Page 90 of Coming Up Roses
Friends only from this point forward.
If only I could figure out how to tell Abi, because while I’m hiding from her, I’m aware I’m being a shitty friend.
As well as avoiding Abi, I’ve also been avoiding everyone else. I went to see Violet after Hunter left to apologise for missing dinner. She reminded me I don’t need to apologise to her, like she has every time I’ve tried to be sorry for the times I’ve screwed up. Then she asked if I was okay and wrapped me in a long, tight hug, even though I told her I was fine.
I’ve been hiding from Olivia and Katie too. My best friends. Because I can’t bear to tell them what happened between me and Abi, but it feels weird to lie to them about it.
So, I’ve tied myself in such a huge knot I can’t unravel it.
And hiding from everyone in my life just means I’m even more lonely.
I sigh and tug on the wrench I’m using to tighten the hydraulic hose I’ve just replaced on the tractor. The wrench slips off the coupling and rebounds off my hand.
“Mother fucker!” I drop the wrench, barely missing my foot, but at least I have steel cap boots on so that wouldn’t have hurt as much as hitting my hand with it does.
“Flynn?” Fuck. Olivia. Come on, Universe. That was shitty timing. I can’t exactly hide from her now.
“Yeah,” I croak through the pain and she rounds the corner of the implement shed, face filled with concern.
“Areyou okay?”
I nod. “Wrench slipped. Hit my hand.” I’ve been pressing my other hand over the site of the injury, thinking applying pressure would help a bruise. I have no idea if that’s true, but it’s helping steady me.
“Need some ice?” She steps closer, takes my arm and pries my uninjured hand away. She inspects the red mark on my skin. It’s already looking a bit purple. “Yes. Ice. Come on.”
She doesn’t release my arm and leads me gently to the side-by-side. I climb in beside her, knowing arguing is worthless. When Olivia’s set her mind on something there isn’t much point trying to change it.
Maybe I’ll get a muffin out of it or something. Some real food at the bare minimum. I’m not exactly enjoying living off a loaf of bread and jar of peanut butter. But to get the good meals I have to be around all the people I’m trying to avoid.
Olivia zooms down the driveway to the main house and I follow her inside. She goes straight to the freezer and grabs an icepack, wrapping it in a tea towel, then pressing it against my hand.
I hiss and try to take the icepack from her. “I can do it.”
“I know but let me.”
Weird, but okay, I’ll indulge her. We sit at the kitchen table, my hand on the table with Olivia holding the icepack over it.
“What’s up, Flynny?” she whispers after a long, awkward silence.
“Nothing,” I sigh, running my free hand through my hair.
“Oh, yeah, sure. That’s so convincing. Obviously you’re fantastic.” She spins her legs around so she’s facing me. I keepmy eyes firmly on the tabletop. “Something’s up. You’re avoiding everyone. You haven’t even come down for food.”
I keep trying to cut her off, to argue, but she steamrolls over me every single time.
“I’m your best friend. You’re bound by law to tell me what’s going on.”
“By law?” I shoot her a sceptical look, then refocus on the table. The wood grain here is super interesting.
“Yes. The official law of my life.” She grins and I roll my eyes.
“It’s nothing, Liv.”
She lets out a heavy breath. “Fine. But you know I’m always here for you if you need to talk about shit. Always, Flynn.”
The words leave my mouth before I have a chance to catch them, or even filter them. “I slept with Abi.”
My cheeks flame hot and I know how aggressive my blush will be right now. Oh my god. I can’t believe I just threw that out there. I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone, let along the person who holds both our jobs in her hands. What if, despite all outward signs of peace, things aren’t actually good between Abi, Dallas and Katie? Have I just fucked us both over?
