Page 57 of Dead in the Water

“Well, you were ignoring me,” he said, as though that made it okay.

“Yes, I was! Because I didn’t want to see you or speak to you. Which is my decision. You don’t get to stalk me just because you’re not getting what you want.” Stopping in front of the shop door, Lily’s blood pumped furiously.

Flynn shoved his hands into his pockets. “Yeah,” he said, eyes on the ground. “That’s fair. I’m sorry. But…”

“But what?” she prompted when he fell silent.

“You didn’t let me explain things properly.”

“I didn’t need to. You’re moving back to London soon, so there’s no point in us getting into anything. That’s it, right? What else is there to explain?”

He started to speak, but stopped himself and took a breath. A muscle in his jaw twitched. “Do you really not want to see me, or speak to me? Aren’t we friends?”

She twisted her lips, the question causing a battle to rage inside of her. Part of her didn’t want anything to do with him. But the bigger part of her craved his company, and his friendship.

Her conversation with Maria sprang to mind and she longed to tell him all about it.

The trouble was, she wanted more than he did. She didn’t know if she could deal with just being friends with him.

“I think I just need some space,” she said, her voice brittle.

He scuffed the toe of his shoe on the concrete. “Okay.” He pushed his fingers through his hair and looked for a moment as though he might say more. “Goodnight,” he whispered before he turned and walked away.

Lily fought the urge to call him back. They could just be friends and she could invite him in and tell him all about herconversation with Maria, and everything that had happened in the last two days.

In the end, she stayed silent and let herself into her lonely flat.

Chapter Twenty-Six

As Lily carriedthe tables and chairs outside the following morning, a hunched figure wandered out of the Cookie Jar with a takeaway cup in her hand. Joyce exuded sorrow as though it was a part of her personality, though presumably it wasn’t her usual state. Head bent, she didn’t wander far onto the beach before sitting on the sand.

Lily hastily straightened out the chairs before walking over to her.

“Morning!” she said, hoping her cheerful demeanour might cancel out some of Joyce’s sadness. “How are you?”

“Fine,” Joyce said, pushing a wayward grey curl behind her ear.

“It’s such a lovely morning. The sea air is invigorating.”

“I suppose it is.” Joyce eased the plastic lid from her takeaway coffee.

“Where’s Keith this morning?”

“Helping James on the boat.”

“Ah.” She softened her tone as she sank onto the sand beside Joyce. “How’s he doing?”

“About as well as you’d expect for someone who’s lost two parents in the space of a year.” Her chin wobbled and she put ahand over her mouth to cover it. “He’s sorting through Joseph’s things, but I couldn’t face being there.”

“It must be so hard.” Lily gave Joyce a sympathetic pat on her arm.

“Everything just feels such a mess. Two years ago, we were six friends planning all these adventures for our retirement years. Now Lisa and Joseph are gone, and all the dreams are falling apart.”

“It must all feel like a shock at the moment, but you’ll still get your travels. I know it won’t be the same, but I’m sure Joseph and his wife wouldn’t want you to give up on your dreams because of them.”

“I don’t know what will happen.” She sighed and replaced the lid on her cup before setting it on the sand. “Cancer is such an awful disease.”

“Were you and Joseph’s wife very close?”

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