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Why was he talking to his cousin and ex? He’d told her he didn’t talk to his cousin anymore. She frowned. Unless they hadn’t travelled down with the aunt and uncle. Maybe these were different cousins? Or friends?
She tapped her toe against the water, little ripples travelling across the surface. Should she go and speak to him? Let him know she was there? It would seem odd if they walked back this way, and he noticed her. He’d wonder why she hadn’t gone up to him. Or if she left and Graham spotted her leaving, he’d think that was odd, too. Besides, she wanted to see him. She wanted to see if he was feeling better. If he had been feeling ill in the first place, that was.
Yep, she’d go and see him. She looked across at them. They’d stopped anyway, deep in discussion by the looks of it. Yes, this was her chance to catch up with him. Shaking the water from her trainers, she made her way across the sand, being sure to plaster a smile on her face as she approached them.
She only had a couple of metres to go to reach them now. She could hear them talking, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying, not that she was trying to. They were likely chatting about the upcoming wedding. Graham looked a little off, though. His shoulders were sunken, his hands shoved in his pockets, and she couldn’t hear his voice. It was as though he was listening to what was being said rather than being a part of the actual conversation.
Layla slowed her pace as she approached them.
Graham suddenly turned and paused, face to face with Layla. ‘Layla?’
‘Hi, I saw you all come down onto the beach and thought I’d come say hi.’ She glanced back towards the spot she’d been standing in, suddenly hoping he didn’t think she’d been watching him from the street or anything. ‘I was over there.’
‘Hi, Layla.’ Harry held his hand up in recognition.
Layla greeted him before turning her attention back to Graham. ‘I just wondered how you were feeling now?’
Looking back at the small group of people, Graham held his hand out, indicating they should walk. ‘I was just heading back to Harry’s.’
‘Oh right. You’re still not well then?’ She frowned. No hug or kiss, nothing to suggest he was happy to see her. If it had been yesterday, they’d have been holding hands right now. Or have their arms wrapped around each other’s waist as they walked. She followed him up the ramp, back onto the cobbled street.
Graham stopped and turned, glancing back at his brother and the couple below on the beach before looking at her. ‘I’m sorry. I need some space.’
‘Some space?’ What was he saying? She bit down on her bottom lip. She knew what he was saying. ‘Why? Because of Eli?’
‘No, yes. Partly.’ He looked across at Harry and the couple again. The woman looked back at him before turning her attention to the other man again.
‘That’s your ex, isn’t it? And your cousin. I didn’t think you spoke to him?’ It wasn’t any of her business. She knew that.
‘I didn’t. Harry’s been trying to smooth things over before the wedding. He doesn’t want any hard feelings on the day.’ Graham looked down at the ground, running his hand across the back of his neck. ‘He wasn’t going to invite them, but I insisted. Harry and Paul, my cousin, used to be close before... everything. I didn’t want Harry to miss out on having family here.’
‘But now you’re finding it difficult?’ She reached out and placed her hand on his arm.
‘Not especially. Maybe.’ He sighed and looked up at her again. ‘I’m so sorry, but I just need a little space. A bit of time to work things out in my own mind.’
She nodded slowly, a lump forming in her throat. ‘You don’t trust me either. Because of Eli, you don’t trust me.’
Graham’s eyes lingered on her before he shook his head. ‘It’s not that. I promise. It’s me. I’m sorry.’
Layla swallowed, trying to blink back the tears stinging the backs of her eyes. ‘I’m not like that, you know.’
‘I know, I...’
Spinning around on her heels, Layla half-ran and half-walked back to the bakery and pulled the door open. She closed it quickly behind her, locking it securely. What had just happened? Putting one foot in front of the other, she walked across to the closest table and sank into a chair. The door to the flat opened and a wave of laughter spread through the bakery, quickly subsiding.
‘Layla, love. What on earth’s happened?’ Elsie hurried across to her.
Layla shrugged as she felt Elsie hug her around her shoulders. ‘Graham wants a break.’
‘Oh, love.’ Slipping into the chair opposite her, Elsie placed her hands over hers.
‘Can I get you both a cuppa?’ Ian spoke softly, quietly.
‘No, love. You get off and go and see Brooke and Max. I’ll stay with Layla.’ Elsie patted Layla’s hands.
‘No, I’ll be okay. You go.’ Drawing her hands away, Layla wiped the back of her hand across her face in an attempt to dry the tears.
‘I’ll get the cuppas first.’ Ian’s voice was kind, decisive.
