Craft Beer & Roses

Chapter 21

He still hadn't explained himself about that kiss. He seemed perfectly content to sweep it all under the rug, carrying on with her, pretending as if it hadn't happened at all. She was frustrated with herself for being too afraid to bring it up, worried that she'd disturb the perfect balance they'd established with each other since then.

"She's a nice girl..." Finn's hand wrapped around Aviva's wrist. When his eyes found hers, his words died on his tongue. "But I...you..." He stepped closer.

Aviva swallowed, her breathing shallow under their close proximity. "Why do you keep doing this?"

"Doing what?"

Toying with me...

"Aviva!" Alfie's voice interrupted. The moment between them instantly splintered off on the breeze. The sunny boy came between them, placing a kiss on Aviva's cheek, causing her to jump. 

The action felt strangely intimate and a little possessive. He made it a point to take her hand from Finn's grasp into his and bring her securely to his side. "Ready for breakfast, love? There's a big bowl of pineapple waiting for you just there."

He tugged her hand lightly toward the breakfast tables that were now set up on the lawn. Aviva turned her eyes away from Finn's, nodding at her partner. She should have felt thankful for Alfie for pulling her out of the riptide that was Finn O'Connor. Instead, she felt resentful. Of all the times they'd talked, Finn never openly denounced his "relationship" with Kat. Perhaps she was kidding herself, but Aviva held on to hope that he was about to tell her how he really felt. Progress: it was progress. It was a feeling she couldn't shake, that there was more to him than he was letting on. She just wished he'd stop playing with her. He had to know how much she wanted him, right?

Before she knew it, she was firmly planted in a seat across from Alfie, a full spread of fresh fruit, eggs, toast, and almost every other breakfast staple imaginable covering the table. Alfie filled her teacup with English Breakfast tea and pushed a bowl of brightly yellow pineapples to her side of the table.

"Thank you." She whispered before taking a careful sip of her hot tea.

Alfie coughed lightly, glancing over to Finn and Kat's table. "You weren't in bed this morning."

Aviva looked over to Finn to find he was already looking at her. She quickly stabbed a piece of fruit, turning her attention back to Alfie. "Beach hut. They scheduled it yesterday, but I forgot to tell you."

"I wish you came straight away." He rolled some cherry tomatoes back and forth on his plate. "I missed you."

Aviva choked on her tea, silverware clattering under the force of her knee hitting the table. She held a hand up to dismiss the islanders' curiosity. "You did?"

Alfie reset the cutlery that had been knocked aside and looked up at his partner. "Of course. It's nice waking up to you." He said with complete sincerity.

Aviva shoved fruit into her mouth and chewed vigorously. Admittedly, sharing a bed with Alfie wasn't too bad. She always knew he felt more for her than she did for him, but lately, he was doing and saying things that made her think he might be in a little too deep for her liking.

She looked around at the other tables. Eddie and Dana were having the dullest conversation about porridge. Arlo was enthusiastically sharing details about something Aviva couldn't quite hear while Suresh pretended to listen, occasionally nodding in agreement. He perked up when he caught Aviva's gaze and winked, attempting to cover it up from Arlo by rubbing his eye. "An eyelash, babe, yeah." He tried to reassure his date. Arlo could freeze the whole country if her eyes were any colder.