Page 96 of All Yours

‘That’s a relief!’ Erin said.

‘So, you two met at work?’ Amber asked.

‘We did,’ Erin said, turning blue eyes up at him. ‘I was so lucky to get a job at FoxFun Games. Fox is the best in the business.’

Fox cringed a little inside. He didn’t think of himself like that at all.

‘And do you have kids too?’ Wren asked, holding her ridiculously pregnant tummy in front of her.

‘None of my own, but I spend loads of time with my nieces, and I have two godchildren already. People seem to think I’m good with kids.’

‘Any plans for Christmas?’ Gabi asked. ‘Are you spending it with family?’

‘Well, no actually. I’m on my own . . .’ Erin said with an embarrassed look. ‘My family are all getting together in Ireland, but I couldn’t really book time off having just started the job so recently. Plus, we’ve got a massive deadline to meet, haven’t we, Fox? So I’m staying home.’

‘Oh no, you can’t do that,’ Isabella said.

‘Nobody should be on their own at Christmas!’ Amber exclaimed.

Everyone looked at Fox as if it was both his fault and his problem to solve, and his guts turned over. He heard himself talking just to fill the awkward silence as they stared at him.

‘We’re going to Millie’s, she’s my sister-in-law. Perhaps you could join us for a few hours?’ he stammered.

‘Oh, wow! If you’re sure? I mean, I’d love to!’ Erin said, almost before he finished his sentence. He saw a flush creep across Robyn’s cheeks as she caught her bottom lip with her teeth.

‘Well, that’s . . . sorted then. I’ll get us a drink,’ Fox said, wanting to disappear into the crowd.

Fox turned tail and left, mentally calling himself a coward for leaving Erin to sink or swim with the gang on her own, because he couldn’t bear the bewildered look on Robyn’s face any longer.

Later, much later, Fox knew he was swaying lightly on his feet. He’d had more than a few beers, to smooth the evening out and calm his nerves. Though he now felt slightly drunk, he didn’t feel any better.

Erin had seemed to enjoy the evening. The white wine spritzers went straight to her head, and she beamed at him every time he looked her way. She blushed when the official photographer took their photograph and she laughed at all his jokes. He heard her telling Amber how amazing he was, and then talking to Wren about what it was like to live in Honeybridge, and he steered clear of both conversations. It was only now, when he saw her talking to Robyn, that he decided he should probably intervene.

He approached to hear Robyn talking about the seasonal wreaths she’d been making.

‘I learned how to make flower arrangements in South Africa. So, I’ve just adapted what I learned, and it seems the local florists love them.’

‘Your travels sound amazing,’ Erin said. ‘Fox told me about them at our Christmas party the other day. There was a question in our escape room quiz about South African delicacies and we won because he knew the answer. Bunny chow.’

Robyn glanced his way, but her eyes were dull behind her mask, lacking their usual spark. His stomach dropped.

‘Yes, well, we’ll be travelling again soon. Next stop Botswana. We’re working for an elephant conservation project, staying in a tented hostel under the stars,’ Robyn told Erin.

That ‘we’ felt like it stabbed Fox through the chest.

‘You’re so brave. I could never do that! I’m a homebody,’ Erin was saying as he joined them. ‘I’d rather a hotel somewhere tropical, or an all-inclusive. You’re amazing to go and do all that stuff on your own.’

‘I won’t be on my own, though,’ Robyn said flatly.

Fox had a bitter taste in his mouth. Maybe he’d drunk too much.

‘It’s not so much a hostel, but kind of group accommodation for those working on the conservation project,’ Robyn clarified.

‘That sounds tough. I like my own bathroom.’ Fox listened to Erin and realised he used to say all the same things.

‘Talking of bathrooms,’ Erin said, scanning the nearest doors. ‘I must go to the loo.’ She squeezed Fox’s arm and headed off into the crowd. ‘Lovely to meet you at last, Robyn.’

Fox and Robyn were left alone. Fox inhaled slowly, not sure how to follow on from Erin, his eyes finding Robyn’s from behind their masks. His stomach clenched. He’d missed her so much it was like a punch in the gut, to be so close and yet feel so far away. The last time they’d been alone, they’d talked late into the night, snuggled on the sofa in their white fluffy robes, limbs entwined. They’d been together. Properly together. Or so he’d thought.