Page 28 of The Chance
I looked down into the big blue eyes of Sophia. It was at that point all the feelings I'd stored away hit me in the gut like a truck. Her eyes were wide and inquisitive, like her uncles, and her fluttering lids matched his long dark lashes. A crack shifted in my heart, but I feigned a smile, for her sake.
"Hey, Sophia. How are you?"
"You look pretty." Her chubby cheeks were freckled, and her small hands folded before her belly like a mini grandma.
"And don't you look pretty too!" Sophia always looked pretty. She had a smile that would brighten a dull day and bouncy pigtails that made her look even more adorable.
"Lexi?" Monica rounded the fresh fish counter and pushed her shopping cart closer. "It is you!"
"Hey, Monica." This wasn't awkward or anything. "How are you?" I was actually pleased to see her, even though her brother broke my heart - unintentionally.
Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun, each curl wound around until it was smooth, and her eyes widened with pity. I didn't need her to feel sorry for me, but oddly, I craved it. I wanted to know how Sebastian was, without having to ask.
"I'm good. Wayne's been doing the normal day to day chores. He gets tired quickly but everyday he's building stamina."
The corners of my mouth tugged. "That's really good, Monica. I'm sure he's happy to be back in charge. You know what men are like."
She gave me a knowing smirk and added, "I thought you would've called in?"
I shrugged lightly. This situation could get really uncomfortable - fast. "I'm sorry, Monica. When I heard he'd left, I kinda just had to stay away. I'm sorry for not coming back to see you."
Her face contorted. "How did you know he'd left?"
"I stopped in after work that Monday. Sophia told me. I didn’t expect him to just up and leave like that, without…you know." In fear of sounding all mushy and desperate, I bit my tongue.
Monica’s brows snapped together, and her eyes cut to the oblivious little girl. "Sophia, why didn't you tell me Lexi came to the farm?"
Sophia's wide eyes were drawn to the sweeties lined up at the cashier till. "I told her uncle Seb left."
"It's okay, Monica. I knew he was leaving at some point. I won't pretend I wasn't..." My eyes dropped to her trolley needing somewhere else to look, "...crushed. He told me from the start it was just..." I couldn't say the words with little ears present.
"Lexi, he left you a message. Sebastian lost his phone the night you came to dinner. He said something about the hay barn - that you'd understand. He didn't have your number, so he left you a note. It’s in our kitchen. His business partner took sick and was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Sebastian had to leave that morning to cover meetings in person."
The dead fish started to close in like they were haunting me. "He left me a message?" I gasped.
"Of course he did, he was besotted with you, Lexi."
"Was?"
"Well, when you didn't come by the farm, he thought you weren't into him after all."
"Ididcome by. I thought he'd left without saying goodbye." I almost panted the words as hysteria mounted in my head.
Monica shook her head lightly, with a deep-set crease on her forehead. "I didn't know. I'm sorry, Lexi. We thought you weren't interested."
My pulse pounded like a crazy carnival drum. "Not interested? Really? I was going to suggest that I move down to Dublin just to be with him!" I gritted out. "What are you saying - has he moved on?"
Monica's shoulders raised to meet her jaw, the same jaw that reminded me of him. "I don't know. He didn’t want to talk about it. He just said that he didn't have time for that shit. That's me quoting him verbatim. I think you hurt him, Lexi. Sebastian doesn't talk to me about his love life - probably because he's never had one. Meeting a woman like you was a first for him. Building the business has always been his priority, he was driven to make our father proud, even after he died." Her pretty face paled. "Seb pours everything he has into that business. He earns more money in one month than Father did in a year. His focus was the business...until you came along. Lexi, you made my brother think of something more than work, and when you didn't come by, he pulled down the shutters."
My heart stuttered. "I did come back, Monica, I did!" I protested.
"I'm sorry, Lexi. I didn't know."
"Have you got his number? Can I use your phone?" I wanted to grab her bag and tip out the contents.
"Yeah, hold on a second." She pulled open the bucket bag and rummaged through it. I could feel my foot tap involuntarily, and I made a huge effort to let her look without jumping inside.
Finally, her mobile phone was presented before me, with Sebastian's name on the contact list. "Go ahead, call him," Monica urged.
