Our car flies towards the long-haired boy, who braces for impact, but Zac twists the wheel away at thelast second, averting a crash and leaving the teenager panting.
We’re still laughing like idiots when we climb out of the vehicle and stroll back to Meghan, who’s staring at us like she’s the one with whiplash.
‘Where’s Lindsay?’ I ask her, feeling like I’m covering for something even though I’m not sure what.
‘He hasn’t come back yet.’ She lifts her arms to Zac like a toddler looking for a cuddle, and he rocks back on his heels to catch her, his eyes flashing to mine over her shoulder.
We agree to head over to the Turkish gözleme truck for mince-stuffed flatbreads to fill our stomachs. I consider buying an extra one for Lindsay, but I’m too irked. While Zac’s been nothing but attentive to Meghan all day, my date appears to have ditched me.
The three of us are finishing our plates beside the showbag tent when Lindsay rounds on me like a horror movie jump-scare.
‘Shit,’ I gasp. ‘There you are.’
He’s inexplicably bare-chested, his T-shirt swinging from his back pocket as he pulls me into a one-armed hug, the smell of beer and cigarettes coating his skin.
‘Where did you go?’I ask suspiciously.
He grins like a naughty schoolboy and flips his baseball cap backwards on his head. ‘Just the beer tent for one. Should we get something to eat, babe? I’m starved.’
I hold up my finished plate of gözleme crumbs.
‘Oh shit. Guess it’s beer for lunch, then. Full of carbs. You guys want to go and get drinks?’ He finally twists to acknowledge Zac and Meghan.
‘I can’t, I’m working tonight,’ Meghan replies.
‘On a Saturday?’ I cut in. The newsroom runs twenty-four seven, but the juniors usually work the weekend shifts.
‘Yeah, I’m presenting again,’ she says smugly.
‘That’s great,’ I reply, wishing my smile was genuine. I don’t want to compete with Meghan for work or anything else, but my instincts seem to have a different opinion.
‘Cool, maybe we should split up, then,’ Lindsay suggests. ‘Enjoy the rest of your afternoon, guys.’ He tugs me towards the beer tent, but I’m not really in the drinking mood.
Zac steps towards me, his palm landing on my lower back. ‘How will you get home if we split up?’ he asks softly, a line forming between his brows.
Lindsay pushes between us. ‘Obviously I’ll drive her, Daddy-o. Don’t worry; she’ll be home before midnight.’
‘I wasn’t speaking to you.’ Zac’s tone is steady, but there’s a fire burning in his eyes.
‘Dude, fuck off,’ Lindsay says, tugging me away.
I gasp and jerk out of Lindsay’s grip. ‘Lindsay, please don’t talk to him like that. Can you two not fight?’ Something in my chest twists sharply.
Lindsay leads me a few steps away from Zac. ‘We don’t have to go to the beer tent. But let’s go and do our own thing, OK?’
I look back at Zac.
‘What do you want to do?’ he asks me.
I lift a shoulder. ‘I guess I’d like to walk around the fair a bit longer?’
‘We’ll do that then,’ Lindsay replies, yanking my hand so hard that I bang into his bare chest.
‘Cool, we’ll join you,’ Zac adds immediately, weaving his fingers through Meghan’s. ‘Should we go play some games?’
Before anyone can answer, he stalks ahead of us towards the carnival game strip, pulling Meghan with him.
The four of us gather beside a duck-shooting game like we’re on a cute double date, none of us acknowledging the sharp tension in the air.
