Ember reached out and curled her hands around Ally’s wrist. “It’s fine. I’ll tell them to keep it warm.”
Ally turned back to Nate, her face still impassive. “Okay,” she said, grabbing her crutches and pulling herself up to standing. “You want to speak outside?”
“That would be good.”
He had to clench his hands not to reach out and help her. He knew how soft and warm her skin would be. How good she’d smell as he gathered her in his arms. How amazing her lips felt when they pressed against his.
The temperature was cooler outside, enough for Ally to shiver as the two of them walked over to the far end of the pier.
Nate shrugged his jacket off and tried to put it on her shoulders.
She shook her head. “I’m okay.”
Folding the jacket in his hands, he took a deep breath and let it out. “Thank you for agreeing to talk,” he said.
She shifted, waiting for him to say more.
“I, ah, I wanted to say I’m sorry for the way I treated you the day Riley left. The way I spoke to you on the phone was wrong. I should never have done that.”
Those big blue eyes that seemed to haunt his dreams were full of pain. “You hurt me,” she told him. “When I was trying to show you some support.”
“I know. I’m an asshole.”
A shot of laughter came from the beach, followed by a splash. Teenagers no doubt. But hopefully not his this time.
“You were an asshole. Not always, but that day you were.”
“Do you think you can forgive me?” He knew it was too much to ask, yet here he was saying it anyway. “I hate that you hate me.”
“I don’t hate you. I’m mad at you.” Little tendrils of hair were dancing around her face, lifted by the sea breeze. “And I’ll probably get a little less mad every day. So yes, I’ll forgive you. Eventually.” She bit at her bottom lip. “It’s getting cold out here. I should go back in. It’s Ember’s birthday.”
Nate nodded. Somehow her eventual forgiveness wasn’t enough to make him feel better. He wanted more, so much more. But right now wasn’t the time. “Of course you should go.” Even if he didn’t want her to. Even if he’d be happy doing nothing more than talking with her tonight.
“Okay then.” She gave him the smallest of smiles. “Have a good evening.”
“You too. And wish Ember a happy birthday for me.”
“I will.”
He watched as she made her way back into the restaurant, staying in the same spot where they’d talked as he looked through the window to make sure she’d made it safely back to the table. As if she could sense his stare, she turned and looked over her shoulder, a frown pulling at her face.
First contact had been made. Now it was time to think about the second.
* * *
Ally was bleary eyed when she walked into Lorne’s shop the next morning, thanks to the combination of too much champagne, and staying awake all night to try and work out what Nate was trying to say. Was he just feeling bad for being an ass or was he trying to reconnect with her? She wasn’t completely sure.
“Morning.” Lorne was in the stock cupboard, pulling bottles of sunscreen down from the shelves. “There’s coffee on the counter for you.”
She picked it up and took a big mouthful. “Thanks,” she told him as she swallowed it down.
“I didn’t make it.”
She put the mug down on the counter. “Who did?”
“I think you can guess.” He winked at her.
She smiled a little smile to herself, looking to her left as if she could see through the wall to the coffee shop beyond. There was only one person she knew who’d think to bring her coffee, and he happened to be the guy who ran the place.