too late.”
JJ put his hand on mine.
“I'm sorry for what I did,” he said.
“You didn't do anything. There’s nothing to apologise for.”
“I should never have persuaded you to come out with me when your mother was so poorly.”
“That wasn't your fault. I know I said it was, but I wasn't thinking straight. I'm sorry I said the things I did.”
“It doesn't matter. None of that matters now. Pack your things, and come back with us.”
“I can't.”
“Why not?”
“I'm seeing someone.”
It was a crazy thing to say. I'd been out with Mike once. That hardly qualified as 'seeing someone'. I couldn't think of what else I could say which would persuade JJ to leave me alone. When I saw the look on his face—I felt just terrible. Before I'd run away, I hadn't been sure if JJ was being sincere about his feelings. I'd assumed that he would've forgotten all about me within a few weeks or even days of my leaving. After I'd mentioned Mike, JJ barely said another word. He didn’t appear to be mad; I think he was hurt. That hadn't been my intention, but what else could I have done?
When it came time for them to leave, Julie said they would visit again soon, but JJ didn't say anything.
“Someone's been looking for you,” Marge said, as I made my way through the cafe.
“They found me.”
“They? I only saw one young man—James.”
“JJ. Everyone calls him JJ. He was here with his sister Julie. She was my flatmate.”
“Where are they now?”
“They've gone back home.”
“They didn't stay long.”
I shrugged.
Chapter 15
By the time evening came, I was feeling stir crazy. Mike was working. I needed something to lift my spirits, so I decided to give Jennie a call.
“What happened to you earlier?” she said.
“I'm sorry. It's complicated.” I'd totally forgotten that I’d been with her when I'd spotted Julie.
“I wondered what was going on when you got up and walked out.”
“I really am sorry. Look, I'm bored out of my mind. Do you want to come over?”
“Why don't you come to mine?”
“Okay. Do you fancy pizza?”
I'd hoped she would suggest meeting at her place. My flat was poky, and I'd seen enough of those four walls for one day.
“You left without telling anyone?”
I'd just told Jennie about my life before Cromdale. Now that JJ and Julie had found me, there was no reason to keep it secret.
“Yeah.”
“Without a word?”
“Yeah—pretty much.”
“And they tracked you through the wedding photo?”
“Apparently.”
“So, Julie was your flatmate. But what about this JJ guy?”
“He's Julie's brother.”
“And?” She prodded.
“And what?”
“Come on Megan. It's obvious, even to me, that he was more than just that.”
“When I first met him, I hated him— I thought he was a complete arsehole. When I got to know him better...”
“Yes?”
“Nothing happened. I think he wanted it to, but I was too busy worrying about Mum. It just wasn't meant to be.”
“So you're telling me you don't feel anything for him?”
“That’s right.”
“Honestly?” She didn't sound convinced.
“No. I don't know. Maybe if Mum hadn't been ill. Anyway, it doesn't matter now. It's all in the past.”
“He came looking for you.”
“So?”
“He wouldn’t have done that if he didn't still have feelings for you.”
“It's all academic now. I told him about Mike.”
“Mike? You've only been out with him once. What's he got to do with anything?”
“I couldn't think how else I could get JJ to leave without me. I made out that me and Mike were an item. “
“How did JJ take it?”
“He didn't say much after I'd told him.”
“God, Megan—you most likely crushed the poor guy.”
“JJ's tough. He's probably been out with a dozen other women since I left.”
“And you really believe that.”
“Yeah,” I lied.
The route from Jennie's place to the cafe took me past Mike's B&B. I'd just turned the corner when I spotted
JJ put his hand on mine.
“I'm sorry for what I did,” he said.
“You didn't do anything. There’s nothing to apologise for.”
“I should never have persuaded you to come out with me when your mother was so poorly.”
“That wasn't your fault. I know I said it was, but I wasn't thinking straight. I'm sorry I said the things I did.”
“It doesn't matter. None of that matters now. Pack your things, and come back with us.”
“I can't.”
“Why not?”
“I'm seeing someone.”
It was a crazy thing to say. I'd been out with Mike once. That hardly qualified as 'seeing someone'. I couldn't think of what else I could say which would persuade JJ to leave me alone. When I saw the look on his face—I felt just terrible. Before I'd run away, I hadn't been sure if JJ was being sincere about his feelings. I'd assumed that he would've forgotten all about me within a few weeks or even days of my leaving. After I'd mentioned Mike, JJ barely said another word. He didn’t appear to be mad; I think he was hurt. That hadn't been my intention, but what else could I have done?
When it came time for them to leave, Julie said they would visit again soon, but JJ didn't say anything.
“Someone's been looking for you,” Marge said, as I made my way through the cafe.
“They found me.”
“They? I only saw one young man—James.”
“JJ. Everyone calls him JJ. He was here with his sister Julie. She was my flatmate.”
“Where are they now?”
“They've gone back home.”
“They didn't stay long.”
I shrugged.
Chapter 15
By the time evening came, I was feeling stir crazy. Mike was working. I needed something to lift my spirits, so I decided to give Jennie a call.
“What happened to you earlier?” she said.
“I'm sorry. It's complicated.” I'd totally forgotten that I’d been with her when I'd spotted Julie.
“I wondered what was going on when you got up and walked out.”
“I really am sorry. Look, I'm bored out of my mind. Do you want to come over?”
“Why don't you come to mine?”
“Okay. Do you fancy pizza?”
I'd hoped she would suggest meeting at her place. My flat was poky, and I'd seen enough of those four walls for one day.
“You left without telling anyone?”
I'd just told Jennie about my life before Cromdale. Now that JJ and Julie had found me, there was no reason to keep it secret.
“Yeah.”
“Without a word?”
“Yeah—pretty much.”
“And they tracked you through the wedding photo?”
“Apparently.”
“So, Julie was your flatmate. But what about this JJ guy?”
“He's Julie's brother.”
“And?” She prodded.
“And what?”
“Come on Megan. It's obvious, even to me, that he was more than just that.”
“When I first met him, I hated him— I thought he was a complete arsehole. When I got to know him better...”
“Yes?”
“Nothing happened. I think he wanted it to, but I was too busy worrying about Mum. It just wasn't meant to be.”
“So you're telling me you don't feel anything for him?”
“That’s right.”
“Honestly?” She didn't sound convinced.
“No. I don't know. Maybe if Mum hadn't been ill. Anyway, it doesn't matter now. It's all in the past.”
“He came looking for you.”
“So?”
“He wouldn’t have done that if he didn't still have feelings for you.”
“It's all academic now. I told him about Mike.”
“Mike? You've only been out with him once. What's he got to do with anything?”
“I couldn't think how else I could get JJ to leave without me. I made out that me and Mike were an item. “
“How did JJ take it?”
“He didn't say much after I'd told him.”
“God, Megan—you most likely crushed the poor guy.”
“JJ's tough. He's probably been out with a dozen other women since I left.”
“And you really believe that.”
“Yeah,” I lied.
The route from Jennie's place to the cafe took me past Mike's B&B. I'd just turned the corner when I spotted
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