Page 50 of Strawberry Kisses

Chapter Twenty-Two

Patrick

I loved my family, but after almost four days, I was ready to go home.

They were amazing, and it had been great to see them again, but I missed the freedom of my own house and my own kitchen. I hadn’t been allowed to cook anything, and this was the longest I’d gone without cooking in years. My fingers were starting to get itchy.

Plus, I knew if I stayed much longer it was likely I’d get dragged into Mary’s wedding venue schemes, and I knew there would be the inevitable questions of why didn’t I move home and run a catering business here. I didn’t really want to have to explain that while I loved my family, that wasn’t really my dream.

Besides, I knew that if Mary and I ended up working in close quarters we’d probably drive each other nuts. I’d take Aaron’s swearing and shouting any day because at least I could tell him where to shove it when he really annoyed me. I knew it sounded selfish, but I loved The Pear Tree and my kitchen there. It was a space I’d carved out for myself, and I couldn’t see myself leaving it.

The other reason I’d never move was because Connor’s life was in Nottingham. There was no way I was giving up our friendship to move to the wilds of Devon. I don’t think I’d be able to do it if I tried. After this weekend, I was going to have trouble giving Connor up at all.

We’d shifted into this weird twilight zone relationship where we weren’t really dating but we’d gone beyond friendship. Unless friendship meant giving your friend a blowjob in the shower or a slow, teasing handjob in bed when you’d just woken up, in which case I’d think we were living in a porn world instead of reality. Neither of us had said anything about it. It was like we were just waiting for this weekend to be over and the other shoe to drop.

I wasn’t sure what would happen when it did.

I tried not to think about it as I shoved the last of our bags into the boot of the car. Without the cakes there was a lot more room, although my mum had tried to send us home with a mountain of food. I wasn’t even sure where half of it had come from since there hadn’t been many leftovers from the party. There’d been a little bit of the extra sheet cake leftover by Sunday night, but Connor and Da had happily polished that off.

Connor’s logic had been that it was fine to have cake with every meal, but I didn’t think I’d have been able to survive the sugar coma.

“Is that it?” I asked over my shoulder, watching Connor bounce across the yard holding a Tupperware tub. Lord only knew what was in it.

“Yes, we’re all good.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek as he passed me. “Your mum gave me some slices of barmbrack to keep me going.”

“You’ve only just had breakfast.”

“Well, this is for second breakfast. Car breakfast. It’s probably better for me than the chocolate twists you get at Costa.”

“When were you planning on getting any of those?” I asked in amusement.

“I was hoping you’d be lovely enough to stop at a services so I can get coffee.” Connor fluttered his eyelashes and smiled at me. I knew he was being deliberately over the top, but it was still adorable. And I had never been able to say no to him.

“I suppose, but the nearest one isn’t for a while.”

“That’s fine. I can wait. And at least if I get hungry, I already have a snack.”

I chuckled and shook my head as he placed the tub on the front seat. He laced his fingers with mine and we headed back towards the house to finish saying goodbye to my parents. Since it was a Monday, Mary had gone home the previous evening but not before giving us both giant hugs and making us promise to come and visit her soon.

Mum and Da had both been up early because even though they were supposed to be taking it easy these days, neither of them seemed to be slowing down. They were both in the kitchen with the dogs, and Mum swooped us both up in huge hugs.

“Don’t leave it so long next time, okay?” she said as she pressed a kiss to my cheek. “I know where you live, Patrick. If I have to, I’ll come to you. I’d like to visit your restaurant anyway.”

“Lord help us if you come to visit,” I said with a chuckle. Mum would definitely give Aaron a run for his money if they met. The first thing she’d probably ask him was why he swore so much. And why he’d ruined my cheesecake. She’d never let him forget that.

Mum muttered something to Connor I didn’t catch and gave him a kiss. It was sweet to see how my family had pretty much adopted him over the weekend. I knew he found it a little overwhelming, but I hoped he knew it came from a place of love. I’d have to keep my promise to Cara and bring him and his mum down for Christmas.

Da gave me a hug and told me to drive safe. “I’m proud of you, Patrick. I hope you know that.”

“Yeah, I do.” I tried not to let my voice get thick.

“You keep hold of that man. He’s perfect for you. I’ve never seen you as happy as I have these past four days.” Da smiled and squeezed my shoulder, and something inside my chest tightened.

“Thanks.”

“You take care now. Give us a call when you get home, or your mother’ll be in the car before I can stop her.”

“Will do.” I knew it was worth more than my life not to let mum know we’d gotten back safe. Da smiled and turned to Connor, giving him a hug and saying something while Mum asked me again if I wanted anything to eat or drink before I left.

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