Page 89 of Unspoken Hearts
“You know how he doesn't like being a second choice.” Laynie looks at Delly and adds, “He can be a little controlling at times, but for a good reason.”
“Why’s that?” Delly asks.
I take a bite of muffin and moan.
Laynie waves her off. “Just stuff that happened to him when he was younger.”
That makes my eyes meet Laynie’s, and although I have questions for her, I don’t say anything. She knows more than me since she’s known the Lawsons her whole life. I know something happened before I came to Ashwood Creek. Something that I think happened between Reid and Grayson.
“Speaking of Grayson,” Delly whispers, tilting her head to the front door where he and Cole are walking through casually.
Cap on backwards, Grayson gives us a small wave as Cole continues to mutter something to him that I can’t hear from this distance.
Grayson eyes us before coming to stop at the bench and leaning an elbow on it. “Hi, girls.”
“Did you want some caffeine?”
“Do you even need to ask?” he drawls.
Laynie snickers, walking around me to the machine.
I watch Grayson’s eyes track Laynie’s movement, and my smile falters as it clicks in my head. The way that Laynie blushes in his presence. How Grayson always wants to have his arm around her, and always picks her up instead of having her walk…
I feel my mouth fall open.
Grayson frowns at me. “Are you okay, M?”
Eyes snapping to him, my mouth shuts. I nod slowly.
I’msogoing to question Laynie after she finishes today.
“Fine. Just hungry,” I say, which also isn’t a lie.
I didn’t get to have breakfast this morning because I ran here as soon as I finished with the chickens with Aspen. She spent a long time talking to each of them. I also couldn’t stop staring at Reid as he walked to and from the barn, dressed in his tight shirt, jeans and brown hat.
I know we are meant to be keeping this a secret, but if he’s going to be looking that good with messy hair and glistening eyes, then I’m definitely going to fail at that.
Laynie snaps her fingers loudly, causing me to blink. “I’ll grab you a muffin.” She disappears into the kitchen, halfway through making their coffees, so I take over.
“We also came to ask if you are free to help out at the summer festival,” Cole adds as I pour some milk. “Mum has a stall. She wants to sell her jams and sauces and stuff, and it’s a family thing we do every festival, so she wanted to ask if you’d like to join.”
I almost spill boiling water on my hand as I swallow nervously, staring at my friend’s rounded eyes. “But I’m not a Lawson,” I say stupidly, realising why Hazel suggested that I come with them. “I’m staying with you until I find a new place.” My nerves are firing around like aimless bullets of adrenaline.
“But you’re living with us now, so I guess she wanted you to feel included,” Grayson adds.
Guilt twists in my stomach as I drop my gaze to the coffee in my hand. “Okay, I’ll come along.”
Grayson’s smile broadens. “Great, I’ll tell Mum.”
“Tell her what?” Laynie questions, coming out of the back with a plate of muffins.
Cole takes one, biting into the top and groaning with delight. “Wow, this is great.”
“Oh, good. It’s a new flavour I made. I wanted to see if it was good enough to sell,” Laynie chimes before looking back at Grayson, repeating her question, “Tell your mum what?”
“About the summer festival here in the town. She asked Macie if she wanted to help out with her stall.”
Laynie looks at me with raised eyebrows, and I’m suddenly feeling a little cornered. “But I have one too for the cafe. I was going to ask Macie and Delly to help me out.”
