Oh my God. How am I back here? How is it fourteen years ago, eleven, six? His eyes find a point somewhere on the wall, looking at anything but me, standing here in disbelief.
I glance down at a wet sensation and find Churchill licking my hand. It’s so gentle it overwhelms me. I’m tired, I’m emotional, I’mhumiliatedand before I can stop it, I’m choked by a sob.
Immediately, I’m engulfed in cashmere and the delicious masculine scent of the countryside and everything I associate with Hendricks. I let him hold me as I cry, his chin on my head like it always used to be when we hugged, and the most ridiculous thought pops into my head.I will never know what Hendricks’s lips feel like against mine.
I cry harder.
“I’m sorry, Stor. I’msosorry,” he whispers, his breath hot against my head. “But my son takes priority over everything. I have to concentrate on being the best dad I can be, and I can’t think straight when you’re around. I’m not bringing someone into his life who’s going to leave again. It doesn’t matter how much I want you, how much I love you. Have always loved you, Stor. I’m not the same person you left here, and I need to get used toyou being here for now . . . until you leave again. Friends is all I can offer you.”
His lips press against my temple. The hope I had this morning that perhaps,finally, our time has come is dashed.
And the worst part is, he’s not wrong.
CHAPTER 17
Hendricks
“Hendricks? . . .Hendricks?”
I’m brought back to the present by a severe nudge in the ribs from my brother.
“Ouch, what the fuck was that for?” I grunt. His chin jerks toward the center of the room, where I discover a set of beady eyes staring at me. “Mrs. Winston, I apologize. If you could repeat that?—”
“I was saying the equipment and components for the kissing booth you suggested will be delivered here this week, so you’ll need to collect it and assemble it?—”
“And by assemble, you mean?—”
Her eyes narrow. She’s looking at me like I’m a spoiled brat who’s never built anything, which I’m not, and I have. What I don’t have, however, is any recollection that I agreed to this.
“It comes with instructions, don’t worry. I’m sure you and Story will manage just fine together. Nothing like a little teamwork.” She chuckles, and it takes all the self-control I have not to snarl at her. “And this was your idea.”
I peer over at Story, who’s looking far too innocentfor my liking. More innocent than I’ve ever seen her before, that’s for sure. “Come on, Hen, what’s the harm with a little teamwork betweenfriends?”
Okay, maybe I deserved that. “No harm, Stor. I can build whatever needs to be built.”
“Wecan build. ..”
“Right.” I glance at Mrs. Winston. “Anything you need,wecan handle.”
She claps her hands. “Excellent. And I take it you’ve been making arrangements with the shelter this week too?”
“The shelter?” Did I miss a meeting this week? Because that’s how it feels.
“The dog shelter in Oxford. Or are we using another charity for the kissing booth? That is how it was used previously, correct?”
Next to me, Miles coughs, which sounds an awful lot like“Story.”
Ignoring him, I nod vigorously and add the cheeriest chuckle I can manage. “Yes. Yes. Again, I apologize. I was a little confused there for a moment. The shelter has been contacted, and they’re on board. We plan to have a good adoption drive for Valentine’s.”
“Excellent, excellent,” she crows, then moves to the next point on the agenda and a new victim.
Miles leans into me. “Did you really contact the shelter?”
“I will have by the end of the day,” I mutter back.
“By the way, if you wanted to play it cool, you’re doing a shit job.”
“I’m not trying to play it cool. I’m not trying to do anything.”
