Page 99 of Daydreaming at the Boathouse Cafe

‘What’s the matter?’ he asked sharply. ‘You look upset.’

‘Is it your folks?’ asked Jake. ‘I thought you were getting on alright with them.’

Alex shook his head. ‘Sean has returned.’

His words came out at a croak, hoarse with emotion.

Ben and Jake looked shocked.

‘What? Why?’ asked Jake.

‘I have no idea,’ said Alex, feeling as if he had been run over. He was all out of emotion – rage or jealousy were so far removed from the numbness he was currently feeling. ‘I think they’ve been texting each other.’

‘I’ll kill him,’ said Jake, scowling.

Alex shook his head. ‘It doesn’t matter if it’s who she wants.’

‘OK, I’m confused,’ said Ben, running a hand through his hair. ‘Talk me through it and quickly.’

‘One minute I was telling her that I love her,’ mumbled Alex. ‘The next, he came in. She didn’t seem shocked to see him.’

‘You love her?’ asked Ben.

Alex nodded.

‘Oh, mate, that’s amazing,’ said Jake, before he frowned. ‘Wait a minute, if you do love her, then what are you doing in here on your own? Why aren’t you with Hannah?’

‘She went outside with Sean,’ Alex told them, shrugging his shoulders. ‘I don’t know. Maybe I just imagined the whole thing. The whole damn relationship. I’ve got to go and think.’

He turned around and walked out of the boathouse. Away from his friends, away from Hannah and the place where they had been so happy. His feet moved and he had no idea where he was going. He just hoped his heart didn’t hurt as much when he got there.

54

Hannah walked along the jetty with Sean and checked that they were alone before she turned to look at him.

‘What are you doing here?’ she asked.

‘Didn’t you get my texts?’ he asked.

‘I blocked your number,’ she told him.

‘Thought you were a bit quiet,’ he said, smiling. As if he wasn’t listening to a word she was saying. ‘Then it was the funniest thing. I googled your name, to see if you showed up anywhere on social media and this place came up. People raving about your cakes. And what a great baker you are. That was news to me, of course so I figured I’d come here and see for myself.’

She stared at him, barely registering his words. How had she never seen how small he looked? His greasy skin? His crumpled clothes. He was a stark contrast to Alex who was always brimming with good health.

She took a deep breath. ‘I don’t want you here,’ she told him.

He just smiled at her. ‘That doesn’t matter. I’ve decided that I want you back. That we should be together again. You’re a success apparently, although not as large as mine back in London, of course. So perhaps you’re good enough for me after all.’

‘I said that I don’t want you here,’ said Hannah, hearing how shaky her voice was. ‘I don’t want you full stop.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ snapped Sean. ‘I’ve told you that I want you. You’re coming home with me.’

‘You never listen to me,’ she said, becoming annoyed and glaring at him. ‘You don’t care about me. You never did. It was always about whatyouwanted. Whatyouneeded. What about me? Where do I fit in? You just kept me around to make you feel bigger and to keep me feeling small and worthless.’

‘Aren’t you?’ he asked, with a smug smile.

‘No!’ she shouted at him, beginning to feel angry. ‘I’m not worthless! I’m strong, talented, and people love me. You’re done frightening me!’