Page 6 of Finlay

To this day, I didn’t know where I’d found the courage to walk away from Matt. To pack up my entire life and relocate hundreds of miles away. To open the business I’d always dreamed of but hadn’t had the funds to invest in. I’d trained in floristry at college, even working in a few shops in Yorkshire. I’d dreamed of moving to Scotland eventually. My parents had lived there in their youth. My very earliest memories were of them telling me stories about theHighlands. Using their words to paint a landscape too beautiful to be real.

They were the only type of memories I had of my parents—the early ones.

Those dreams had been put on hold when I met Matt online. He’d convinced me to uproot my whole life and move down south with him. It seemed so romantic at the time. I’d been searching for my person for so long, and there he was. Relocating to be with him seemed like the logical option.

Looking back, I could see how naive I’d been. How desperate I was for the love and affection that Matt seemed to offer. For the relief from the loneliness that had choked me since Gran’s death. The yearning for someone to call my own, for someone to love me.

I’d been so wrong.

Matt hadn’t shown his true colours at first. He was far too cunning for that. No, he’d made sure I was fully isolated from my previous life before manipulating me into the man he wanted me to be.

Matt had never loved me. I knew that now. It didn’t matter that I’d loved him. That I’d given up my life because he’d asked me to. I’d even chosen a boring call centre job over one at a florist because he said it was more suitable. More stable.

I’d been so fucking weak. Six foot three and built like a brick shithouse, and I’d let that man bend and manipulate me as easily as a paper clip.

I thought I’d never break free.

Somehow though, it had happened. One call from a solicitor had changed it all. He’d informed me that I’d been left a large sum of money from a distant uncle calledCal.Along with that, the inheritance included the florist shop, as well as a house on Loch Bunachton.

We’d been eating lunch in a restaurant when I got the call. Well, Matt had been eating. I’d been pushing salad leaves around on my plate, trying to tune out his snide comments about my size. Once upon a time, I’d thought my burly figure was something he found attractive. I knew better by that point.

I had no recollection of leaving the restaurant after the call. I was fairly certain I hadn’t bothered to say goodbye to Matt or break up with him first. It was so unlike me. Looking back, I still couldn’t believe I’d done it.

But I had.

Twenty-four hours later, I’d been on my way to Scotland.

It had all happened so fast. A whirlwind, really. And I hadn’t questioned it either. For the first time in my life, I’d just gone with the flow.

Still, there were many things about my inheritance that puzzled me. For a start, both my parents had been only children. Cal wasn’t a name I could ever remember being mentioned, not by them or by Gran. It could’ve been a great-uncle, I supposed—maybe on my Grandad’s side? Without any living relatives to ask, it was difficult to find out more.

I felt bad for Cal though. I’d never met him, yet he’d single-handedly made all my dreams come true. The thought that he’d died having to leave everything to a stranger, that he didn’t have anyone else in his life…that broke my heart.

It hadn’t escaped me that I was in the same situation. If I died tomorrow, everything would go to the government. There was no one for me to leave anything to. All my familywere gone and, thanks to Matt, I wasn’t in contact with any of my old friends. I had Reid, but he was an employee more than a friend. Although not for his lack of trying.

It was my fault. I couldn’t let anyone close. Not after Matt. Even with how alone I felt, I just couldn’t do it.

I tried not to let it bother me, the loneliness. But there was no denying how it snuck up on me in the quiet moments. How it crept around my throat at night, pulling tight until I choked.

There was nothing I could do about it. What was more, there was nothing Iwantedto do. I’d learned the hard way what happened when you let people close. They either died or tried to control you. Being alone sucked, but it was better than the alternatives. I’d take that every day over losing someone.

Or over losing myself.

The door thudding open announced Reid’s arrival a few seconds before his chirpy voice rang out. “Good morning!”

I grunted in greeting. “Funeral deliveries are ready. Addresses are on the cards. When you’re back, you can make a start on the shopfront displays.”

I winced internally at my tone. I never used to be grumpy. My voice used to be full of life. I used to befunny; someone people enjoyed being around.

I wasn’t any of those things now. Matt had erased them, leaving just a hollow shell where the real Chester used to exist.

I hadn’t even realised it had happened until after I left. Until I started to interact with people without Matt at my side. Until I looked in the mirror and saw a stranger staring back.

“I had a great night, thanks,” Reid said, as though I hadn’t spoken. As always, he didn’t let my gruffness deterhim. “You should really come out in Inverness with me some time.”

“No thanks,” I said shortly. I disappeared to the cooler to select the flowers I needed for the bridal bouquet that was next on my list. I dawdled far longer than necessary, hoping Reid would’ve left in the meantime.

When I could delay no more, I returned to see my luck wasn’t in. Reid was perched on the counter, his legs crossed beneath him. He was eating a Pop-Tart. Not an odd choice for breakfast, but he hadn’t bothered to heat it. No, he was eating it straight from the packet.

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