Page 65 of Wild Hearts

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Wren

“HOW’RE YOU DOING?”Lachy asks, letting himself behind the counter.

I look up from the double choc chip and rainbow swirl ice-cream I’m building for the cute little five-year-old girl in pigtails and narrow my eyes at him.

“I’m fine,” I say, pointedly. “How areyou?”

He chuckles and raises his arms in front of him. “Alright, alright. It was just a question.”

I hand the ice-cream masterpiece over the counter to the little girl and accept the cash from her mum. I ring up the sale and smile at them both as I hand back the change. My smile drops as I turn back to face Lachy.

“You promised things wouldn’t get weird.” I follow him back into the kitchen where I grab a cloth and start wiping down the benches. “I’m not a fragile glass slipper. I’m not going to break.”

“I never said you were,Cinderella,” he snorts.

I roll my eyes. “Lachy...”

He comes over and wraps his arm around my shoulder in a friendly side hug. “I was just asking how you’re doing,” he says. “No hidden meaning, no pity. Just a friend checking on a friend.”

I sigh. “I really am fine.”

“Good.” He grins. “How hard was that to admit.”

I pick up a tea towel and flick it at him and he heads off toward the back office with a snort of laughter.

My lips tug up. Opening up to my friends about what happened to me has lifted a weight that I didn’t realise I was carrying around. Ivy had come over the next day with ice-cream and an apology for running off. She’d been pissed at finding out Brady and I were keeping secrets from her, but she loved us both and wishes things had worked out for us. I think she’s secretly hoping we might get back together, but I’m not ready to even entertain the idea of being withanyoneright now, much less, Brady.

Letting out a deep sigh, I finish wiping up the benches and head back out to the front of the shop to wipe down the tables and fill up the sugar.

“Are you and Ivy still good to close tonight?” Lachy asks when he returns from the office with the bank bag. He opens the till and starts counting.

“Yeah, no worries. I can do Friday night too if you want some time alone with Ivy,” I say. “You’ve been flat out here these last couple of weeks. I’m happy to pitch in.”

Lachy runs a tired hand over his face. “You know what, that would be great. We haven’t really had any time to ourselves since Mum got sick. Thanks, Wren. I’m sure Jordan’s already made plans with some girl or another, so only if you’re sure?”

I smile. “Of course. What are friends for?”

“You’re the best.” He grabs the bag for the bank and the paperwork he needs, and scruffs my hair as he walks past. “Catch you later,bella.”

I shake my head with a laugh.He’s such a smooth talker.

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