Chapter 21
In the short time it took Polly to hurry back down the road and up the garden path to the front door of Pennycress again, she was soaked, the fat raindrops incessantly beating against her coat and working their way through the fabric to her clothes beneath.
Huh, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if the taxi did take a little longer.
At least she’d have a few minutes to change into something dry.
Running up the few steps to the front door, she lowered her hood, rung out her hair and shook herself, hoping to limit the amount of water she’d be bringing into Laura’s nice clean hallway.
Taking a tissue from her pocket, she began to dab at her face just as the front door swung open and she came face to face with Zac.
She lowered her hand, the tissue still crumpled in her palm, and frowned. What were the chances?
‘Polly, you’re drenched.’ Zac’s clipped tone broke the silence.
‘I know.’ Pausing, she waited until he’d stepped aside until walking into the hallway and the welcome warmth from the central heating.
‘I thought you were getting the bus?’ Zac closed the door behind him.
‘And I assumed you were heading out, being as two seconds ago you opened the door.’ She shook her head. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean—’
‘It’s fine. I was. I am.’ Zac frowned.
‘Polly! You’re back!’ Nicola appeared from the kitchen door, a tray with three mugs on it in her hands. ‘Changed your mind and decided to spend the weekend in Meadowfield?’
‘No, I… The bus has been cancelled.’ Polly stuffed the wet tissue back in her pocket.
‘Oh really? That’s rubbish. Where did you say you were going? Zac’s on his way out. Maybe he can drop you at the train station? Or, if not, if you give me a few minutes to grab my car, I can take you?’ Nicola slid the tray onto the reception desk before joining them at the door.
‘Oh no, don’t worry. I’ll call a taxi. Thank you though. It won’t take long and once I’m on the train back to Featherford, it’s an easy enough journey.’ If you didn’t count the changes, that was. But she wasn’t about to add that.
‘Featherford. Of course, you’re both from that way.’ Nicola slapped her forehead. ‘I’m sure Zac won’t mind giving you a lift.’
‘No, it’s fine, thanks. I’ll grab a taxi to the station.
I don’t want to put anyone out.’ Polly glanced quickly at Zac, hoping for backup.
Neither one of them wanted to be cooped up together in the confines of a car, even if the train station was only a twenty-minute drive away.
And what was Nicola trying to do anyway? Force a truce on them?
‘I didn’t mean the train station. I meant Featherford.’ Nicola placed her hand on Zac’s forearm. ‘That’s where you’re headed, isn’t it?’
‘Er… yes.’ Zac pulled at the collar of his coat.
He was clearly uncomfortable at the mere thought of Polly sharing a car with him, and she didn’t blame him, either. The prospect of walking a million miles in this rain in a pair of four-inch stilettos suddenly seemed preferable to car sharing. ‘Honestly, I couldn’t. Zac’s in a rush.’
‘That’s fine. So are you.’ Nicola turned her attention back to Polly.
‘Yes, but we don’t live anywhere close to each other.
Our homes are on the opposite sides of town.
’ Now that wasn’t a lie. After attending a Cotswold Wildlife and Wilderness Trust gathering Zac’s parents had hosted a couple of years back, she knew Zac lived in the posh end of town and her flat was at the… other end.
Either seeing right through Polly’s excuses or else hell-bent on turning her plan into a reality whatever the obstacles, Nicola continued. ‘Not far then. Zac?’
Zac cleared his throat as Polly noticed his knuckles turning white from their grip on the handle of his small, wheeled suitcase. ‘It would be my pleasure.’
Polly coughed, a lump suddenly forming in her throat.
His pleasure? Is that why he looked as though he was sucking on the sourest sweet in the world then?
It was clear he was about as happy with this situation as she was, but what else could she say?
The easiest thing would be to agree to the lift and then once outside and out of sight from Nicola she could say thanks but no thanks and let both of them off the hook. ‘Perfect. Thank you.’
‘See you on Sunday, Nicola. Have a great weekend.’ Zac held his hand up in a wave before pulling the front door open once again and nodding for Polly to go through first.
‘Hold on, Polly. I’ll grab you both a slice of Laura’s fruit cake for the journey.’ Cupping Polly’s elbow, Nicola ushered her through to the kitchen, the door closing behind them as she hurriedly cut two chunks of cake and placed them in a Tupperware box.
