Page 14 of Always Be My Pumpkin

‘No. Not yet. I’m going to start on that next week, while Pat’s in Spain.’

‘Is he selling the house too?’

‘I’m not sure. He said he’d tell me more when he gets back. Whatever he has planned seems to be all very confidential at the moment, and he said he didn’t want anyone putting pressure on me to tell all while he’s away.’

‘Oh.’

‘Not you, Gracie. He didn’t mean you.’

‘Okay.’

I hope whatever they have planned doesn’t affect our library. Our narrow two-storey is squeezed between Pat’s grander Georgian and his even larger plant shop with its collection of sheds and greenhouses running behind. It’s all prime retail space.

Flynn’s eyes sweep my face. ‘Don’t worry. You know Pat wouldn’t sell to anybody who doesn’t have the best interests of Oakwood at heart. Don’t you?’

I swallow. ‘Sure. I know.’

I don’t want to offend Flynn, or Pat, but I’m not sure at all, because between Jamie cheating, and Flynn reappearing, and stirring up all these mixed-up unrequited feelings, I don’t know if I can be sure of anything any more.

Flynn drains the last of his tea and fixes those cornflower eyes on mine, his expression turning even more serious. ‘Gracie, why are you here?’

I drop my eyes to where my hands are gripping my mug like a lifeline, and my cheeks flame from the sheer embarrassment of it all. ‘Because I don’t have anywhere else to go.’ I meet his gaze again, and he stares at me blankly.

‘That doesn’t make sense.’ He frowns. ‘Why aren’t you staying with your mom? You two always got on so well.’

‘Mam’s away until the end of October. She rented her house out to friends while she’s gone. They’re moving and their new place won’t be ready until the week before Halloween.’ My shoulders sag. ‘And they have five kids, so there’s no way they can squeeze me in.’

‘Oh, so that’s why you’re staying at Sarah’s. But why can’t you just go back there?’

‘Because Jamie—’

‘Jamie.’ Flynn’s eyebrows arch. ‘Of course. You told me. But surely his father can find him a place. He owns a whole chain of estate agencies. Doesn’t he?’

‘Yeah.’ I chew my bottom lip, twist the sleeve of my cardi. ‘Actually, Jamie has a place, but he’s getting some work done, and it won’t be ready for a few weeks.’

‘So, you thought you’d move him in here?’ Flynn clenches his jaw, and his eyes are so cold, like I’ve never seen them before. What the hell is happening? Where’s the sweet, gentle boy I used to know?

‘No!’ My throat burns, and I sit very still. I am not going to cry. I cried enough over Flynn Anderson, and I’m definitely not going to let him see me cry now. Only, my body doesn’t seem to have got the memo, and I can already feel one warm salty tear trickling down my face.

‘Gracie.’ Flynn looks shocked, and he reaches out to touch my hand, but he stops short, as though he’s decided at the last minute that’s not a good idea. Or maybe he just doesn’t want to touch me, which feels weird, and so hurtful, because Flynn and I were always comfortable with each other, and once upon a time he wouldn’t have thought twice about reaching out to take my hand if he thought I needed him.

‘We’re not together any more. And Scott told Jamie he could stay with them. And I can’t stay there if he’s there.’

‘You’re not together?’

‘No.’

‘Do you want to talk about it?’

‘No.’

‘Okay.’ Flynn’s eyes hold mine. ‘For what it’s worth, you’re way too good for him. You always were.’

I slouch in my chair as another tear starts to fall. Because all I can think is yeah, sure, but I wasn’t good enough for you.

I hear a low growl, and realise it’s coming from Flynn, from somewhere deep in his chest. ‘I hate that that bastard made you cry.’ He pulls his chair next to mine, wraps an arm around my shoulder, and says softly, ‘It’ll be okay, Gracie. I’ve got you. I promise. You can stay here for as long as you need.’

‘Don’t promise,’ I whisper into the soft flannel of his shirt.