Heidi smiled and beckoned her in. ‘You didn’t have to do that, but thanks. It means you’ll have to come over and help me drink it another time.’
‘You twisted my arm.’ Meredith followed her into the kitchen and whistled when she saw the spread on the island bench. ‘Wow. Are you feeding an army?’
‘No, going on a picnic, but I always over-cater. It’s my thing.’
Meredith peered at the egg and bacon quiches. ‘Mind if I snaffle one of these? I’m starving.’
‘Go ahead, I’ve got plenty.’
Meredith popped the mini quiche into her mouth, her expression beatific as she chewed. When she finished, she pointed to the quiches. ‘I need to have another. They’re amazing.’
Heidi laughed. ‘I can pack you a few if you like.’
‘That’d be great.’ She popped another one in her mouth and demolished it in record time. ‘How many lucky people are going on this picnic? Because I’d love to tag along if there’s room.’
Knowing her friend would make more out of this because of her revelations the other night, Heidi said, ‘Actually, it’s a picnic for two.’
Meredith’s eyebrows rose to comical heights. ‘With all this food?’
‘It’s for Jem and me.’
Meredith had called her to chat the night she’d got back from her first date with Jem and Heidi had ended up blurting the embarrassing truth about the disastrous way it had ended, so her new friend knew all about her old crush.
‘What are you trying to do, kill the man or put him into a food coma so you can have your wicked way with him? Because with all these goodies, he might fall asleep with a full tummy rather than get it up.’
Heidi was glad she hadn’t been eating anything because she would’ve choked. For someone she hadn’t known long, Meredith was a hoot with a bluntness she identified with. ‘Maybe I made extra because we might get hungry after?’
‘Petal, for him to be this ravenous, you’d have to ride him till sunrise.’
They burst out laughing and Heidi knew she’d made the right decision in befriending Meredith. She didn’t click with a lot of people and had more acquaintances in town than close friends, so it was refreshing to have someone she could natter with. And by the outrageous things that came out of Meredith’s mouth, someone who wouldn’t judge her either.
‘Where’s he taking you?’
‘No idea. I packed the food; he’s bringing the wine and picking the place.’
‘Bet he chooses somewhere romantic.’ Meredith’s eyebrows wiggled like hyper caterpillars. ‘And very secluded. Maybe that back-beach near Serenity Cove? Though be careful, petal, I hear sand-burn’s a bitch.’
Heidi chuckled and shook her head. ‘You’re incorrigible.’
‘It’s been a while for me.’ She tapped her temple. ‘One thing on the brain. You don’t know any men willing to help a lady out?’
‘In this town?’ Heidi screwed up her nose. ‘Why do you think I signed up to Happy?’
‘Good point.’
Meredith had a perpetual smile on her face but as it faded and her eyes clouded, Heidi wondered if her friend hid secrets behind her brash persona. She wanted to delve but did she really know Meredith well enough? Besides, now wasn’t the time. Jem would be picking her up soon and she needed to do a final check in the mirror to make sure she looked okay. Vanity had never been her thing but there was something about Jem, his assuredness with the world, that made her want to preen for him a little.
‘How about we head down to Melbourne this weekend? Hit the National Gallery or walk the laneways, eat at a fabulous restaurant, and you can meet my bestie Rayne?’
Meredith visibly brightened and Heidi was glad she’d suggested the jaunt. ‘That sounds like a plan. I still have my apartment for weekends just like this, if you want to stay?’
‘Sure.’
While Heidi loved Rayne, staying with her and Leo last time in Melbourne had made her more maudlin than anything else. In fact, that weekend had kicked off her new ‘stop dating younger guys’ campaign. Was that the reason her crush on Jem had reignited? A change in her outlook on men? And if so, would she tire of him as quickly as she had of her young dates?
She didn’t think she was that shallow—and because she’d lived in the same town as Jem her entire life she wouldn’t treat him that way. It would be beyond mortifying having to face him after a one-night stand. But once the thought had lodged in her head she couldn’t dismiss it and hoped it wouldn’t taint their twilight picnic.
‘You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind, so I’ll leave you to it,’ Meredith said, casting her a shrewd glance. ‘Do you want to leave on Friday night or Saturday morning for our weekend in the big smoke?’