Part 50 (1/2)

'Let me look at you now you're thirty!' he sets me down and then holds my face in his hands.

'Where'd you come from?' I splutter. I can't believe his timing wait till I tell him about Elliot, he'll be delighted! Mission accomplished!

'How did you know we were here?' I ask, still dizzy.

'Zo,' he explains. 'When you left us at the diner we had a little chat. I wanted to get here last night but I had a business dinner I couldn't get out of.'

'But we're just leaving.' I look around, the others are on their way over.

'Well you know how I live to chauffeur you,' he twinkles.

'You're coming to Breathe?' Oh joy! I don't have to travel alone with Elise. 'Where's your car?' I look around for his black jeep.

'We're not driving.'

'I'm not jogging!' I warn him. 'It's got to be 100 miles.'

'We're flying! Friend of mine's a pilot. He's got this great little four-seater Cessna. He can set us down within a few meters of the entrance.'

I shake my head in amazement. 'You blow my mind!'

'Elise won't fly in something that size,' Elliot cautions, looking surly.

'Hey man, didn't see you there!' Joel reaches across and shakes his hand. 'What's going on?'

'Nothing much!' Elliot glowers. His whole countenance has changed. The tentative, hopeful look he had just minutes ago has clouded over into something moody and dark. Handshake over, he goes to turn away, only to find Elise stomping towards him.

'Is it all right for me to come back now?' She gives Elliot a withering look.

Elliot holds up his hands as if to say: I'm done here do as you please.

'Elise, this is Joel,' I introduce them. 'Remember you spoke to him in Yosemite?'

Elliot turns back, looking perturbed. Why does he always act so weird around Joel? He can't be jealous, not after last night. It's blatantly obvious who my heart has chosen, surely?

'Oh yeah.' Elise eyes Joel from s.h.i.+ny black hair to Nike toe. 'Hi!'

'He's going to fly us to Big Sur. It's a small plane but really safe,' I a.s.sure her.

Elise immediately backs up. 'No way.'

Elliot gives a 'told you' shrug and folds his arms.

I open my mouth to try again but Joel lays a 'I'll handle this' hand on me.

'Well, it's entirely up to you but we're talking a smooth glide the weather conditions are perfect, totally clear sky and we'll fly good and low so you can practically dip your pretty little toes in the sea.'

The toes bit has got to be too far. Oddly, Elise doesn't squawk an objection so Joel continues. 'By the sound of it you haven't had too much free time to explore Big Sur. This way you'd see it in all its rugged beauty.'

Elise seems mesmerized by him. 'Well, if you're sure ...'

'Would I lie to you?' Joel charms her.

Elliot and I lock eyes. Our song. For a moment I feel like we're raised above the other two, connecting again. Then Joel pulls me back into his arms.

'It's so good to see you!'

I want to hug him back but Elliot looks so raw I keep it to a minimal squeeze, then prise myself away and wave over the others to join us. They all chatter busily with Joel (who naturally forms the center of attention) and I take the chance to beckon Elliot off to one side.

'What you were saying before ...' I begin, eager to get back to the bit about him becoming co-owner of the B&B and better yet, the bit that sounded for all the world like a proposal!

'Forget it!' he snaps.

'Forget it?' I repeat, stunned.

'I don't know what I was thinking.' He angrily scuffs at the turf with his trainer.

'You're taking back the offer?' I want to be clear before my emotions bust through the dam that's barely holding them back.

'You didn't accept it,' he growls, avoiding eye contact.

'I didn't have the chance,' I reason, trying to keep calm.

'I wonder why.' Elliot scowls at Joel as if he'd like to deck him.

'So that's it, is it?' I can't believe this.

Elliot shrugs.

He's behaving like a child and I can feel the frustration bubbling up inside me. 'Is there something bothering you?' I decide to ask him straight.

'Like what?' he pouts.

'Like Joel,' I prompt, exasperated.

Elliot snorts and looks away.

'What?' I grab his lapel, frowning into his face.

'Nothing!' Elliot grunts, pulling away. 'If you want to make a fool of yourself...'

'Excuse me?' I laugh, utterly outraged. 'What do you mean by that?'

'Falling for all his ”my friend's a pilot” nonsense!' Elliot sneers.

'Oh I suppose the plane is imaginary, is it?' I scoff.