8
‘This looks great, thanks.’ I reach across the table for a slice of the hot buttered toast Sarah made for me, along with a fresh pot of coffee and a glass of pink grapefruit juice.
Flynn wanted to talk more, but I needed space to clear my head before I think about how I’m going to sleep in that tiny cottage, with him under the same roof, looking like that.
Feck, I thought I fancied him when we were sixteen, but now .
. . I can hardly look at him without wanting to touch him, or lick him, and every time I get a flash of bare skin, all I can think about is more.
So, I told him I was late to meet Sarah, and we’d talk as soon as I got back.
And I did plan to tell Sarah everything, but now that I’m here, and she’s being so nice to me, I don’t want to compromise her again.
Because, if I tell Sarah, Sarah will feel bad if she doesn’t tell Scott.
And Scott will tell Jamie. Then Jamie will lose it if he finds out I’m staying with Flynn.
And Flynn won’t be happy if Jamie comes knocking at my door.
His door. And soon, everybody in my life will be upset.
‘It’s the least I could do.’ Sarah drops her greasy spatula into the sink and turns back to face me. ‘Last brunch instead of last supper, to make up for my boyfriend’s betrayal.’
Sarah usually reads the Sunday paper while Scott makes breakfast for them both, and I hate that my mess is causing a rift, because I know she adores him, and I know he’s a good guy, even if he does make too many excuses for Jamie.
But they are family and I understand the inclination to stay loyal.
And I know all too well how hard it can be to decide who truly deserves your loyalty sometimes.
She sets a plate of fried tomatoes, mushrooms, and scrambled eggs in front of me, and leans back against the sink, face pinched, fists curled. ‘I’m sorry, Gracie. I could strangle the pair of them.’
‘It’s not Scott’s fault,’ I say as I pour two mugs of coffee and breathe in the fresh earthy smell. ‘He promised Jamie ages ago. I know that.’
‘That was before we found out he’s a liar and a cheat.
’ Sarah slams down on the chair opposite me.
I push the plate of toast across to her and she grabs a slice and tears it in half.
‘I can’t believe he had the cheek to call you and ask you to take him back.
As if you’d forgive something like that over the bloody phone. ’
I drop a cube of sugar into my coffee and stir. ‘It was one stupid mistake, according to Jamie.’
I don’t add that he didn’t ask me to forgive him.
He didn’t actually ask me anything now I think of it.
Just told me what he wanted and how I should react.
And I try not to dwell on the fact that Sarah added over the bloody phone as though getting back with Jamie might still be an option if he makes more of an effort and promises not to cheat on me again.
‘I’m sure he told Scott he’ll be doing us both a favour by letting him stay. By giving him a chance to talk me round.’
‘Scott did say he was really upset that you left without giving him a chance to explain.’ Sarah leans across the table, combing me for clues.
‘But he cheated on you, Gracie. I know you said things weren’t good between you in London, and that you’d drifted apart, but that doesn’t excuse what he did.
’ She sounds like she thinks I need convincing.
‘I know.’ My jaw tightens. ‘Even Jamie can’t talk his way out of this.’
‘Good.’ Sarah sags back in her chair, relief etched across her face. ‘I used to think Jamie was good for you, especially after . . . well, you know.’ She doesn’t say Flynn, but yeah, I know.
‘But these last few years, he’s started to take you for granted, and it all seems to be about him.’ She sighs. ‘I wish Scott could see that.’
‘They’ve been best friends for years. And Scott does work for Jamie’s dad,’ I remind her. ‘That makes it a lot harder for him to say no.’
Scott took over as lead agent at the Abbeyville office when Jamie decided he fancied sharing his skills on the London scene. Although, considering the office his dad found for him was in the back end of Dagenham, that didn’t turn out quite as glamorous as he’d hoped.
‘I suppose you’re right.’ Sarah rolls her eyes indulgently. ‘Especially as Seamus thinks the sun shines out of Jamie’s arse.’
‘I’m sure Olivia thinks it shines out of every pore.’ I slather a spoonful of strawberry jam across my toast and take a bite.
‘I can’t believe she’s moving back too. Talk about cheek.’
‘She does still work for them.’ I shrug and take another sip of coffee. ‘At least, I presume she does. I don’t suppose sleeping with the boss’s son counts as a fireable offence.’
‘I can’t believe he was so stupid.’ Sarah sniffs. ‘He’s probably keeping her on as backup in case he can’t persuade you to give him another chance.’
‘Well, she’s in luck so.’ I chew my lip.
‘Oh, Gracie, I’m sorry. She’s such a bitch.’
I shrug again. ‘I almost feel sorry for her. I think she’s had a crush on him since she started working there.’
