Page 88 of Unspoken Hearts
Delly scoffs, snatching it back. “And you call yourself a writer.”
I feign offense. “Well, Ihavewritten a book.”
“Almost,” she counters.
A laugh escapes me as I rest my hands on the benchtop. “See, I knew we’d get along.” I peer behind me at Laynie in the kitchen. “L and I throw shade at each other all the time. Really, what is friendship without some banter and teasing?”
“A loveless marriage,” Delly murmurs.
I look back at her, my smile faltering. “That’s… deep.”
Her mouth twitches, but I can see the sadness in her eyes.
“Is everything okay, Delly?”
She shrugs, her shoulders caving forward like she’s protecting herself. I feel my chest tighten as she mumbles, “Just some stuff with my parents.”
I hum quietly. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Delly’s eyes flicker away for a moment before she leans in close. “I think my parents are getting a divorce.”
My mouth drops open as I stare at her, unsure of what to say. “Delly…”
“Mum called me last night,” she starts, “and she said she found stuff on my dad’s phone. When I asked her what exactly, she just broke down in tears and I spent an hour trying to console her.”
“That doesn’t sound good,” I admit softly.
She shakes her head. “No, it doesn’t, but it also doesn’t surprise me. They were always at each other's throats. I think they just stayed together because of me and my brother.”
“Where is your brother?” I ask curiously.
“Working in Queensland. He’s a builder.”
I nod in understanding, squeezing her hand with mine. “We’re here if you need anything.”
“Thanks, M.” I see the faint lift in her lips. “You two have been so nice to me since I moved to town.”
“Well, we needed another girl on our side. Girl’s night isn’t right when it’s Laynie, Grayson and I.”
She sniffs a laugh.
Laynie comes out, grinning widely, wearing her smeared baking apron. Hair braided with a light blue bow, she places a tray down beside us and chimes, “I have some new muffins I’m testing, orange and chocolate, so you’re my taste testers.”
“I love working here,” I mutter to Delly, taking one of the muffins and peeling off the paper cup.
Laynie snorts a laugh, a hand resting on her hip. “Yeah, because I feed you.”
I smile up at her flushed face. “Did I tell you recently that you’re my best friend?”
“Grayson will hate that.”
“Grayson isn’t here,” I counter.
She chuckles lightly, knocking me with her hip. “What he doesn’t know won’t kill him.”
I swallow nervously, knowing that Reid and I liking each other might in fact kill him. Or at least my friendship with him.
Laynie must see the pinch in my face, because her eyes narrow. I just shake my head.
