Page 98 of Rough Around the Hedges

I couldn’t, because I remembered Eleanor’s words.

‘I think he likes you.’

Two, three, four weeks ago, I’d have laughed it off and asked her if she’d lost her mind. I’d never have considered it possible for him to have any kind of feelings for me beyond annoyance, but now that I knewIharboured feelings that weren’t only dislike and irritants, now that I’d seen that soft glint in his eyewhen he teased me, now that I’d felt the ease with which his fingers interlaced mine, I couldn’t.

I couldn’t laugh it off.

I could only bury it deep within me and pretend it wasn’t true. Pretend I didn’t see it, pretend I didn’t feel it. Act as though I wasn’t being betrayed by my heart. As if I wasn’t betraying myself by ignoring it all.

I needed to tell him no.

I needed to tell him that these blurred lines needed to be redrawn. I had to put a boundary back in place, one that stopped us touching each other like it was second nature.

So why was it that nothing came out? Why did I laugh and poke out my tongue instead of tell him those things? I knew I had to. I knew I needed to end whatever this was.

Why couldn’t I?

I wanted to.

Why wouldn’t my mouth form the words? Why couldn’t my brain string them together?

I was the last person on Earth anyone would consider a shrinking violet. I was the poster child for setting boundaries. I truly, truly did not give a fuck about what anyone thought of me.

Except him.

Why couldn’t I set this boundary? Why was I weak for him? Why did I care what he thought?

Why did the answers to all those questions lead me to an answer I already knew?

“You’re staring at me,” I said flatly.

Oliver’s lips pulled to one side. “I told you that’s what happens when you space out, princess.”

I pressed my lips together and turned away, hiding the heat that rose in my cheeks. “What do you need to get in here?”

“A couple of pots for the plants my mother bought. It seems she’s trying to turn her bedroom into some sort of tropical jungle, and she insisted I get her two new pots for her, and I quote, ‘new children.’”

How else was one supposed to refer to their new plants?

“You came all the way here just for two pots?” I asked.

“No, I came all the way here to replace your watering can and let you swindle me out of a fair bit of money.” He grinned. “The plant pots are a bonus.”

“And she’ll hate whatever you buy.”

“But love whatever you do because she loves you.” He nodded. “So, help me out, and choose two pots so I can be a good son.”

“Now I am glad I made you pay up first.” I sniffed and looped my fingers through the end of the trolley to guide us towards the display area with the indoor pots. “Should have charged you more.”

“If you can fit it in this trolley, I’ll buy it.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “What are you trying to do? You’re being awfully nice to me.”

“Have you considered that I’m trying to win you over?”

“That’s the furthest thing from my mind,” I half-lied. “And if you are, it’s only so I’ll stop causing chaos in your life.”

He laughed, and the deep sound of it tickled the hairs on the back of my neck. “I’m not sure. I think I’m becoming rather accustomed to your chaos. Perhaps I even like it.”

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