Jilted Read Online Free Page B

whatever the outcome of their would-be marriage.
    ‘Uh-huh. Not that that old troll would know,’ she giggled. ‘I don’t reckon anyone’s ever asked her to marry them.’
    Flynn let out his breath, thinking Lucy had moved on to other thoughts. Just to make sure, he raised a new topic. ‘So, how’s school going? Mum said you’re doing well.’
    ‘S’pose so. Doesn’t really matter. For the things I wanna do, I don’t need uni.’
    ‘You’re seventeen, Luce, you have no idea what you want to do.’
    ‘Shut up Flynn, there you are acting all ancient again. You’re so boring. No wonder Ellie left you.’ She gasped and clapped her hand over her mouth.
    Flynn’s whole body clenched. He’d never entertained the possibility that Ellie had thought him boring – he still didn’t – but the words hurt more than he cared to admit. She had chosen a showbiz career and life in the city over a partnership on the farm. Her dreams were bigger than rural Western Australia. And him.
    ‘I’m sorry, Flynn. That was out of line.’
    ‘Yeah, it was.’
    ‘And it’s crap too. No one thinks you’re boring. Geez, my friends all idolise you and the women in town all drool over you. You could have anyone you want.’
    He chuckled at the irony. ‘Perhaps the three women in my life are enough?’
    ‘Three?!’ Lucy shrieked. ‘Who’s the … ooh, me, Mum and Gran.’ She looked disappointed. ‘I thought I was going to be the first to know something exciting.’
    ‘Yep. You, Mum and Gran.’ He reached out and rubbed her head affectionately.
    ‘Hey, don’t mess the hair.’ She lifted a hand for protection but smiled nevertheless.
    For the rest of the journey, Lucy nattered on about the girls at school, the boy they all craved, and their plans for Schoolies Week which, thankfully, was still six months away. It may have been over a decade since Flynn had partied on Rottnest Island during Schoolies, but he knew things wouldn’t have changed too much. Seventeen-year-old boys had one thing on their mind and one thing only.
    ‘Crap, we’re late,’ Lucy said as Flynn pulled into the oval and searched for a park. Already the field was bordered with cars, people sitting on bonnets, eating pies and drinking soft drinks, waving banners as they waited for the game to start. Stupidly, he scanned the crowds for Ellie – she’d been a faithful supporter of the Hurricanes and never missed a game when she lived here, but of course, things were different now. Even if she were in town, it was unlikely she’d make a game of country football a high priority.
    Lucy practically jumped out of the car before he’d put the handbrake on, and definitely before he’d taken the keys out of the ignition.
    ‘Come straight back here after the game,’ he yelled, pretty certain she didn’t hear him, or at least didn’t want to.
    During the match, Flynn didn’t look at the crowd and tried not to make eye contact with his fellow players. He scored more goals than he had in a while but not enough to give the Hurricanes the victory they’d been missing lately. When it was over, he went to wait for Lucy. He knew his quick departure would make more fodder for the gossips, but that didn’t make him any more inclined to stay around.
    Lucy took her sweet time though, eventually arriving with a giggling teenage friend on each side. Opening the passenger door, she leaned into the car. ‘I’m going to Stacey’s,’ she announced.
    Flynn opened his mouth to object – no way was he hanging in town while she had fun with the girls – but she got in first.
    ‘I’ve already called Mum and she’s fine with it. She said I can stay over and she’ll pick me up after church tomorrow.’ She stepped back next to her friends.
    ‘Fine.’ Flynn’s hand was already poised on the gearstick whenpale, delicate fingers – complete with red nails – reached out to hold open the passenger door.
    ‘Hiya Flynn.’
    Flynn fought the urge to shuffle closer to