Page 23 of Always Be My Pumpkin

Oh shit, did I just let out that moan?

I clear my throat. ‘Sure. Why not? I think we’ve both earned it.’

Yep, that sounds reasonable. Not horny in the least. And not bothered by what he said earlier about Jamie. Even though I am. Horny, and bothered, and confused. But there’s no way I can let Flynn see that. Because we’re only starting to find our way back to being real friends again, and I do not want to mess that up.

‘Just the one,’ I say with a lilt in my tone, and my most platonic smile plastered across my face. ‘I volunteered to take story time tomorrow and those kids take no prisoners.’

‘Sure. Good plan.’ Flynn grabs two glasses from the shelf and peers at the bottle. ‘Warm and spicy with luscious blackberry. How’s that sound?’

‘Perfect.’ My voice is upbeat. Cheery.

He fills a glass to the two-thirds mark and hands it to me. ‘If you’re only having one, you might as well make it a large one.’ He fills his own to the same level, drops down on the rug, and leans against the couch by my feet. ‘I’ll just have one too, I don’t want to risk missing story time.’ He grins. ‘Please tell me you’ll wear your pumpkin costume.’

I nudge his shoulder with my foot. ‘I think we should get you your own costume if you’re that obsessed. Which one would you like?’

He laughs and clinks my glass. ‘Well, you’re happy, so that’s gone. And I’m definitely not sad. Not any more.’ He fake frowns. ‘And I hope I’m not grumpy.’

My brows lift. ‘Flynn, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you grumpy.’ I giggle. ‘Well, apart from that time when you accused me of stealing your bed.’ I take a sip of my wine and lick my lips. ‘Yum, this is delicious, thanks.’

He takes a sip too and tips his head back as he savours it.

‘I think you should be sleepy,’ I tell him. ‘You know you conk out like a light every night as soon as your head hits that pillow.’

‘Do I now?’ His tone is light and teasing, eyes twinkling as he turns to face me, elbow resting on the edge of the couch, just inches from my bare feet. My skin tingles at the closeness. But I ignore that. I have to.

‘How do you know?’ He hikes his brow. ‘Do you sneak down to check up on me?’

‘Yeah, sure, and then I sit on that fireside chair for hours and watch you sleep. And listen to you snore.’ I scrunch my nose in mock disgust. Even though I’ve never heard him snore.

‘Do I snore? Honestly?’ Flynn takes another slow sip of his wine. ‘Because nobody’s ever mentioned it before. Of course, nobody’s ever sat watching and listening to me sleep, as far as I know.’ His mouth twists in a teasing grin. ‘Until now.’

‘Oh really?’ I reach out and scruff his hair. A friendly scruff. ‘I popped down once or twice for a glass of water. But I wasn’t watching you, I promise.’ Well, not for long.

Then I scoff, ‘But judging by the adoring comments she makes on her Insta posts, I’d say that girlfriend of yours has lain awake plenty of nights gazing at you like a lovesick puppy.’

Flynn jerks his head. ‘What girlfriend?’

‘Meghan, isn’t it? I presume you only have the one.’

‘How do you know about Meghan?’ He looks uneasy, and now I feel uneasy too.

‘She’s always posting about the two of you,’ I say. ‘I don’t follow her or anything, but she tags you and sometimes it pops up on my feed.’

I feel guilty all of a sudden, like I have been spying on him.

He buries his face in his hands and shakes his head. ‘I’m such a shit.’

‘Huh?’ That’s the last thing I was expecting.

He lifts his head again. ‘Is she really still doing that? Sorry, I’m not on social media much. And I haven’t checked anything since I got here.’

I think back. ‘Actually, there’s only been one post since then.’

He reaches for his phone and starts scrolling, and I lean in and try not to make it too obvious that I’m focusing on his screen. He frowns as he pauses on an image. Flynn and his parents with another older couple, and Meghan, centre stage, with her arm hooked through Flynn’s. Her head is tilted towards him, almost resting on his shoulder, but not quite. It looks like they’re outdoors at a barbecue and Meghan’s all perky with a gleaming white smile.

Now that I lean closer, there’s something forced about her expression and that grin doesn’t reach her eyes. And Flynn just looks really uncomfortable, as though he’d rather be anywhere else. I watch his face pale as he stares at the image, and my eyes land on the highlighted text at the bottom of his screen. Always hold on to your dream.

‘That was taken ages ago.’ He drops his phone on the rug and drags his hands through his hair. ‘Damn, I thought I got through to her last time we talked.’