Page 41 of Escaped
“Wow.”My brow rose.“That much?”
“Easily, based on its location,” Owen confirmed.“Those?He pointed at the arrangement I’d chosen.
“Yes, if you agree.”
“Sure.”He glanced my way, offering a sad smile.“We’ll only have family flowers.”
It was strange spending so much time with Owen again.We’d been so close as youngsters, but time and geography had put distance between us.Gone were the days when he’d known what I was thinking just by looking at me.That mantle seemed to have been taken by another man.
“Has the crematorium confirmed the date you wanted?”Eli’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Yes,” Owen straightened as he replied.“It’s in ten days.”
“That’s good.”Eli smiled at him, but his clenched jaw revealed how he truly felt about the idea of us staying so long.“Thanks again, Owen, for putting us up here.”
“She’s my little sister.”Owen motioned to me.“I’ll always put up with her.”
“Hey,” I protested as Owen burst into laughter.“That’s not what Eli meant.”
“But you don’t know me.”Eli’s stare drilled into Owen.“So, I appreciate it.”
“Eli’s right,” I confirmed.“Despite your insults, it’s good of you, Owen.”
“I don’t mind, really.”Ignoring my feigned protest, Owen focused on Eli.“I don’t know that much about what’s going on in Erin’s life anymore.It’s good to get to know you.”
Eli’s lips curled.“She’s an amazing woman.”
I swore my heart skipped a beat at Eli’s praise.At my age, his compliments shouldn’t have affected me, but sitting there, I could sense the heat pooling on my cheeks.
“Yes, she is.”Owen patted me fondly on the shoulder, and for one protracted moment, both of their attention was solely on me.
“Shall I call the florists, then?”I loved them both in different ways, but their dual attention was difficult to bear.
“Sure, and before you ask, here’s my phone.”Handing me his device, Owen swooped to collect his cup.“I need another cup.How about you guys?”
“Thanks.”
Aside from the still undealt with trauma of everything that had happened with Hawkins and then the news of my mum’s passing, the most taxing part of staying there so far had been the lack of a phone of my own.Just like Eli, my device was still sitting in the small cabin where we’d first got to know each other.Being without it was proving difficult to get used to.
My gaze flitted to Eli as, dialing the number, I waited for the phone to connect.He wanted to go back to the cabin and collect our possessions, and increasingly, I realized he was right.It wasn’t only our things we’d left there, but news about Chelle as well.Recent events meant I’d been able to push thoughts about her away, but denial only worked for so long.One day soon, I’d need to discover the truth about her, James, and Miles.
“Sullivan’s Florists?”
The male voice on the other end of the line dragged me back to the present, and focusing on the screen, I was only vaguely aware of Eli following Owen out toward the kitchen as I answered him.
“Oh, hi.I’m calling to confirm the floral selection for my mother’s funeral.”It was strange saying those words out loud.
“Certainly, we can help you, Madam,” the florist continued.“I’m sorry to hear of your mother’s passing.”
“Thanks,” I replied, my gaze following in the direction the two men had disappeared to.
Logically, I knew there was nothing to worry about.No reason the two of them shouldn’t have time alone, but despite the reassurance, my pulse accelerated as the florist kept speaking.
What were they doing in there together?
Since when had either of them needed help making hot drinks?
Would either one of them divulge something embarrassing about me to the other?
