Big Island by Emily O'Beirne

Author:Emily O'Beirne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ylva-Publishing
Published: 2023-04-20T16:49:35+00:00

Chapter 24

Samira

“Samira!” Alex hurries down the path after her.

Damn. She’d never really convinced herself that going to talk to Alex was a good idea. She was just being Samira, doing a thing without fully thinking it through.

But now here’s Alex rushing towards her. “I’m so sorry about that,” she says breathlessly, coming to a halt in front of Samira. Strands of hair have wrenched loose from her ponytail. “That look wasn’t for you. I was just…in the middle of something.”

Samira smiles. “I kind of feel sorry for whoever was on the other end of that phone.”

“Sorry, it was just, um, a thing.” Alex shakes her head. “Anyway, what’s up?”

Samira grips the straps of her backpack. “I wanted to ask you something.”

“Okay?” She looks at Samira expectantly.

Suddenly, the brave in her dissolves. She shakes her head. “You know what, it doesn’t matter.”

“It does.” Alex takes a step forward, her brown eyes earnest. “Ask me.”

“Okay.” She takes a deep breath. “Why did you back me up today?”

Alex blinks at her. “Huh?”

“With the theme.”

“Because it was a good idea,” she says slowly.

“Really?”

“Yes. And I knew we could do a lot with it.”

“Okay.” Samira nods.

“I don’t really get why you’re asking.”

“Me neither. I’m sorry. Self-doubt, probably.”

“Hey, it was a great idea.” Alex takes a step closer. “Much better than from the people who live here.”

“So was yours,” Samira tells her. “Broadening it out to housing issues. Now it’s even better.”

“I guess we both had good ideas.”

They smile at each other. For a moment there’s this hopeful little thread of goodness between them. But then neither says anything else and the moment turns awkward again.

“Anyway, thanks…for backing me up. I really should go.” Samira doesn’t know if she’s telling Alex or herself that. “I’ll see you around.”

“Let me give you a ride home.”

“Oh, that’s okay.”

“I’m happy to.”

Samira can’t help herself. “But is it professional?”

Alex’s shoulders drop a little. So does her smile. Samira braces herself for Alex to snap, but she doesn’t. Instead, she says in this small voice, “Look, I really didn’t mean it like that the other night. I just didn’t want to presume I deserved anything more. It didn’t seem right to say that I hoped we could be friends—which of course I do.” She bites her lip. “So, I said that dumb thing about us being professional, which came off cold. I don’t know how I always do that, but I do.” Her small, sad frown sets off something in Samira. Sometimes Alex holds herself so carefully that it’s hard to remember she’s muddling through things just like everyone else.

Samira gives her a small smile. “Okay, well, because I feel sorry for you and your lack of social skills, I’ll let you drive me home.”

“And I’ll accept your pity.” Alex smiles back. “So, what are you doing tonight?” she asks as she pulls out of the parking lot.

“Prepping for an interview. It’s my first solo with someone from council. I have to do all the research and questions myself this time.”

“What about the highly illegal one? Wasn’t that your first?”

“I asked him one question.

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