Chapter 5 #2
‘Right.’ Polly nodded, still unsure quite what it was he was trying to say.
What was she supposed to do? The closest she’d ever come to fundraising was selling raffle tickets behind a stall at the school summer fête.
She couldn’t be responsible for raising the amount of money the nature reserve needed to function.
She just didn’t have the experience. And if she did take the chance and agree to the new role then she’d be jeopardising the promotion, but if she didn’t take it there wouldn’t even be a promotion opportunity for her… It all felt wrong.
‘Of course, I understand if all of this’ – Declan held his arms aloft, encompassing the small meeting room and the reserve through the window behind him – ‘is out of your comfort zone.’
‘I’ll take it.’ Reaching across the table, Zac snatched the contract back and signed it before glancing across at Polly and raising an eyebrow.
Huh, he didn’t think she was capable. That’s why he had that smug look on his face.
Well, she’d show him. She’d show him she could do this.
She grinned as she held her hand out for the contract.
It was only for three months, after all.
Three months of pretending she had a clue what she was doing and then she’d be promoted and move into the role of project manager and, with her experience as Key Stage One lead, she knew she was more than capable of doing that job.
That would show him. Yes, there may have been a miscommunication with the job roles, but Declan was definitely retiring, so his position would need filling. ‘I’d love to take the job.’
‘Good, good.’ Waiting for them to sign and then taking the contracts back, Declan grinned from ear to ear, completely oblivious to the fact that moments before Polly had been questioning whether to take it or not.
Pushing his chair back, Declan held out a hand, first to Polly and then to Zac. ‘In that case, welcome aboard.’
‘Thanks.’ Shaking Declan’s hand, Polly tried to keep her expression neutral rather than let on how she was really feeling about the whole misunderstanding.
Three months. That was all she had to give to the fundraising job and then Declan would be retiring and, as long as she proved herself, she’d be able to step into his role as project manager.
Yes, three months. She could cope with that.
She’d do a ton of research into fundraising when she got back to Pennycress Inn, find out what would actually be expected of her and make sure she was prepared.
‘Looking forward to the new challenge.’ Zac nodded.
Trust him to suddenly be ‘looking forward’ to the change of job role.
Bringing her hands into her lap, she clenched her fists.
Yes, it might only be three months but that would be three whole months of working closely with Zac.
Three whole months of sitting side-by-side at their desks. Three whole months…
‘Great! Well, if you’d both like to wait here, I’ll go and see if I can track down our ranger, Harold.
He’s the expert on the reserve and will be able to show you around.
’ Leaning down, Declan shuffled the papers before jabbing his finger to the tiny table in the corner of the room.
‘Help yourself to refreshments while you wait.’
‘Thank you.’ Sitting back down, Zac ran his fingers down his striped tie before lying it flat against his starched white shirt.
Lowering herself back into her seat as well, Polly pulled her mug towards her again as the door clicked shut behind her, announcing Declan’s departure.
She stole a glance at Zac as she brought her mug to her lips, the cold coffee tasting a little more bitter than it had done previously.
They were in this together then? Both of them had just had the rug pulled out from beneath their feet.
Both of them had just had surprise jobs thrown at them.
Placing her mug down, she cleared her throat. ‘Well, that was a surprise, wasn’t it?’
‘Uh-huh.’ Without giving her so much as a look, Zac nodded, his gaze seemingly glued to the view out of the window.
Right. Nothing had changed then. Zac was still cold to her.
She let her mind wander back to when he’d first started volunteering at the trust and she’d helped him settle in, pointed him in the right direction when he’d been looking for resources, had even advised him on a couple of things.
He’d been normal. Nice. He’d appreciated the help even though she’d been a volunteer and he had taken a job there.
He’d treated her like an equal and respected the time and work she put into the trust. Not for the first time, she thought that the kiss hadn’t been worth the sacrifice of losing the charming Zac she’d fallen into an easy friendship with. And so dramatically as well.
‘Coffee?’ Standing up, Zac made his way towards the refreshment table.
‘Umm, no thanks.’ Polly nodded towards her mug. That was the first time in months he’d offered her a drink. She missed that. She missed the way they’d always got along. Maybe one day she’d get used to this uncomfortable dance they now did together. She shifted position, crossing her legs.
Huffing, Zac shook the oat milk carton before pouring it into his cracked mug.
No, the shift hadn’t happened the exact moment of the kiss.
It had happened the day after, but not straight away, not until halfway through the day in fact.
She remembered because she’d been going to give an assembly on the subject of the Cotswold Wildlife and Wilderness Trust at her old school, the one she’d just left.
Having left a week before the end of the summer term due to staff changeovers, she’d been nervous because she didn’t want to make a fool of herself in front of her old colleagues.
She hadn’t wanted them to question her decision to quit teaching to work at the trust and then think she was rubbish at the whole outreach and education role she was taking on.
When she’d left the reserve to go and give the assembly, Zac had wished her luck, given her one of his awkward half-hugs, but when she’d returned, brimming with confidence because it had gone so well, she’d been met by this steely demeanour that was currently trying to squeeze as much oat milk from the near empty carton into his mug as he could.
And that’s the way things had stayed between them for the next four months.
The strange thing was his attitude hadn’t changed with all the team. Just her. And she had no idea why.
An awkward silence enveloped them as Zac sat down. Trying to block all thoughts of what he used to be like, Polly was relieved when the door behind her opened and Harold the ranger bustled in.