Page 35 of The House on Waterfall Hill
‘Hey, I haven’t seen you all day. Are you OK?’ Flick asked and he hated the uncertainty in her eyes.
‘Yeah, I had to deliver the stag now that it’s finished and then I went shopping for some of the things that Polly needs for the café.’
‘Oh, I thought you were avoiding me,’ Flick laughed. ‘I even checked the cupboard a few times to see if you were hiding from me in there.’
He didn’t know how to answer that because although what he’d said about where he’d been was true he had deliberately done those things so he wouldn’t have to be around the studios and see her.
He sat down next to her. She looked out over the town and was quiet for a moment.
‘Big storm coming tonight,’ she said, clearly desperately trying to fill the awkward silence. ‘Eighty-mile-an-hour winds apparently. You wouldn’t think that was likely judging by how calm it is out there right now.’
He cleared his throat. ‘Yes, it’s going to be bad. I hope our wonky tree will be OK.’
‘Oh, that tree will be there forever.’
They lapsed into awkward silence again and he hated this. He wished he could take that kiss back although he knew in his heart he couldn’t regret the best damn kiss of his life.
‘How has today been?’ she asked gently. ‘I’ve been thinking about you. Did you go to your mum’s grave?’
He hated lying. The lie about the flowers had slipped off the tongue so easily the night before to save his embarrassment but he wasn’t going to dine out on the lie just to get himself some sympathy.
To his surprise, she slipped her hand into his. ‘If you want to talk about it, I’m here for you.’
Enough was enough.
‘Flick, I lied about the flowers.’
Her face fell and she quickly removed her hand. ‘What?’
‘It’s not her birthday today, not even close. And she doesn’t even have a grave, she was cremated and her ashes scattered in the sea, so even if I wanted to take her flowers, I’d have nowhere to do that.’
Hurt filled her eyes. ‘Why would you lie over something like that?’
‘I didn’t do it for sympathy if that’s what you’re thinking. You asked me about the flowers and I had to come up with a lie and that was the first thing I thought of. If I’d had more time I’d have said they were for a sick friend or something. I didn’t realise you were going to be all sweet and lovely and sympathetic about it. I’m sorry.’
‘I don’t understand. Why would you need to lie about the flowers in the first place?’
‘Because I bought them for you.’
Her eyes widened in shock and he couldn’t face any more questions so he got up and went back downstairs. But she was hot on his heels and she caught up with him just as he was heading towards his bedroom.
‘Luke, why did you buy me flowers?’
He sighed. The can of worms was well and truly open now. He might as well give the can a good shake and empty out all the worms for her to see.
‘Because I like you, a lot more than I should. And not just because of the earth-shattering kiss, but because you’re lovely and kind and like sunshine on a rainy day.And because you like me for who I am not… other reasons.’
She stared at him in confusion. ‘But last night you said you didn’t want to kiss me anymore.’
‘I said I didn’t want tofakekiss you anymore. I was going to ask you out on a real date. Hence the dinner and the flowers.’
She stared at him in horror. Well there was his answer.
‘You… you were going to ask me out? For real?’
‘Yes.’
‘But… you’re moving. To the Isle of Skye. That’s nearly fourteen hours away. I checked.’
