Page 18 of Toy Boy

I throw my head back and roll my eyes, sighing quietly. “Yeah, I miss you, too.”

“Do you?”

I grin at her, and she laughs and shakes her head.

“Seriously, Megan, if he…”

“He isn’t the devil, Laney. He isn’t a monster. I can handle him.”

“Have you considered the prospect that he might actually have some kind of ulterior motive?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you think he has a reason, for being back in Beachcastle?”

“Yes. He has a new post, at the hospital.”

“Oh, come on, Meg, you’re notthatnaïve, surely?”

No, I’m not. I’m well aware that he may very well have ulterior motives, he’s a man I don’t entirely trust, but that’s not a conversation I want to start with my sister. Not tonight.

“Has it crossed your mind, even for a second, that maybe he’s come home because ofyou?”

“That’s ridiculous.” It is, I hope. “Why would he come home because of me?”

She arches an eyebrow. “Because he needs to finish what you started?”

I frown. “What are you talking about?”

“You walked out on him, remember?”

It’s pretty difficult to forget, actually.

“He lost control, and maybe he wants it back, Maybe he wantsyouback. What ifthat’swhy he’s come home?”

I hadn’t even thought about that, to be honest. But now that she’s mentioned it… No. No, she’s wrong. It’s just Laney over-dramatising everything, as usual. “He doesn’t want me back.”

“Is that what you think, or what you’re hoping?”

“It’s what I think. Why would he want me back? After everything that happened?”

“Because that’s the kind of man he is.”

“You’re wrong.”

“I hope so.”

We both look up as our food arrives, and for a moment I’m happy that that conversation has been halted. Temporarily. Laney won’t give up.

“What if I’m right, though?”

See? And she callsmestubborn?

I look down at my chilli, spearing a slice of red bell pepper with my fork. “Even if you are, what makes you think I’d go anywhere near him? What makes you think I’d give him the time of day, it isn’t going to happen, Laney. So let’s not talk about it anymore, please.”

“Okay.” She sighs again, but it’s quite obvious she isn’t finished yet. “Look, Meg, I didn’t just come here to nag you about Scott’s return…”

“Yeah. You did.”

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