Page 47 of Darn Knit All
She wore a dress that put me in mind of dancing—a red flirty number that clung to her frame and showed off her sinuous, lean limbs.
“Welcome,” she said warmly, clasping first Mai’s hands, then mine. “I’m so pleased to meet you both. Are you excited to be here?”
Mai nodded mutely, forcing me to step in.
“Thrilled,” I said, covering for her. “But a little shell-shocked, if I’m honest. Ain’t every day you’re flown halfway across the country and dropped into a set like this.”
Michelle chuckled. “Don’t worry, we’ll look after you.”
“And, three, two, one, action!” a man with a clapboard yelled, smacking the board before stepping out of view.
Under the glaring lights of the interview set, I could feel every ounce of makeup caked on my face as the host fired questions about our “relationship.”
I shot Mai a quick glance, registering her frozen expression and the vacant look in her eyes.
Fuck.
Her hands were clasped in her lap, but I could see her fingers tap-tap-tapping up and down the back of her hand.
Come on, Mai. You can do it.
When she didn’t speak, I decided to intervene. Casually, I shifted across the couch until I could press my side against hers. Wrapping one arm over her shoulders, I took her hands in mine and settled them on my lap.
She glanced up at me, but I ignored her, staring at Michelle.
“What do you like best about Mai?” Michelle asked, her expression amused.
“What’s not to like?” I responded lightly. “She’s an incredible human. She’s the kind of person who sees a family on an outing and offers to take a photo of all of them because she doesn’t want anyone to miss out on being in the memory.”
Mai stiffened beside me, her head tilting back as she stared up at me.
“When we go out, it’ll always take us twice as long to get to where we’re going because she can’t just walk from A to B. She wants to take the longer route—moving this way and that to capture all the things that life offers.”
I huffed out a laugh. “The first time we went on a hike she brought a plastic bag with her to collect rubbish. She never made a big deal about it, but I noticed because that’s the kind of person she is—kind and generous and someone who cares about the small stuff. The people in her life know we matter to her because she lets us know every day how she feels in a million different ways.”
I glanced down at her, seeing her wide eyes.
“What?” I asked defensively. “It’s true.”
“I never… I didn’t know you thought that.”
I brushed the back of my knuckles against her cheek. “You’re an easy person to love.”
As a friend… right?my inner voice wanted to know.
Michelle gently broke the tension simmering between us.
“And you, Mai? What do you like best about Theo?”
Mai’s gaze stayed locked with mine.
“Everything.” The corners of her lips lifted, her gaze warming. “Theo’s like a rainbow after the rain. No matter how bleak the day may have been, no matter how hopeless the situation seems, he appears, and you just know everything is going to work out. Not because it’s better, but because hemakes it easier to bear. He stands beside you, encouraging you, supporting you, being this practical but funny guy. He makes you believe you can conquer the world.”
My chest tightened, and I found myself swallowing a lump that had formed in my throat.
This isn’t real. It’s all make-believe.
“Is that why you entered this competition?” Michelle asked.
