Pinot and Puha by Nikki Perry & Kirsty Roby

Author:Nikki Perry & Kirsty Roby
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pink Van Publishing
Published: 2023-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter sixteen

“This is an evening of wonders indeed.”

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

By the time Ellie put the closed sign up, Mel had cooked a chicken jalfrezi and a vegetable curry, made pickles and had a stack of garlic naan, ready to be reheated in the oven.

Ellie opened the bottle of wine she’d brought up from the shop and poured them each a glass. “The cooking smells have been wafting downstairs all afternoon.” She went over to the stove and lifted a lid. “I’m starving.”

Mel swatted her away and switched on the rice cooker.

“I hope there’s enough for two guys. Do you think we should do some cheese as well?”

“Probably a good idea. I’ll go and grab something from downstairs. I think there’s an open jar of pickles as well. So anyway, about Jesse …”

“What about Jesse?”

“Is he going to stay over tonight?” Ellie asked, with a smirk.

“I don’t know, I mean we’ve only just got back to our truce. I kind of want to see how things go, I guess.”

“You’re thinking too much with your head as usual.”

“Oh shut up. Go and get the cheese.”

As Ellie went downstairs there was a knock on the door. She came back up followed by Jesse and Skiddy. Jesse handed her a bottle of wine — it was a nice one too — and Skiddy had brought a couple of craft beers and a packet of chips.

“I know they’re not Indian,” he mumbled.

“Neither is this,” Ellie grinned, holding up the cheese. She emptied the chips into a bowl and quickly arranged cheese, pickles and crackers on a plate.

There was a bit of awkwardness as everyone decided where they were sitting; Skiddy and Mel on dining room chairs and Jesse and Ellie on the sofa.

“Smells good.” Jesse stretched his long legs out in front of him. He was wearing a clean T-shirt — perhaps he kept one in the truck, Mel pondered — and it fitted nicely around his pecs.

“Have you guys ever been to India?” he asked.

“Not me,” Ellie replied. “I love Indian food but my idea of a holiday is sitting in a bikini beside a pool, sipping a cocktail. Mel’s the more adventurous one.”

Skiddy had a slightly glazed look about him, as though he were visualising Ellie in a bikini. He squirmed slightly.

“I’ve never been, unless you count pre-birth. Marion and Geoff went when she was pregnant with me,” Mel told them. “Fern and I went to Peru with our parents when I was about four, and we lived in Rarotonga for a bit, but it’s definitely on the bucket list. How about you?”

“No, not India, but my plan is to take time off next year and travel around South-East Asia.” Jesse cut a piece of cheese and put it onto a cracker. “Probably around March or April, I reckon. I’ve always wanted to do it, so I figure why not bite the bullet and go?”

“I went to Brisbane with my mum when I was twelve,” Skiddy chimed in.

“Well, that’s more than I’ve done yet, mate,” Jesse laughed.

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