Ollie stuck out his free hand. ‘Pleased to meet you, Zac.’
‘And you.’ Zac returned the handshake.
‘So… going somewhere nice?’ Ollie asked breezily, as if this was a mate he’d just bumped into in the frozen food aisle at Asda.
‘Actually, not going anywhere at all. Our flight’s been cancelled so we’ve been called to the customer service desk. I think lightning’s about to strike twice.’
‘Lightning?’ Ollie repeated, staring at her again, somehow reverted to the twelve-year-old kid who would find out who she fancied and then send them a note with her signature asking to meet. She kicked him on the ankle, and she would never apologise for it.
‘What about you two?’ Zac asked. He was speaking to them in plural, but staring only at Kara.
She had to clear her throat before it would work. ‘Hawaii. Actually, we’re flying to London now, staying there overnight and then flying out to Hawaii tomorrow.’Do not overshare. Do not overshare. Do not…‘We’re going for my sister’s wedding.’
‘We’re so looking forward to it, aren’t we?’ Ollie chimed in, hamming up the cuteness. Kara had another jab at his ankle.
They were the only people left in the lounge now, until a blonde head popped back in the door. ‘Kara, would you two hurry up! Your sister is about to have a dose of the vapours if you don’t get to this gate.’
Kara saw Zac’s expression change to puzzlement.
‘Oh, hello again,’ her mother chirped over to him.
‘You’ve met my mother?’ Kara asked, confused.
‘Yeah, when I got here, she was chatting to my dad. I think they met on the way in.’
This was beginning to feel like a parallel universe. ‘Your dad is Cillian? My mum introduced us earlier.’
Zac nodded, still smiling, as if this made him strangely happy. Or maybe his face was just frozen in that expression because he was so uncomfortable his whole body was shutting down.
‘What are the chances?’ he asked, still staring.
‘What are the chances,’ she repeated.
Another pause, then another, ‘Kara!’ from the door. Clearly fearing for his life if he got on the wrong side of Drea, Ollie took over.
‘Well, it’s been great to meet you, but we need to run. Sorry about your flight. Hope you manage to get home tomorrow.’
With that, he gave Zac his best movie star smile, and then, still holding Kara’s hand, swept her along with him as they hurried to catch up with the others. All Kara managed was a quick ‘Bye’ over her shoulder.
‘Hurry, hurry, hurry!’ Jacinta rushed them, until they broke into a sprint – a completely wasted effort because when they got to the gate, they found everyone sitting down. Kara’s heart was still racing, her legs were still shaking and her head was about to explode at any second.
Zac. She’d wanted to speak to him for longer, ask him so many more questions, but had been rushed away before she could even get his number. It didn’t feel illicit now that she was no longer with Josh.
‘Where have you been?’ Drea was indeed murderous. ‘They’re starting boarding in ten minutes.’
Ten minutes and then they’d be out of here.
It was too late to go back and speak to Zac.
But it wasn’t too late to sort things out with the guy who was still holding her hand. Ollie. The man she’d loved her whole life.
‘Come with me,’ she said, turning on her heel and pulling his hand behind her.
‘Kara… Kara! Where are you going?’ That was Drea again, but Kara knew her sister was like animals and children – if Kara showed fear, she’d be toast.
Instead, she went for a fake breezy, ‘Just over there – Ollie and I are going to have a quick chat.’
As soon as she reached the far wall and was sure no one around them could hear, she spun around to face him.