‘Thanks.’ Taking the small plastic box, Polly turned to leave before Nicola held her hand against the door. Turning back around, she saw it now, that glint in Nicola’s eyes. What was she up to?
‘This will be the perfect opportunity for you to talk about the kiss and to clear the air. With the two of you being alone together.’ Nicola grinned.
Polly opened her mouth before closing it again, her mind clear of how to respond.
‘Genius idea, right?’
Finally finding the words, Polly stage-whispered, ‘No, it’ll be too awkward. I can’t bring that up.’
‘Sure you can.’ Pulling the kitchen door open again, Nicola ushered Polly back out into the hallway, a large smile spreading across her face.
‘I’ve just packed a little slice of cake for you both for the car journey.
There’s nothing better than a good old natter and a slice of fruit cake, as my mum always says. ’
Frowning slightly, Zac nodded. ‘Thank you.’
‘Right off you both go, then. Have fun.’ Taking the door handle, Nicola waited for them to go through before waving at them. ‘Bye.’
‘Bye.’ Holding her hand up in a wave, Polly reluctantly followed Zac around the back of the house to the inn’s small car park.
As they rounded the corner of the inn, Polly glanced behind her, half expecting Nicola to be tailing them to make sure she got in the car.
After seeing the coast was clear, she stopped.
‘Zac, thanks for the offer, but I’ll call a taxi. ’
‘I can take you.’ Setting his suitcase by his feet, he pulled a single car key from his pocket.
‘No, it’s fine.’ Polly shook her head quickly and turned away, ready to sneak past the front door and down the garden path.
‘Honestly, Polly. Nicola is right. We’re both heading to the same place. It makes sense I give you a lift.’ He glanced at the Tupperware container in her hand. ‘Although, I’d appreciate you not eating that in the car.’
Blinking, Polly frowned. That’s what he was worried about? A few loose cake crumbs being dropped into the footwell of his car? Surely the fact he’d just agreed to spend the next two hours alone with her trumped the small inconvenience of a cake crumb or two?
Clicking his car key, Zac stood patiently as Polly dithered on the spot.
What was she supposed to do? She could hardly decline his invitation of a lift now, could she?
After all, Nicola was inside, and he wasn’t being forced into anything right now.
She’d fully expected him to agree to her getting a taxi.
She wasn’t prepared for this. She wiped a loose strand of hair from her nose, the unrelenting rain streaming down the inside of her coat sleeve as she did so.
‘I’d rather get out of the rain sooner than later.’ Zac pierced her thoughts.
‘Right, of course.’ She closed her eyes momentarily.
She supposed the prospect of either making small talk or sitting in awkward silence for the next couple of hours was a small trade-off for getting in the warm and dry.
And sitting in relative comfort rather than swapping trains in the dark.
‘Okay. A lift would be great. Thank you.’
Holding his arm out, he indicated his car, a sleek dark blue Audi. Older than she remembered.
‘Thanks.’ Walking past him towards the car, she mumbled quietly as he slipped in front of her and lifted the lid to the boot.
Placing her tote bag carefully in the corner of his empty boot, she realised the fabric was decidedly wet and that any clothes she’d brought with her would need drying out as soon as she got back to the flat.
As Zac lifted his small suitcase next to her bag with ease, Polly began making her way around to the passenger side, surprised that Zac managed to reach the door first and hold it open for her. ‘Umm, thanks.’
Without uttering a word, he waited for her to bundle herself in before closing the door softly and hurrying round to the driver’s side.
Polly balanced the Tupperware box on her knees as she clipped her seatbelt in. She should have put it in the boot with her bag. He’d no doubt be super paranoid about her opening it and daring to eat the cake in his spotless car now.
‘Here, I’ll pop that on the back seat. Save you holding on to it for the entire journey.’ Holding his hand out for the box, Zac then leaned behind them and placed it neatly on the back seat.
Refraining from rolling her eyes, she reminded herself, however much he’d been coerced into this by Nicola, he was indeed doing her a favour, and this was his car, he had every right to have a no eating rule in place if he so wanted to.
Turning the ignition, Zac kept his eyes fixed on the rear-view mirror as he reversed out of the parking space. ‘My mum has allergies. I try my best to avoid cross-contamination in here in case she needs a lift someplace.’
‘Oh right.’ Polly looked towards him as they pulled out onto the street. She hadn’t been expecting an explanation, she’d just assumed he was being overly precious about his car. Was he showing her a glimpse of the Zac she used to know?