Page 67 of Riding the Waves

He had his hands in his pockets as he shrugged. “You could also stay with us.”

“Your parents are there,” she reminded him. “There’s no room.”

He shrugged again. “You can bunk in with Marty or sleep on the couch and I’ll go in with the kids.”

“I don’t know.” If his parents hadn’t been there, she’d have jumped at the offer. She might finally get a chance to speak to Damian. Though that thought was followed by a pang of nerves over what he might say.

“Up to you,” Damian said casually. “It’s totally fine with me.” There was something in his voice that gave her the impression he’d like her to stay. That was probably wishful thinking, but she couldn’t ignore the spark of hope.

“Okay. Thanks. that would be good.”

“No hotel then?” Max asked.

“No.” She smiled at him. “Thanks, though.”

“We’ll sweet talk the plumber and try to get him to fix it quickly,” Jack said. “Hopefully it won’t be more than a couple of nights and then you can get back in and enjoy the rest of your holiday.”

She thanked them again, then went and packed her things. Damian appeared in the bedroom doorway after a few minutes and asked if she needed any help.

“I’m okay,” she told him, pausing in putting clothes in her case. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to stay at your place?”

“Yes.” His eyebrows twitched. “Absolutely. As long as you don’t mind a fight for the bathroom.”

“I’m sure I’ll manage that. I’m just concerned it’ll be awkward with your mum and dad.”

He leaned against the doorframe and Amy had a sudden and almost overwhelming desire to kiss him. “I suppose me reassuring you again that they don’t hate you won’t help.”

“I don’t think they hate me,” she said, deciding she’d get more done if she took her eyes off Damian. “I just think they don’t like me. Which is fine, but kind of awkward if we’re staying in a tiny house together.” Glancing up at him, she caught the way his cheek twitched and felt bad for complaining when he’d offered her a place to stay. “I’m sure it’ll be okay for a couple of nights,” she added quickly. “I can ask Lizzie If I can go into the office to work tomorrow. That way we won’t be under each other’s feet.”

“They work you hard with the publishing stuff,” he remarked, reminding her that he still thought it was a paid job.

“There’s a lot to do,” she said ambiguously.

He shifted his weight, then stepped into the room when she hefted the case from the bed. Their hands brushed when he went to take it from her and she felt a frisson of desire shoot through her.

“We also need to talk,” she blurted out.

“I know.” He nodded solemnly. “I’ve been trying to figure out what to say. Everything just feels ... I don’t even know, but I keep thinking about what’s best for the kids and—” Max interrupted him, shouting something along the hall. “Just a sec,” Damian called back.

“We should talk about it later,” Amy suggested. Clearly now wasn’t a good time, and it was obvious Damian didn’t really know what he wanted to say.

Before they left, Jack promised he or Max would call when everything was fixed and the house straightened up again.

It was with a sense of foreboding that Amy drove to Damian’s house. At least the kids would be a good buffer.

She made a quick mental plan to fall asleep when putting the kids to bed later to avoid having to sit around making small talk with Damian’s parents.

CHAPTER 34

The boys were out for a walk with their grandpa when Amy arrived at Damian’s place. She dumped her bag in the kids’ room then went to see if Wendy needed help to get dinner ready. Conversation flowed easily, but Amy was happy when Damian wandered in and grabbed a beer from the fridge. He offered Amy one and she accepted gratefully.

It wasn’t long before the boys arrived back, filling the kitchen with chatter and bustle. Getting the six of them around the kitchen table was a squeeze, but they managed it. Amy sat beside Damian and her arm brushed against his just about every time she moved.

“Are you going to sleep here?” Marty asked her with a mouth full of chicken.

“Yes,” she told him. “Just until the sink is fixed at the bungalow.”

Billy squirted ketchup onto his plate. “Where will you sleep?”

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