Page 25 of Kiss Me Ever After
Justin peered past me and waved at Si and Bryony. “Are we going to talk with me standing at the door or can I come in?”
“God, sorry. Yes.” I stepped to one side, and he brushed past me, a little closer than was absolutely necessary. The scent of his aftershave, citrus and woody, invaded my nostrils, and I almost swooned. I blamed it on the lack of sleep and raging hangover.
“I’m Justin. Lennon’s friend.” He held out his hand to Si.
While he did the introductions, I took the time to check him out. Dressed in jeans hung low on his hips and a tight fitting dark grey t-shirt which outlined his muscles, I practically drooled.
Get it together, Lennon. Remember, he ran out on you last night.
“Lennon, can you get Justin a drink?” Bryony called. “I’ll have a refill too.”
Her words snapped me back to reality, bringing me out of the Justin-infused daydream currently filling my head. “Sure.”
“Coffee, black, no sugar.” He turned and treated me to a wide smile. “Thanks.”
The three of them chatted as I made the drinks. Justin had taken the seat next to Si. I overheard him telling them about how he’d come by the previous afternoon and stepped in to stop the boys. An image of the knife flashed through my head. Would Justin tell them he got cut?
“I dread to think what might have happened if you hadn’t stopped by. Have you and Lennon been friends long?” Bryony glanced between us as I brought over the mugs.
I was interested in his answer to this question too. I banged his mug down in front of him, a little of the hot coffee sloshing over the sides and burning my fingers. Bringing my hand to my mouth, I gently sucked the drops of liquid from my skin. Justin’s gaze was firmly fixed on me, paying attention to my every move. His eyebrows quirked, the corner of his mouth curling up.
“Well, Lennon’s been here practically every holiday since she was a kid, so you could say she’s almost a local now. We used to hang out a bit, but I didn’t know she was coming back. The last I’d heard; she’d be in New York this summer.” He winked almost imperceptibly. “But I’m kind of glad she isn’t.”
His words made me cough. For someone who’d run away from me—twice—he sure seemed interested in what I was doing.
“Well, we can’t thank you enough for arriving when you did,” said Si. “Who knows how things might have ended up if you hadn’t.”
A shudder shot down my spine, my body suddenly growing cold. With the speed at which events had unfolded, I hadn’t had a great deal of time to think about the consequences. If I’d have been alone, would I have tried to stand my ground more? Would I have been the one with a cut arm or worse? Bile rose in my throat and I bolted to the staff room.
11
Justin
Lennon puta hand to her mouth and ran out the back. I frowned. Bryony’s expression clouded over with concern.
“Poor thing,” she sighed. “I feel guilty I left her on her own.”
Si reached over and covered his wife’s hand. “It could have happened to anyone. I was chatting with one of the bar owners last night and they said there’s been a spate of this kind of thing.”
Mum and Ted had shown me a few of the posts going around in various groups the previous evening as well. Although they didn’t name either Lennon or I, there was a general consensus I was a bit of a hero.
I kind of liked the label.
“I don’t know what gives them the right to think they can do something like this though.” Bryony threw her hands in the air before bringing them down on the table with a harsh slap. “We work hard, and the little bastards think they can come in and ruin everything.” A single tear trickled down her cheek.
Si squeezed her fingers. “If it’s not a one-off, hopefully we can help track down the culprits so they can’t do it again.”
His optimism was likely misplaced. In a town like Ealynn Sands, people tended to close ranks. Even if the culprits were identified, they’d probably be protected or let off. I didn’t want to be the one to burst his bubble.
There was a knock at the door. Si jumped up and answered it. Two police officers, one male, one female, entered and introduced themselves as Lennon came back to the table. Her skin pale, she sat down opposite me.
I mirrored Si’s earlier action, feeling Lennon’s hand tense beneath mine. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I think drinking that whisky after you left wasn’t the best idea.” She forced a small smile.
I felt horrible. I should have stayed. I shouldn’t have left her on her own like Bryony had earlier in the day.
“Lennon? Are you up to telling PC Collins what happened?” Si placed a hand on her shoulder, and she jumped.
