Page 16 of Learning to Love

Sam pulls away from our kiss, a smug grin on his lips. "Ladies, this is Corey. Corey, this is Ellie and her flatmate Tayla." Sam makes the introductions without breaking eye contact with me.

I slip out of Sam's embrace and shake Corey's hand. Tayla, a shade braver than me, kisses him on the cheek.

Tayla gestures towards the empty wine glasses. "Don't let the wine warm up, will you? We're parched."

Corey takes a hint and pours just the right amount of the New Zealand Pinot Noir.

I step away from the group and toward the back deck. "Let's eat outside. More room to breathe. It's such a nice evening." I lead them to our deck table, which is much more spacious than our kitchen table. We spent ages choosing the right tableware and serviettes to go with the occasion. But the sight that opens before us is perfectly curated to set the right mood.

I'm really proud of our outdoor space. It's only a rental property, but Tayla and I have put our heart and soul into this place. We have an avocado tree, which is great because we're both avo fiends. In one corner we keep some seasonal flowers, but it's mostly a veggie garden. Saves on costs, and it's good for the environment.

Corey looks around with an impenetrable smile. "I was telling Sam on the way here, this area, and this sort of house, reminds me of my nana's house up North."

Sam picks up my hand and kisses it. "Ellie is from up North."

"I wouldn't go as far as to say that. Matakana is still in Auckland."

They all burst out laughing at my quip, but it's all in good spirit. I'm used to this type of reaction, because even though Matakana is over an hour away from Central Auckland, it's still part of the greater Auckland area.

"So you're a country girl." Corey takes a sip out of his glass of red wine.

"Nah, not so much. I grew up in Auckland, then my parents bought up there, and we moved when I turned fourteen. I moved back for university."

Tayla senses I'm getting uncomfortable, and she intervenes. "And that's where we met!"

Corey's attention moves to her, which I'm thankful for. Sam continues stroking and kissing my hand from time to time, as if to show support.

Corey lifts his chin in Tayla’s direction. "What's your story?"

Tayla puts her drink down, clearly interested in his question. "My story? I'm from Christchurch originally, but then I moved to Dunedin with my aunt. I came to Auckland for university and never left. Ellie and I studied child psychology together, but we chose different career paths. She's a daycare teacher, I'm an educational psychologist visiting various schools across Auckland."

Corey looks suitably impressed.

Now's my cue. "You guys must be starving after such an eventful day. Let's eat!" I get up and turn down Sam's offer of help because his right hand is bandaged up. Tayla joins me, and we leave the boys behind, while we pick up the goods from the kitchen. Daisy stays behind by Sam and Corey's side, like the traitor she is.

"So, what do you think?" I quiz Tayla as soon as we're out of earshot.

"Your guy … he's not much of a talker, is he?" We both laugh because she couldn't be more true. Sam isn't a man of many words, which is why it's always odd seeing him on TV or watching old interviews.

"No, he isn't. He's a man of action." We laugh again. It could be the wine, or just the relief that they made it out alive. "What about Corey? I think we've made a good impression so far, and by we I mean you."

Tayla seems to find this hilarious. She's always had bad luck with guys. They've mostly been players or just not ready to commit to a stable relationship, which is what I think she'd be into.

"Let's go back before they send a search and rescue party for us." I pick up the lasagna, and Tayla juggles the salad bowl and garlic bread.

The moment we step outside I sense a change in mood. It's gone from lively to below freezing. Sam's jaw is set in angry lines, and Corey has a mutinous look about him, keeping his arms crossed as if to keep the world at bay. Even Daisy is unsettled, moving between the men, whining softly. If I didn't know better, I would have thought they were two toddlers arguing. Again.

Oh boy. Tayla and I exchange glances. What happened? What could they have possibly argued about after everything seemed to go so smoothly?

We place the food on the table, and I try to sound cheerful. "Bon appetit! Serve yourself. Have as much as you like."

Corey goes first and puts a chunk of lasagna on his plate, changes his mind, and adds a bit more.

I help Sam, aware of his bandaged right hand.

We eat in silence for a short while, but Tayla's brow furrows by the minute, and I think she's about to implode.

She takes a sip of her wine and grabs the bull by the horns. "So, what did you guys talk about, while we were getting the food? It seems like you're in a bad mood."

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