Page 97 of Doc Rock
The only problem with that was that as soon as the kiss was over, nothing would have changed, and her emotions would be even more confused than before. They needed to talk. Clear the air. Find out if theycouldmove past the betrayal she had dealt him all those years ago.
She needed to find out if they had a future, because if they didn’t, she had to start building the wall back up around her heart, the same wall that she had spent so long perfecting, whichhad crumbled the moment shesawFord in Midnight Thunder’s dressing room.
“I’m an adult. I’m done running. I’m done being a fool. We need to talk. Not at the pub and not with Donnie trying to steer things from the corner.”
“Sie, I—“ Ford was cut off by the pub door opening and a crowd of young men wandering out, chatting and laughing together as they sang Midnight Thunder songs.
“Come over tomorrow night, I should finish work around six. I’ll cook. We can actually talk.”Mai stared up into Ford’s eyes. Hoping that one day they might look at her without hurt tinging his gaze.
“Sure. That sounds good. But I remember your cooking, shouldn’t I pick up food?”
Mai laughed.“I’ve definitely improved over the years. My food’s safe to eat now.”She glanced over her shoulder at the men who were nearly upon them.“We should head off, before you have to take any more selfies.”
Stepping away from him, she tugged on his hand, leading him toward his car.
Chapter 34
Ford
Ford stood on Sie’s doorstep, clutching a bunch of flowers. He didn’tknowwhat had possessed him to stop at the florist he drove past earlier, and buy Sie a beautiful bouquet. But here he was, standing holding them andfeelinglike a bit of an idiot.
He leaned forward and was about to ring the bell when Steve, her neighbour, popped his head out of his front door.
“Young man, I had a visitor today.”
Ford politely turned to the older man.“Yes?”
“A rather unpleasant man who was very interested in how Ifeltabout living next door to the long-lost Sie from Midnight Thunder.”
Ford’s blood ran cold. He had realised, like Sie, that it wouldn’t be long before people on the internet put two and two together and came to the correct conclusion. But he'd thought they would have more than twenty-four hours after the release of the video before people started turning up in Burra Creek to investigate further.
As his mind whirled, all he managed to say was,“Oh.”
“Yes.”
“What did you tell him?”Ford croaked out.
“I told him I had no idea what he was talking about and to leave me alone. Then I shook my stick at him.”The old man grinned wickedly, which made Ford bark with laughter.
“Thanks, mate.”
“That is no problem. Although I would appreciate a ticket to the pub concert that Ihearyou and Sie are doing. Oh, andcouldyou say thank you to her for the plate of food she left for me a few minutes ago? I was too slow togetto the door.”
“I will personally ensure you have tickets,”Ford said with a grin, despite the unease roiling in his stomach at the thought of the paparazzi going after Sie.
“If you don’t mind, I would also like one for my lady friend, Doreen.”
Ford nodded seriously.“Of course.”
“Now. I won’t keep you from wooing your young lady.”Steve gave him a jaunty wave and retreated back into his house.
Fordwatchedhim go, amused by the older gentleman, but also worried about the news he’d brought. If Sie was letting everyoneknowwho she really was, they would need to speak to Donnie about the best approach with the media going forward.
But tonight, he needed to push thoughts of Donnie aside andgettoknowSie again and find out if Mai, the woman she’d become,feltthe same way about him as he did her.
Holding his hand up, he rapped his knuckles on the door, shifting from foot to foot as he waited nervously for her.It wasridiculous; he’d dated some of the most desirable women in the world and had neverfeltlike this.
As he waited for his wife to open the door, his palms started to sweat. His feelings for her were all over the place. He couldn’t imagine life without her, but at the same time, he was still angry about her walking away.
