Page 118 of Rough Around the Hedges

“Don’t ever do that again!” Isa and I both shouted after him. The sound of his laughter drifted through the open window, and I gritted my teeth. “Well, now he’s ruined that for me,” I said.

“Until Oliver says it again.”

I sighed and sat up, staring at her. “What do I do? I’m being serious. I have all these… feelings… and I hate them. I hate that I don’t hate him. I hate that I can’t stay away from him, but I can’tbe with him. I’ll always resent him for closing the allotments, and I refuse to have a relationship like that.”

She smiled sadly at me. “If there was an easy answer, we wouldn’t be having this conversation, babe. Have you tried talking to him about it?”

I shook my head. “Sometimes I think that he might feel the same, but if that’s the case, then why? Why hasn’t he changed his mind? If he has feelings for me too and wants to have a relationship, wouldn’t he stop doing the one thing that’ll break my heart? I know it’s not that simple, but I’m tired, Isa. I’m tired of hurting. I’m tired of hoping for something that’ll never come.”

“I don’t know the answers to any of that stuff, but he does. Either way, you can’t just pretend these feelings don’t exist. You have to face up to them. Where’s the devil-may-care Rose Matthews everyone knows and loves? She’s in there.” She gently prodded my chest right above my heart. “You’ve never hesitated before, so why are you now?”

A lump formed in my throat, and I swallowed, desperately trying to get rid of it. The back of my nose tickled, and a scary, unfamiliar burning sensation nudged the backs of my eyes.

“I don’t—” I stopped, looking down. “I’ve never cared this much before.”

She wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly. “I knew there was a human under all that weirdness.”

“Shut up,” I said, fighting back the tears that were threatening to spill over. “I don’t think I could take it if he told me he didn’t care or was just trying to get me to stop protesting.”

“Silly billy,” she said softly. “Do you really think he’s that kind of person?”

I shook my head, grabbing her hoodie as she stroked my back.

“Neither do I, and I’m pretty good at judging people.” She paused. “Ignoring my stunning romantic track record, of course.”

That made me laugh, and I pulled back from her, taking a deep breath. “Yes, the long line of successful romances really back up your words.”

“Everyone makes mistakes,” she said airily. “Anyway, he doesn’t strike me as that kind of person. When he’s back next week, you’re going to have to put on your big girl knickers and talk to him. You can’t pretend that nothing exists between you, so just be honest. You never know, maybe he thinks you’re only interested in his meat stick.”

“No more food euphemisms, please. I’m still coming to terms with those from before.” I shuddered. “But you’re right. We should clear the air one way or another. If he’s going to continue with the sale even after I’ve told him everything, then we need to put an end to whatever this is.” I waved my arms.

“What if he does change his mind?”

“He won’t.” I met her gaze, sadness settling into a pit in my stomach. “I know him. No matter what he says, the estate means too much to him for that.”

There were goats fucking everywhere.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I knew they were snazzy little escape artists, but these little fuckers were taking it to the next level.

And they ate everything.

Billy had taken a bite out of a vendor’s handmade woollen jumpers. Patches was partial to a tourist’s Havaiana flip-flop.Jelly and Bean had teamed up to knock over a basket of wrapped bread rolls, only to eat the wrapper and puke it up less than five minutes later.

Jelly was now under the observant eye of Isadora and Superman Shaun.

Because, yes, he really had shown up in his Superman costume. As predicted, he was a hit. He’d only lasted ten minutes there before he’d started getting swarmed by women—and I noticed Isa’s irritation. In the end, he’d promised to take photos during his break and gone back to being at her beck and call like a little puppy.

Never mind me being honest about my feelings for Oliver.

When was Isadora going to admit that Shaun’s shower scheme had worked? I could call it a scheme, too, becauseit was not broken. His hot water was fine. He was just a dirty liar trying to seduce her.

And you know what?

Good for him.

“Morning, dear!” Susan beamed at me from behind her stall. “How’s everything going?”

“I think the goats are finally under control,” I replied, glancing over the crocheted goods. “When did you make all these?”

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