"It isn't," he murmured quietly as she left. He just had the feeling that she didn't wish to stick around.

By then, Ivan had joined him, and he waved the corgi on to go relieve himself wherever he saw fit. He didn't stop Jo from going inside. Instead, he pushed off from the wall and retreated further into the back garden, his face a contorted mess of 'why did I say that?' and an unreadable frown that tugged even at his eyes.

Fuck.

Why couldn't this just be easy? A polite smile, pleasantries. He could pretend as if she were a visiting cousin or house guest.

No, she'd never be that to him.

Fuck.