‘Half the girls we went to school with had a crush on Jamie.’ Sarah’s nostrils flare. ‘But they didn’t sleep with him behind your back.’
‘As far as we know.’ I force a half-hearted grin and she gives me a sympathetic smile. If you asked me a year ago, I would have sworn Jamie would never do that. But I’m not sure of anything now.
‘You don’t want me to drop you back?’ Sarah asks as she stands in her doorway, facing onto the street. She holds out an upturned palm. ‘Feels like it might rain.’
I smile. ‘I’m only around the corner. I’ll be fine.’
‘And you’re sure you have everything? If you need any extra pots or pans—’
‘I’m sure. Oh, actually . . .’ My throat tightens around the words as I remember I don’t have everything. Jamie still has some of my belongings in London. ‘I left my books and some craft bits with Jamie. I couldn’t carry everything on the plane, and he’ll be driving back.’
I don’t add that I left in such a hurry, I forgot that most of my favourite books were still in a box under the bed.
We did have a bookshelf, but that was crammed with Jamie’s books on sales, and marketing, and how to win friends and influence people.
My ice cream-coloured covers didn’t fit. According to Jamie, at least.
‘He’d better bring them with him or he’s not setting foot inside this house.’
‘I’m sure he will,’ I say. And I mean it. Because it will look like he still cares. And maybe he does, just not enough to stay faithful, or stay in Oakwood, or ever put me first.
I’m about to walk away when Sarah’s eyes widen. She puckers her lips suggestively. ‘Oooh, verry nice.’ She points across the street to where Pat’s truck is parked, further down, outside his house, or what used to be his house, before he sold it to God knows who.
Flynn leans over the back, drops his toolbox into the truck bed, then he straightens and turns to face us.
He’s wearing a navy plaid shirt over a white T-shirt, and faded blue jeans that hug his thighs, and his sandy hair is all messy and windswept.
He looks like he should be chopping wood, or hiking up a mountain, or maybe even striding out of a lake. Wow.
Sarah arches her brows. ‘That’ll take your mind off Jamie.’
‘Stop.’ I grin as I nudge her arm with my elbow. ‘Don’t objectify my friend.’
As if I haven’t already spent way too much time drooling over him myself.
‘Me?’ She snorts. ‘I just saw you lick your lips.’
I’m about to protest when Flynn spots us and waves. ‘Hey, want a lift?’ he calls across to me. He strolls down the street towards us, and I feel like I’m watching in slow motion.
‘You’re a star,’ Sarah yells back. Then she smirks. ‘Gracie can give you a tour of her new lodgings.’ She presses her fingers to her lips like she might have spoken out of turn. She whips around and hisses in my ear. ‘You have told him, haven’t you?’
‘Yep,’ I say, as he starts to cross the road. ‘It’s okay, I’m coming,’ I call over, and he nods and doubles back. The last thing I need is Flynn and Sarah chatting before I’ve had a chance to explain to Flynn that I haven’t quite filled Sarah in yet.
‘See you later, honey,’ she calls after me. ‘Be good. And don’t worry, I’ll be over for lots of girlie nights.’ She yells louder, ‘I mean, it’s only fair. Now that you have that gorgeous, cosy cottage all to yourself, and I’m stuck here sharing with a boy.’
Flynn’s eyes flick to mine, but he doesn’t contradict her. He waves goodbye, then opens the passenger door and leans in close, his breath warm on my cheek as I climb in.
‘All to yourself, huh?’ He gives me a wry smile and my face heats.
Shit.
He climbs in the driver’s seat, rolls up his sleeves, and stretches his lean muscled arms across the steering wheel. And my whole body feels like it’s overheating now. I lower the window, lean out, and try to slow my racing breaths.
Flynn doesn’t say any more, just gives me a reassuring smile as we pull up outside Hazel Cottage.
‘I should have told her,’ I say quietly. ‘And I will. It’s just . . . Jamie.’
‘It’s okay.’ He grips the steering wheel tighter. ‘You don’t need to explain. It’s none of my business.’
My stomach hollows. There was a time we used to tell each other everything. Well, almost everything. But even if Flynn doesn’t care, I still feel the need to explain.
I stare down at my lap, at my hands clasped like I’m saying some sort of prayer. ‘The problem is Sarah will tell Scott, and Scott will tell Jamie, and I’m not sure when he’s coming back. But I need a few days to get my head together, to figure out how to deal with him when he does.’
Flynn leans across and tilts my face with his fingertips, angling me towards him as he says, ever so softly, like he’s worried his words might break me, ‘You two are finished, Gracie.’ His eyes are like lake water lapping my face. ‘So, you moving in here has nothing to do with him.’