I felt a thrum of pleasure watching him savour what were, in my opinion, exceptional pasties.
‘I’d better head off, though.’ He glanced at the concourse clock. ‘There’s a welcome drinks thing later.’ He finished eating and picked up the scruffy rucksack he’d left on the floor. ‘I’m Pip, by the way.’
‘Emmaline.’
I thanked him again for the millionth time, and he left, striding across the airport in the same way I imagined he traversed the wide-open fields of the island.
I mean, how could I not fall for him?
‘Hey, Emmie.’ Pip ducked his head, a shy smile at the corners of his mouth.
‘The Siskin flight is tomorrow,’ I said, wishing my own smile could be as subtle.
‘Yeah. Um. I’m flying home on Thursday.’
‘Oh. Okay.’
Blessing leant her arm on the counter, eagerly observing this stilted excuse for a conversation.
‘So… you were just passing?’
‘Aye…’ Pip flushed. ‘No. I’m finishing off my final project. The deadline is Wednesday and it’s reached the point of sheer torture. I mean, getting out there and carrying out the research – grand. Sat in my stuffy bedroom trying to explain it on paper – nightmare. So. Yeah. I had a sudden pasty craving that made it impossible to concentrate. I knew only one place could fix it.’
‘You knew only one place could fix it free of charge, you mean?’
‘It’s cost me the same in bus fares as half a dozen Greggs pasties.’
‘Yet still he came.’ Blessing smirked, causing Pip to jerk his head around in surprise.
‘Oh, this is my friend, Blessing, who works at the Travel Shop,’ I said, with a pointed look that wasn’t difficult to interpret asbehave!
‘Nice to meet you. I’m Pip.’
‘Yes. I know.’ She gave both of us a totally unsubtle waggle of her groomed eyebrows. ‘I have to get to work.’
‘Here.’ I slipped one of each variety into a bag and handed it to him. ‘That’ll hopefully power you through to the deadline.’
‘Thanks. Can I get a coffee, too? I’ll pay for it, of course. Or make that two, if you have time for a quick break?’
I dismissed his bank card with a wave, still debating whether I had the courage to join him when a crowd of travellers started pouring through the arrivals door, some of them making an instant beeline for Parsley’s.
‘Maybe another time?’ I asked, cheeks flushing.
‘Well, I was going to mention that. This is my final term. So, Thursday is my last flight. Until graduation, in December. Although, the thought of no Parsley’s is making me seriously question whether to come back for a PhD.’
The Thursday flight to Siskin was at ten past five, so Pip would probably be checking in around the time I closed up.
‘Oh. Okay. I could see you then for one last pasty? And a box to take home, of course.’ Pip always bought a couple of extras for his family. I hadn’t asked whether that family included a wife or a girlfriend. ‘We can eat in the food court if I buy lunch there.’
He waited for me to serve a customer before replying.
‘Perfect. I’ll see you then.’ Pip started walking away, grinning as he waved the bag at me. ‘Thanks for saving the day.’
‘Good luck with the project.’
‘Oh, my goodness.’ Blessing laughed, slipping out from where she’d been eavesdropping behind an oversized baggage sign. ‘Day one of the new Emmie and you’ve got yourself a date.’
‘It’s not a date,’ I protested, although my fluttering heart refused to believe me. ‘It’s a goodbye snack with a sort-of friend.’
