Chapter 73
CHAPTER 73
B y the end of the day, Sophie had heard about every single date and dinner that Gemma and Kent had shared. She told her about the walks they went on, the conversations they had, and everything she knew of Kent outside the business, from his house in Hay On Wye, to his belief in love at first sight and his parents’ relationship.
“Wow, things are moving fast then,” Sophie said.
“Maybe,” Gemma agreed. “But it doesn’t feel like that. It all feels really natural.”
“Then that’s just perfect. I’m so happy for you. Graham is too. Obviously, I rang him after I caught you two together.”
“Obviously.”
Gemma grinned. She got it. She understood why people wanted their partners to be the first to know things. Even now, she wanted to let Kent know all about how the afternoon with Sophie had gone, even though he had only been a few feet away for most of it. Which was why, when he appeared at two o’clock to finish his shift, she looked at her friend.
“You don’t mind if I pop outside for two minutes, do you?” she said, lowering her voice. “I just want to see what the plans are for tonight.”
“No problem,” Sophie grinned. “Ahh, look at you two lovebirds.”
After Kent said his goodbye to Sophie, Gemma followed him outside.
“Did you want to meet for dinner tonight?” she asked when they were a small distance away from the cafe. “I don’t mind driving if you want to check out somewhere a bit further afield. There are a couple of local vineyards that serve great food. Or… or we could get takeaway, and you could come to mine.”
She didn’t know if he could hear the nervousness in her voice as she added the last part of her offer, but he almost looked as if he wasn’t paying attention. There was something different about his smile. A tightness to it. It certainly wasn’t what she expected, considering the unspoken suggestion she’d just made.
“You know what, actually, I think I need an early night on my own. You don’t mind, do you? It’s just I’m feeling a bit exhausted with things at the minute.”
“With us?” Gemma said before she could stop herself. Kent quickly shook his head.
“No, no,” he said, taking her hand. “God, no. I didn’t mean that at all. I could never be tired of you. Just with business things and bank things, I’ve just got a lot to sort out at the minute. You understand, don’t you?”
“Yes, yes, of course,” Gemma said, trying not to feel a ping of sadness.
Kent was right, of course. They had been in each other’s pockets constantly, and they needed a little time apart, but still, she couldn’t help but feel that something wasn’t quite right.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked, trying to pick her words carefully. “You’ve seemed pretty distracted all day. And there was something you wanted to talk to me about earlier?”
Kent opened his mouth as if he was going to respond, then shook his head again.
“You know what, honestly, it doesn’t matter. It’s good, but I’ll see you tomorrow at work, right?”
Gemma shook her head. “I’m not working tomorrow. Remember, I’ve got the day off.”
“Of course, of course.” He shook his head as if to shake his thoughts straight. “Right, then, maybe I’ll see you in the evening. We don’t have to, though. We can wait until the weekend if that’s better for you? Or just play it by ear.”
“That sounds best,” Gemma said and kissed Kent lightly on the lips. There was the same distractedness to his kiss as to the entire conversation, and when she broke away, she locked her eyes on his. “If something is bothering you, you can tell me. You know that, right?”
Kent’s smile flickered and for a second, she thought he would say something, but instead, he kissed her again.
“Everything is good,” he said. “How could it not be when I’ve got the best girlfriend in the world?”