if you trust him that’s good enough for us.’

Aiden’s phone started to ring, and Blake frowned at its unexpected presence on the table, the high volume ringtone too. ‘Expecting someone?’

His brother ignored him as he checked the screen. ‘Sorry, I just need to get this.’

He rose from the table and headed to the window, his voice too low to hear.

‘Well, that’s me done,’ Astrid said, easing back in her seat and pulling his focus back to her. ‘I can’t eat another bite.’

‘Don’t let Aiden hear that, he’s made his chocolate protein pudding for dessert.’

‘Dessert?’ Her eyes popped. ‘I’m so full!’

‘You’ll want to make room for this, it’s good.Seriouslygood.’

‘Okay so that’ll be a half marathon I’m running tomorrow then.’

And what he’d pay to see her do that, to do it with her too.

Aiden came back to the table. ‘Really sorry, but I’ve got to go.’

‘Now?’ both Blake and Astrid blurted.

‘Coach needs me to swing by his place.’

‘At this time?’ Blake said as Astrid shot to her feet.

‘I best get off too then.’

Woah woah woah, they were both bailing? Was this some cunning ruse to get off together?

‘Oh no, you stay,’ his brother said.

Not together then…

‘Dessert is in the fridge and Blake’s more than capable of serving it up.’

She looked at Blake like his brother had just suggested he serveherup.

‘Yeah, I can take care of that…’

Her throat bobbed.

‘How late will you be?’

‘No idea, but you guys have fun, yeah?’ And was that a wink? ‘It was lovely to see you, Astrid. Thank you for the whisky.’

He leaned in to give her a peck to the cheek, so chaste she almost fell over as he swept away and Blake watched him go, a perplexed smile glued to his face.

The moment the front door clicked shut, Astrid rounded on him, eyes burning. ‘Right, what did you do this time?’

---