Page 65 of Always Be My Pumpkin

‘It has nothing to do with Olivia,’ I say, my voice tight. ‘Jamie told Moll and Barty that Flynn was bullying Pat into giving him the shop so he could sell it on to this make-believe plastics company.’

Scott’s jaw drops. ‘That’s crazy. I doubt Flynn has ever bullied anyone in his life.’ He goes quiet for a bit, then adds, ‘I’ve gotten to know him better these last few weeks at training. He’s a good guy.’

‘I know.’ I sigh, but I don’t say any more. There’s no point telling Scott that Jamie was the one who supplied the paint, paid hard cash to vandalise Pat’s shop. At least, not until the festival is over. It would ruin the Samhain session for him and Sarah, maybe for everyone, and besides, I’ve had more than enough drama for one night.

‘But how could Jamie know about Pat signing over to Flynn?’ Sarah clenches her fists, grits her teeth. ‘If he’s been snooping around my office, I’ll kill him.’

‘He wouldn’t.’ Scott gulps. ‘Would he?’

I shrug. ‘It could be just a guess, or maybe Pat told Seamus.’

‘Well, he can get the rest of his stuff out of our place tonight.’ Sarah sets her jaw, fixes her eyes on Scott. ‘No wonder he left that heap of crap on the kitchen table. What a great excuse to keep dropping back to snoop.’

‘Actually, that was Seamus.’ Scott shrugs. ‘I asked him last week at work if he had any old clippings or photos we could use for the team’s ten-year reunion. I knew he kept everything, and he had a look in Jamie’s old bedroom too.’ He rolls his eyes. ‘Of course, Jamie had every newspaper clipping that praised him, just like I knew he would.’

Sarah gives a derisive snort. ‘Yes, and if he knows you have them, it’ll be the perfect excuse to come back and have another snoop in my office.’

‘You’re right.’ Scott takes a swig of his pint and gives Sarah a peck on the cheek. ‘I’ll go get them now.’

‘Finish your drink first.’ She shakes her head with a smile. ‘Jamie can wait.’ She leans across the table. ‘And put him out of your head, Gracie. Don’t let him get to you. He’s not worth it.’

Scott’s eyes fill with concern. ‘But you’ve moved on too. You’re with Flynn now. Aren’t you?’

Aargh. I groan into my hands. I know he means well, and Sarah does too. But I’m so tired of them assuming Flynn wants to be with me when they really don’t have a clue.

‘No, I am not with Flynn. I am most definitely not with Flynn.’ This comes out way louder than I mean it to, but I don’t care. Maybe now they’ll listen. And actually hear what I’m trying to say.

‘Gracie,’ Sarah says slowly, like a warning, and I huff out a sigh in frustration.

‘Sarah,’ I say, equally slowly, as I glare down at the cardboard coaster I’m tearing in half. ‘I told you. I’m fine. Jamie can feck off to Australia with Olivia, and Flynn can feck off back to Cricket Falls to Natalie. I don’t need either of them. I’m perfectly happy on my own.’

I definitely mean it about Jamie, and I hope, if I tell myself often enough, I might eventually believe that about Flynn too. Probably not, but they do say fake it till you make it, and it’s at least worth a shot.

I lift my head to face Sarah and Scott and my blood runs cold in my veins. They’re sitting across from me, silent and slack-jawed. And Jamie’s directly behind them, looming over Scott’s shoulder with a smug look on his face. He must have some dark magic thing going on. Every time I mention his name he appears out of nowhere before I’ve barely had time to blink. He straightens and smirks at me, and, of course, puffs out his chest.

I jump out of my seat, fists curled at my hips. ‘I need to talk to you. Outside.’ I jerk my thumb over my shoulder towards the side door. I’m so cross with Jamie, but I don’t want an audience, and there’s no point spoiling everyone else’s weekend.

‘Sure.’ He arches his brows. ‘My pleasure.’

I’m about to ask what the hell is wrong with him when I realise that Scott and Sarah aren’t looking at Jamie. Or me. They’re still slack-faced, staring at something, or someone, over my shoulder. I twist around to see what the matter is.

My breath catches in my chest and I feel like I’m frozen in time. Flynn’s leaning in the doorway, brow furrowed, hand tugging at his dripping wet hair. He looks soaked to the skin. Oh God. How long has he been standing there? How much has he heard?

‘Flynn.’ My throat’s thick, my head’s reeling. And I can’t think of a single right word to say. I just stand and stare.

But Jamie has no trouble finding his voice. ‘Did you not hear what Gracie said?’ he bellows at Flynn. ‘Piss off back to the States and leave her alone like she asked you to.’

Flynn doesn’t seem to hear him. He stands staring at me, still tugging his hair, and shaking his head, barely, but I catch it. He looks even more stunned than I am.

The only person that seems to have any clue what to say or do is Scott. He leaps over the back of the timber bench and plants himself in front of Jamie.

‘Out!’ he yells, and Jamie flinches in shock. It’s probably the first time Scott has ever yelled at him. It might be the first time Scott has yelled at anyone. He places his palm on Jamie’s chest and pushes, and Jamie blinks in disbelief and inches back.

‘Get out into the back bar and stay there,’ Scott says, his voice quieter now but his tone deadly serious. Jamie flicks his eyes to Flynn and clenches his jaw, but then he turns and storms out through the arch.

‘Flynn,’ I say again, willing him to come closer, to say something, anything.

He lowers his head, shakes it ever so slightly, and then looks up, straight at me. ‘So, it really was just a shag.’