Page 41 of Coming Up Roses

“Oh, that’s pretty cool,” I say. “To carry it on like that.” I glance at Flynn, but he’s still fully focussed on the food in front of him, his movements stiff and jerky.

A phone chimes and interrupts the awkward moment we’re descending into. Olivia pulls hers out of her pocket and gasps.

“Oh my gosh. Look at this.” She holds the phone out to Katie who squeals.

“What is it?” Flynn asks, sandwich halfway to his mouth.

“Puppies.” Olivia hands him the phone. “I have an alert set up for any that come available.”

Flynn places his food back on his plate and holds the phone in his left hand, angling it in my direction so I can see as well, but I still have to lean into him to get a good view. His free hand comes down on my knee and I jerk in surprise. He gives a soft squeeze, then brings the phone a little closer to me, leaving his hand in place. I don’t know what’s going on with us, but this doesn’t seem like the time or place to question it.

Flynn flicks through the pictures. There’s five Border Collie puppies, their little black and white faces utterly adorable.

“Oh, this one,” I say with a small laugh. The puppy is clearly posing for the camera, the look on its face filled with confidence and cheekiness. A lopsided white stripe runs down its face, ending with a tiny nose that’s half pink and half black.

Flynn doesn’t say anything, just scrolls down the screen toread the information. He’s quiet for a long moment, studying the words, then flicking through the pictures again.

Olivia and Katie are chatting about the puppies and if Olivia should get one. Katie is tossing up the pros and cons, as if convincing herself she doesn’t need one.

“Can you send me that?” Flynn asks quietly once he’s finished scrolling and hands the phone back to Olivia. He runs his hand over my knee, gives it a squeeze and lets go. I immediately miss the reassuring weight of his palm.

Olivia blinks at him. “You’re going to get a puppy?” She sounds gobsmacked.

Katie snorts. “Flynny, if you get a puppy you’ll have,” she gasps dramatically, “responsibilities.”

The girls giggle and Flynn laughs too, but he’s a second behind.

“No more impromptu surf trips,” Olivia says.

“Poop,” Katie adds. “So much poop.”

“I can handle a bit of dog shit,” Flynn mumbles. “But you’re right.” He smiles, but I don’t buy it. “A dog does sound like a bit much responsibility. Wouldn’t want to mess with a good thing.”

“What’s the good thing?” Katie asks, a teasing lilt to her tone.

“My life, Katie Kat. Right now, it’s pretty damn perfect.”

21

FLYNN

Pretty damn perfectexcept my two best friends think I can’t even look after a puppy.

I pick up my sandwich and take a huge bite.

Thankfully that seems to be the end of the discussion about my lack of responsibilities, and about puppies.

It’s a ridiculous notion, me being responsible for another life. I can’t even make a relationship with a person work. But a dog running around with me all day sounds great.

I love Katie and Olivia. We’ve been best friends for years, but now Katie is with Dallas and Olivia has stepped up to fill Henry’s really big shoes, things aren’t the same. They’re busy and they’re moving forward with their lives.

Meanwhile, I’m still in the same place I’ve always been.

Olivia turns the conversation towards the wedding and I feel Abi stiffen beside me.

“It’s all going to plan,” Abi says, lying through her teeth. She plasters on a completely fake smile. I don’t know how I know it’sfake, but I think it’s something to do with the way the corners of her eyes aren’t crinkling.

“I’m so sorry I can’t help this afternoon,” Olivia says, but Abi waves her off.

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