‘Okay.’
Without even thinking about it, her lips parted. It felt as though every inch of her skin was tingling with anticipation. Her breath was shallow, her muscles felt achy, and it all led to a startling conclusion.
She wanted Ryan Sutherland to kiss her. Really wanted it. Was aching to feel his body press against hers one more time.
‘Good night, Juliet.’
There was a look of determination on his face. Was he feeling the same way as she did? Was he going to do it now? But instead of walking forward, he stepped back, squaring his shoulders as he gave her a nod.
It felt as though she was being dismissed. He wasn’t going to kiss her at all. He was going to go home and go to bed. A sense of disappointment overwhelmed her.
‘Good night, Ryan.’ Swallowing down the taste of regret, she walked up the steps, half an eye still on him. He hadn’t moved an inch. He was still watching, still waiting for her to get in. His scrutiny was making her feel self-conscious.
The first time she tried to fit the key into the lock it slipped. Her hand was shaking too much. When it finally slid in, and turned to open the door, she could see him turn and walk away in her peripheral vision.
She stepped inside the hallway, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her face was flushed. She wasn’t sure whether it was from all that dancing, or the crazy way she’d felt attracted to him. Either way, she needed to cool off, and fast.
In the morning she’d be grateful nothing happened. The last thing she needed was any more complications. They were friends, and it worked – she didn’t want anything to compromise that.
Yes, tomorrow she’d be glad they didn’t kiss. And tonight? She’d just wallow in the disappointment.
12
Come, sit down, every mother’s son,
and rehearse your parts
– A Midsummer Night’s Dream
‘Mommy, do I look stupid?’ Poppy frowned, pulling at the straw sticking out of her sleeves. ‘Ruby said I look like an idiot.’
‘You don’t look stupid,’ Juliet said, placing a battered old hat on her daughter’s head. ‘But even if you did, then that would be good. Because the Scarecrow had no brains, remember? So if Ruby says anything else, tell her it’s because you’re a great actress and play the Scarecrow really well.’
‘Ruby won’t care. She says Dorothy’s the best role ever, anyway. Especially because she gets to take a dog everywhere with her. It’s not fair.’
‘It’s a stuffed dog. Not that exciting.’ Juliet tried to hide her smile. ‘And Dorothy’s boring. All that talking about home. She doesn’t even like Oz, and that’s crazy. It’s full of yellow brick roads and lollipops.’
Poppy looked slightly mollified. ‘At least Charlie looks stupid, too,’ she said, looking out of the window to the house across the way. Charlie was standing on the deck outside the front door, scowling as Ryan tried to put his tin helmet on. ‘And I have a heart still, don’t I? Unlike Charlie.’
Juliet was too busy looking over at Ryan. Thank goodness they hadn’t kissed after the dance club, the way she’d wanted to. In the few days since they’d gone dancing, he’d gone back to being the perfect friend. Smiling, easy-going, waving at her when he saw her. It was as if any heated moments between them last Saturday had never happened.
And that was a good thing, wasn’t it? She had enough to deal with in her life, she didn’t need any more complications.
Not even ones as perfectly packaged as Ryan Sutherland.
‘Mommy, at least I have a heart, right?’ Poppy repeated. Juliet tore her eyes away from her hot neighbour.
‘Charlie has a heart, it’s his character that doesn’t.’
‘And I have a brain.’
‘That’s right.’
‘So can he come over and sleep here tonight still?’
Juliet never ceased to be amazed by the way Poppy’s mind worked. She’d segue from one conversation to another with very little logic to the change.
It made Juliet wonder just how jumbled her kid’s mind must be.