Page 105 of The Wedding Pact
And as the fabric freed itself and the dress pooled to the ground, there he was: Flynn. Not in Japan, but right there in front of her.
Chapter 77
Flynn
Flynn dropped his keys, his head turning quickly to the side so he wasn’t looking at August. He’d already seen it though, just for a second, the vision of her standing in the middle of the living room wearing some kind of sexy, slinky swimming costume. He was pretty sure, actually, that itwasn’ta swimming costume. For a millisecond he wondered if she’d been wearing it for him, but then he heard her gasp in surprise and then Callie’s voice called out, ‘Oh, hello, neighbour!’
‘I’m so sorry,’ Flynn fumbled, his eyes closed, using his hands to search for the door and close it.
August started to drop to grab her gown but Callie shrieked. ‘Don’t move now or the whole thing will spring open. Not that you’d mind that, would you Flynny-boy?’ She cackled.
‘Oh my God,’ whispered August.
‘Don’t worry about it, so it isn’t a surprise any more, that doesn’t matter. Come on, Flynn. You might as well appreciate your wife while she’s all gussied up. I’m nearly done here; we’re just doing a little maintenance. How was your trip?’
‘That’s okay, I’ll just go, um, back out again,’ Flynn then started navigating his way back towards the door, banging his suitcase against the wall. But his eyes were clamped closed, so he ricocheted towards his bedroom instead.
‘What’s the problem?’ asked Callie, as he flung open his door, about to jump in after his case. ‘Look how lovely she looks.’
‘I-it’s okay,’ August stammered, probably feeling very, very naked. ‘He’ll look later, he’s probably just jet-lagged, or embarrassed that you’re here.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, Flynn. Tell her she’s a stunner.’ Callie nudged August and hissed, ‘Let him check up on it, as they say.’ Callie then looked around August towards Flynn, and said, confused, ‘What’s going on? Why won’t you look at her?’
During all of this, thanks to his tightly shut eyes, Flynn didn’t even notice that Callie’s scrutiny had moved off him and was now resting at the view just past his right shoulder. His bedroom.
Without warning, Callie turned away from Flynn and stared at August, as if trying to read her face. ‘Is it the redhead? That girl he kept bringing over here?’
‘What?’ both August and Flynn said in unison, Flynn still with his eyes closed.
‘Has he been cheating on you?’ Callie said, looking at August with deep concern before snarling at Flynn. ‘Are you having problems? Is that what’s happening here? I’ve been there, if that’s what this is, if you’re trying everything, gussying yourself up, trying to get his attention and he won’t even look at you.’
‘No, no, that’s not what’s going on at all,’ August insisted. ‘Flynn, look at me. What do you think, honey? Welcome home!’
Flynn cracked open one eye and looked at August’s face, only her face, to see if she was being coerced. But she smiled at him, gave a minute nod of her head, and rolled her eyes. She then struck a playful pose like a pin-up girl, giving him permission to lower his eyes.
‘Wow,’ he murmured. ‘You look beautiful.’ She really did, though he didn’t look down. His eyes stayed on her laughing lips, her hands reaching into her caramel curls, the brightness of her eyes. He couldn’t look away from that happy face, even though it pained him to know that all this must not be meant for him.
He wondered if August and Abe had become closer since he went away. Did Abe now know their secret? It didn’t matter, the fact was, she wasn’t doing this for him. If he’d ever had one, he’d missed his chance. Now he had to step aside so she could be happy.
Chapter 78
August
He came back. He came home. Standing there, dishevelled from his flight, shirt loose, a day of stubble, hair messy, Flynn looked perfect, and August had to remember to breathe.
Just before she told Flynn to look at her in her lingerie, she’d thought,Oh, bugger it. He’d seen it all when he came in anyway, let the boy out of his misery. So she stood tall, lifted her chin and spoke through only slightly gritted teeth.
August was shy under his gaze, even though he pulled it away after only a brief admiration and instead met her eyes again. Something passed between them and she wished in that moment she could be standing there for him, after all.
Behind her, Callie sighed, and it brought August back out of her own mind. Callie. Wonderful, kind, helpful Callie who’d been through so much and who trusted her. August turned her head to meet Callie’s eye, to say … well, she wasn’t sure what, but in that moment she felt like she just wanted to be honest and tell her the truth, more than anything.
And then Callie beat her to it. ‘Something isn’t right,’ she declared in a quiet voice.
‘With the dress?’ August asked, though something had shifted, Callie wouldn’t meet her eye, and there was a sadness to her voice.
‘Not with the dress, that’s fine, I’ve got you untangled and I’m going to head back upstairs now. Feel free to drop it up and I’ll do the alterations, like I promised.’ She stood up and gathered her things, heading for the door.
‘Callie, can we talk for a bit?’ August held her breath.
