‘Oh.’ She didn’t know what else to say and immediately felt sad for him.
Will’s dark eyes slowly met hers. ‘I never felt I belonged anywhere.’
She knew how that felt. ‘I understand.’
His expression held sympathy and confusion. ‘I guess I’ve spent most of my life wishing I had a family — I never stopped to think that if I had one it might not be all rainbows and moonbeams.’
Ginny breathed out a soft laugh. ‘No, not all families have that.’ Her smile faded. ‘Mine didn’t.’
‘That bad, huh?’
She lowered her gaze. ‘I don’t really talk about it.’ Shrugging, she added, ‘Don’t see the point.’
‘A therapist would probably tell you it helps to get crap off your chest.’
‘Did joining the navy help you lose all the crap?’
Will raised his palms, then dropped them back to the table. ‘I don’t know. It gave me a family, but each time I was on leave, I was reminded I had no one.’
Ginny shuffled so she was leaning closer to him. ‘You’ll feel a sense of family here. I do.’
‘But you do have a family here.’
‘Just my mum. My dad left when I was a nipper, and he’s dead now. I do have a brother, but he lives in Yorkshire, and he rarely comes back.’ She swallowed the lump in her throat, then met his curious eyes. ‘In all honesty, I wish I’d run away with the navy years ago.’
Will’s hand was suddenly covering hers. ‘You’re tougher than that, Ginny.’
She didn’t agree. ‘I’m tired, Will,’ she said so softly, her voice cracked.
‘Hey, whatever you need, I’m here.’
The words, the tone, the look in his gentle eyes all caused Ginny’s breath to catch. There was no way she was crying. Nope. Wasn’t happening. She managed a weak smile as she thanked him.
‘I mean it, Gin. I’ll help.’ The corner of his mouth twitched. ‘I’m beating the Scouts with all this volunteering malarkey, so don’t stop me now.’
‘Yes, you are a busy bee.’
‘It helps me as well as them. I won’t lie, I do feel the loneliness when left to my own company for too long, and one day is too long.’
Ginny gave his hand a light squeeze. ‘We sound like a right pair.’
Will’s thumb lightly stroked across her finger. ‘At least we can keep each other occupied.’
‘Oh, is that right?’
His eyes widened in horror. ‘Oh no, that’s not what I meant. Please, excuse me while I go stick my head in a bucket.’ He burst out laughing, sliding back into his chair, taking his warm hand with him.
Ginny wished she had the guts to shoot forward and snatch it back. His hand on hers felt so right.
‘Sorry about that,’ he added, shaking his head. ‘I sounded like some sort of sleaze.’
‘No, you didn’t. It’s okay.’
He smiled as he reached out for his tea. ‘Glad we got that sorted. It’s good we’re friends.’
Friends?
‘Uh-huh.’ Ginny sniffed, then chewed the inside of her mouth while thinking what to say. She thought they had chemistry, but it must have been something else, seeing how he just tossed her straight in the friend zone. Maybe it was for the best.
