Chapter 14
14
PRESENT DAY
It was nearly thirty years since the first time I saw Flynn and six since the last, yet somehow he still held the ability to make my heart race and my insides turn to liquid. What was he doing here? Surely Georgia hadn’t been tactless enough to invite him to reconnect with me between questions on tonight’s quiz. No, she’d never do that to me. She knew how difficult it would be for me to see Flynn again. I anticipated she’d keep pushing me to meet him, but she’d never ambush me like this.
‘Are you okay?’
I was vaguely aware of Autumn speaking to me but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Flynn. His hair was longer and the curls on the top were unruly. It would be driving him mad but he hated going to the barber’s. I used to have to drag him into town and plonk him down in the chair when I could no longer bear the sighs of frustration as he swatted the curls from his eyes. The beard was new and it suited him. I’d always thought it would and had encouraged him on several occasions to give one a try but he’d always shaved it off within a week, saying he looked too much like his dad and granddad. Perhaps the trend over recent years for beards on younger men had changed his mind.
‘Mel?’
Someone lightly touched my arm – Rosie presumably – bringing my attention back to my companions.
‘Yes, fine. Sorry. Where were we?’
‘Rosie was telling us about making their home in the west wing,’ Dane said.
The conversation resumed but I couldn’t relax. Any moment now, Mark and Flynn would get their drinks, turn around and spot me. I couldn’t do it. I’d known it was inevitable that our paths would cross at some point but I wasn’t ready for it to happen this soon.
‘I’m really sorry, but I’ve got a splitting headache.’ I scrunched my nose as I pressed two fingers against the gap between my eyebrows. ‘I think I’m going to head back to the hall.’
‘Do you want me to walk you back?’ Rosie asked, looking concerned.
‘No. It’s not a migraine or anything like that but I think it’ll get worse with the noise when the quiz starts. I’ll get some fresh air and an early night and I’ll be fine by the morning.’
Pulling on my coat and grabbing my scarf, I congratulated Autumn and Dane once more on their exciting news, all the while praying the bartender would slow down because, any moment now, Mark and Flynn were going to turn.
I hitched my handbag onto my shoulder and headed towards the door, straight into Flynn’s path.
‘Mel?’ He stopped short, spilling his pint over his hands.
It was overwhelming enough seeing him here – the place we’d met and fallen in love, the place we’d spent so many wonderful hours together over the years – but there was no way I could have a conversation with him.
‘I didn’t know you’d?—’
‘Sorry,’ I mumbled, shaking my head at him. ‘I can’t.’
I hastened outside, praying he wouldn’t follow me. Even before Georgia had mentioned it, I’d known I wouldn’t be able to avoid Flynn forever, but I’d been here for less than a week and hadn’t expected to encounter him quite so soon. Wincing, I realised I hadn’t even acknowledged Mark, which was so rude of me. I also felt a little immature for letting my feelings overcome me like that and storming out. The door opened and I prepared to rush off but it was Mark who called my name.
‘I’m so sorry,’ he said, walking towards me. ‘I didn’t think you’d be here already.’
‘Drinks with Rosie and her friends.’
He grimaced. ‘I should have thought. It was meant to be one quick drink and he’d be gone before you got here.’
‘Did he know I was joining you for the quiz?’
‘Yes, so he suggested the Lakeside Inn instead, but I thought we had time and… well, clearly we didn’t.’
‘It’s not your fault. It was going to happen sooner or later. I’d have preferred later.’
‘It could be the perfect chance to get it over with.’
I started shaking my head vigorously before Mark even finished his sentence. ‘I’m not ready. Moving back here is a lot for me and I can only handle one thing at a time.’
Mark nodded solemnly. ‘I get it. Sorry, Mel. I shouldn’t have?—’
‘It’s fine. As you say, you weren’t expecting me to be here. Tell Georgia I’ll call her tomorrow.’
‘Don’t go! We’ll take our drinks into the beer garden. You don’t have to see Flynn.’
‘No need. I’ve got some stuff to think about. Tell Flynn…’ I paused. What was the message? ‘Tell him I know we probably do need to talk at some point but not yet.’
‘Any idea when?’ he asked gently.
‘Too soon to say.’ I tapped the side of my head. ‘Lots going on up here. See you soon, yeah?’
‘Okay.’
As I walked away, I had a sense of being watched. I was pretty sure it was Flynn looking out of the window but I wasn’t going to turn around. If I made eye contact with him, I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to keep walking away and I had to do that. I’d break if I didn’t.