What thefuck? Walker asked himself for the second time that day, his surprise turning to dismay.
Chapter Fifty-One
Gabi
Gabi looked all over for Walker as she waited for her breakfast sandwich at the kiosk and sighed in disappointment when she couldn’t spot his broad shoulders rising above the crowd. Even with all the trouble between them, she enjoyed fighting, or flirting, with Walker more than anyone else in Honeybridge. Since Isabella and Etienne had suggested that maybe Walker might be interested in her as a serious, long-term thing, she hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind. Not that it made any difference obviously. She didn’t need a boyfriend full stop, but especially so now, when she was leaving so soon. And she wasn’t a great pen pal. So, might as well forget the idea.
Anyway, she hadn’t heard from him in the week since their argument. Not that she’d messaged him either. She had found herself thinking about what he’d said, though, and how Isabella had put things too. She did want to be close to people. She didn’t want to be alone. But it made her nervous to think about relying on anyone else. What if they let her down? She couldn’t bear to be hurt again.
She’d kept herself busy with Jayden as he trained for the regatta, and she’d upped her physical training, but the week had dragged.
Now, she tucked her bacon bun under her chin to keep her hands free and swung in a circle on her crutches. But as she turned, she swung straight into someone’s chest and knew who it belonged to immediately, for the sheer scale and sexiness of it.
‘Walker!’ she exclaimed, resting on one leg and snatching the bap from under her chin so that she could look up at him properly, a smile already breaking through before she saw the frown on his face.
‘Hi,’ Walker replied. Not exactly the warmest welcome but then what was she expecting after the way they’d left it?
‘How’ve you been?’ she asked, noticing how gorgeous his hazel eyes looked in the sunshine.
‘Busy,’ he replied, kicking a stone with his boot. Man of few words today, clearly. He was obviously still annoyed at her. She’d been hoping he might have softened. She bit her lip and tried again.
‘I’m glad I ran into you. . .’ she said and then laughed awkwardly. ‘Well, not “ran into you” exactly because, well, obviously. . .’ She lifted her boot, and her mini-skirt rucked another inch up her thigh. She saw his gaze dart there and then away. ‘But yes, I’m glad I’ve seen you,’ she said again. When he didn’t reply, she cleared her throat and poked his ankle with her stick.
‘I just wanted to let you know that I’m trying to do what you said, about attempting to let people in.’
‘Great,’ Walker said with a stiff nod. What was with him? You’d think he’d be happy about the fact she was making an effort. She pushed on, determined to get back on a good footing.
‘I know it’s early days, and baby steps,’ Gabi said, ‘but Fox said yes when I asked and that went well, so I feel like I can go further maybe. Take some bigger chances.’
Walker’s mouth dropped open. Literally. Gabi stopped mid-sentence at the look of horror on his face.
‘And you honestly thought I’d be happy about this?’ he asked.
‘I thought it was at least a step in the right direction,’ Gabi said.
‘WithFox?’ Walker said furiously.
‘Just for starters,’ Gabi said, embarrassed now.
‘Starters?’ Walker was wide-eyed in disbelief.
‘Yes,’ Gabi said, reaching her bacon bun hand towards him, unsure quite how the conversation had turned into this. ‘Ireallydon’t want us to fall out, Walker. I’d love us to be friends.’
He straightened himself to his full height and braced his shoulders as if against a body blow.
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea, Gabi. In fact, I think the best thing would be for you to stay the hell away from me.’
He stamped away and Gabi was left holding a cold bacon bap wondering what the hell had just happened. Well, fuck Walker McBride and the horse that hero rode in on. She’d had enough of trying to impress him. Twice she’d taken his advice on self-improvement now and it still wasn’t enough. Maybe it never would be. So now, she was doing things her way. She brushed furious tears from her eyes– how dare he treat her like that?– and headed away from the gang. Isabella would spot her face at a million paces. The last thing she needed was someone being nice to her right now. Instead, she headed to the riverbank to watch Jayden. He was pulling his life vest on as he headed to the river, togged up and ready to row. She threw her congealed sandwich in the nearest litter bin, her appetite gone, and caught up with him on the bank. Maybe he could cheer her up and she could forget all about Walker and his impossible-to-live-up-to expectations.
Jayden was lowering the boat to the water, getting ready for the next race, rowing with a buddy from school. He was excitedly gesturing to his friend as to what to do and tapping out a rhythm on the side of the boat to demonstrate the speed that each stroke should be.
‘You okay?’ Gabi spoke slowly so that he could lip-read. ‘Going to win?’ He grinned and gave her a thumbs up, just as his crewmate doubled over on the bank and threw up his breakfast. When he stopped being sick, he promptly burst into tears.
‘I can’t do it,’ the boy sobbed. ‘My tummy hurts.’
Jayden looked stricken, kindly patting his pal on the back in encouragement.
‘I can’t do it,’ the boy sobbed again. ‘I’m going to find my mum.’ He turned and ran off without a backward glance. Jayden kicked the side of the boat in disappointment.
