Chapter 21 Jimmy
JIMMY
My parents beat us to the restaurant I suggested, and are already sitting at a table when Flynn and I arrive.
Mum must have been looking out for me, because she smiles and waves me over.
Her gaze tracks to Flynn. She raises her eyebrows and widens her eyes, her mouth forming a surprised O.
I guess Billy hasn’t spoken to them yet.
Thank fuck. Mum’s expression softens into a cheerful smile.
She nudges Dad and says something to him.
He looks our way, his forehead crumpled in bemusement.
I squeeze Flynn’s hand. “It’ll be fine.”
He replies with a brave smile and nods.
We cross to the table. My parents stand and take turns to hug me like they haven’t seen me in a century.
Mum hugs Flynn. “It’s been so long.” She pinches his cheek. “You look well. Are you?”
Flynn nods. “Yes, thanks. You?”
Mum puts one hand on his right cheek and the other on my left cheek. “I’d be better if two of my favourite people called me more often.”
Flynn blushes and dips his chin.
“Mum,” I object.
“What? I’m your mother, I’m supposed to be embarrassing.” She turns her attention back to Flynn. “As for you, you’re like a son to me. Just because things didn’t work out between you and Billy, it doesn’t mean you’re not welcome.”
“Thanks,” Flynn whispers.
We all sit.
Mum stares between Flynn and me. “You’re together.”
“That obvious?” I ask.
“The first giveaway was that you walked in here holding hands.”
My cheeks flush with heat.
“And the second was how happy you look.”
“Where’s Billy?” Dad asks.
“Oh, yes. We dropped him off at yours,” Mum says.
“He wasn’t thrilled that Flynn and I are together,” I say. “He said some pretty horrible things.” I don’t often throw Billy under a bus, but maybe it’s something I should start doing more often.
“We didn’t get together to upset him,” Flynn says. “Or you.”
“Of course not,” Mum says. “It never crossed my mind.”
“It’s been a while since you and Billy broke up,” Dad says.
“You don’t mind?” Flynn asks.
Mum raises her brows. “Mind? Why would I mind?”
Flynn glances at me, his brow pinched. “Because Jimmy and Billy are brothers and—”
Mum reaches over the table and puts her hand over his. “And things didn’t work out between you and Billy. That doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to be happy. You got married when you were so young. You gave it your best shot. It's not your fault it didn't work out.”
Flynn stares at the table.
Despite what I thought, Billy can't have spent the past year bad-mouthing Flynn to our parents. Or, maybe, they know Flynn well enough not to listen.
“How long have you been together?” Dad asks.
“Since before finals,” I reply.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Mum sounded disappointed rather than upset.
“We weren’t sure how you’d react and wanted to figure out how we felt about each other before complicating things,” I say.
Mum nods. “I understand.”
Does she?
“Are you happy?”
Flynn and I trade glances before smiling and nodding.
“Then that’s all that matters, but you must both promise me something.”
“Anything,” Flynn and I say in unison. We laugh, before sobering up to wait for Mum to set her terms.
“Don’t be strangers. Either of you.”
Guilt tugs at my gut. I was punishing my parents for Billy’s actions. By distancing myself from him, I put miles between me and Mum and Dad.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble.
“Don’t apologise, just do as I’ve asked.”
“I will. I promise.”
“We both will,” Flynn says.
Mum smiles and picks up the menu. “Let’s order, and we can have a proper catch-up. I want to know everything.”
We chat over dinner. Flynn has more news than I do. I might not have been great at communication over the last four years, but I wasn’t non-contact either.
As we wait for our desserts, Flynn slips away to the toilet.
Mum rests her folded arms on the cleared table. “So, you and Billy…”
I sigh and rub the back of my neck. “It wasn’t Flynn’s fault we stopped talking.”
“Whose fault was it?”
Do I blame Billy or bite my tongue?
“I always thought it would be you and Flynn who ended up together. You seemed like a much better match,” Mum says.
Dad nods in agreement. “You’re less… bullish than Billy.”
I stare at them, mouth open.
“What happened?” Mum asks.
I sigh. “Billy turned Flynn into a prize to be won, and I didn’t want any part of it.”
Mum pinches the bridge of her nose. “I didn’t realise.” She blows out a breath. “I should have realised. You and Billy were always so competitive.”
I shake my head. “Billy was always competitive, and I admit, it was fun when it came to sports or school subjects, but not when it came to Flynn. People aren’t prizes.”
“Absolutely not,” Dad agrees. “But your mum’s right, we should have realised that’s what was going on at the time.”
“Especially when you became so distant from us.” Mum straightens and smiles as Flynn returns.
He glances between all of us. “Have I missed something?”
Mum presses her lips together and shakes her head. “No. Just that I’m glad to have you as part of the family again.”
“We both are,” Dad says.
Flynn sits, looking a little uncomfortable.
I lean over and whisper, “I’ll fill you in later.”
“I take it there’s no chance of you and Billy reconciling?” Mum asks me.
I shake my head. “Not unless he apologises to Flynn. But I think pigs are as likely to fly.”
Mum sighs. “Maybe. Well, we’ll figure it out. Not your relationship with Billy, but how we include you all in our lives despite it.”
“Thanks, Mum.”
We eat dessert, say our goodbyes and go our separate ways. Until tomorrow, at least, when they’ll come to my graduation.
I put my arm around Flynn’s waist while we walk to my car. “See? I told you it would be okay.”
“It went better than I thought.” He leans his head on my shoulder. “I have to be up early, but can I stay at yours tonight?”
“Of course you can. You never have to ask. In fact, when I move into the flat, I’m going to give you a drawer.”
“A drawer?”
“Don’t sound so surprised. You shouldn’t have to think about bringing an overnight bag with you.”
We stop, face each other, our hands resting on each other’s hips.
“I suppose that means you want a drawer in my room at the farm?”
I tilt my head and hum. “Fair’s fair.”
Flynn laughs, leans close, and kisses me. “Of course you can have a drawer.”
I tug him close and rest my forehead against his. “Do you still love me, even though I have an evil twin?”
“Yes. I still love you. Billy is never going to get between us. I won’t let him.”
“Nor will I. Not again. It’s me and you against the world, baby.”
“Not against the world.”
“No?”
“No. We’ve got your parents in our corner.”
I hum. “True. And Angus. I’m pretty sure his dad would stick up for you, too.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
I pull him closer still. “I’ve been in love with you for a long time, Flynn.” It's good to admit it out loud.
“And there I was thinking you hated me.”
“Never. I might have acted like I did for a while, but that’s on me, not you. I love you. You’re my future.”
“And you’re mine.”
We embrace underneath the branches of an old tree in the corner of the carpark, and kiss for a long time, neither in a hurry to part. As I hold him, I realise that I can’t imagine loving anyone more.