Forget it being a job. It’s beginning to sound like a nice night out with my friends.

Will Josh be there?

I’m jolted out of my thoughts by Pania’s hand landing on mine. “You know Josh will be there, right?”

I laugh. “I literally just had that thought.”

“Maybe you should screw him and get it out of your system.”

Shaking my head, I save my spreadsheet to look at later and close the laptop. “I’m not sure I could ever do that.”

“What? Screw him, or get him out of your system?”

I shrug, but the reality is that Josh will never be out of my system.

I’ve known that the whole time.

Fourteen

Delaney

At least George has given us more time for this meal. And Pania’s idea has made the evening a lot easier.

My mouth waters as the food is taken out of the ground. Pania and Wiremu make a show of it as there are a lot of people here who haven’t had hangi before.

I can already taste the smoky-flavoured food.

“That smells so good.” Melly squeezes my hand. Against my better judgment, she’s here because I don’t have a babysitter. Keeping her away from Josh is proving to be difficult. Not that I’ve seen any sign of him. He’s filming, but no doubt will be here at some point to eat.

“We’ll have some very soon.” There’s a ton of food, and there’ll be leftovers too, but they’re filming into the night so I’m sure it’ll be all gone by the morning.

Once the cast and crew have eaten, I grab two paper plates and get a little bit of everything for Melly and me before we sit down on the stone beach by the fire.

“This was such a good idea,” Pania says.

“Really good. At least it’s not too cold tonight too. It’s like the weather knew what we were up to.”

I sense the moment Josh and Jessie arrive for their dinner. The chatter behind us increases and people greet them as they walk to the tables.

My stomach churns seeing them walking together, but it’s not like they’re holding hands or anything.

I’m not even sure if Josh sees me as he sits with some of the crew, talking with them while they dig into the food.

Melly cleans her plate and then leans back. “I’m so full.”

I laugh. “It was good then?”

“It was so yummy.”

I finish my food and get up, then walk to the nearest bin and throw the plates in. Josh catches my eye as I turn and the look he gives me is so intense, I shiver.

Dropping my gaze, I head back to my seat.

“Come for a walk, Amelia?” Trina says.

Melly looks at me, and I nod. “Go on.”

“We won’t go far.”