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“Wow.” Jago stretched his legs out. “So it was always just sexual relationships?”
“Yep.”
“Did you ever like any of these women?”
“Not especially, no.”
“That’s really sad.”
Sylvie stepped out of the kitchen with a stack of plates. “It really is,” she echoed, aiming a sly smile in Flynn’s direction as she slid the plates onto the table.
“Great.” Flynn groaned. “Is this conversation going to be circulated around your entire family?”
“No,” Sylvie said. “You’re safe talking to us. I’d say it’s really Kit and Noah you have to be careful around.”
“Keira can be gossipy too,” Jago added. “Everyone else is fine. Lowen rarely passes information on even if you want him to.”
“Come and help me bring the food out,” Sylvie said to Jago, putting an end to the conversation about Flynn’s love life.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Exercising had always beena solitary activity for Lily. At least until she’d moved to St. Mary’s and fallen into the habit of jogging with Flynn. Now, it felt odd to set off for a run alone. She even felt a jolt of guilt for not inviting him when she stepped outside into the morning mist. She had her reasons, though, and it was nothing to do with the slightly strained atmosphere between them since they’d kissed.
It was that she was on a mission to engineer a meeting with Denzel and probe him about his alibi for Friday evening, which she was certain was fake. That was definitely a solo project.
If it weren’t for that, she’d have invited Flynn along.
She was sure of it.
They hadn’t been in touch at all the previous day, which was unusual, even though she knew he’d been working. It was probably more odd that they’d got into the habit of being in contact every day.
That’s just what best friends did, though. It wasn’t a sign that there was anything more between them. They’d both recently moved to the islands without knowing anyone, so it was natural that they’d gravitated towards each other.
With all her over-thinking, she almost ran right past the garden centre, but snapped out of her trance just in time.
Annoyingly, there was no sign of Denzel’s truck in the car park. She didn’t want to go inside, so she carried on running and looped back half an hour later to try her luck again. Still, there was no sign of him. She headed back towards Hugh Town and called in on Maria on her way.
Apparently, her previous manic behaviour really was down to sickness. Now that she was on the mend, she was aloof and kept Lily standing on the doorstep while they exchanged a few words.
She was feeling better, she said, and informed Lily that there was no change with Glynis. The doctors on the mainland were treating her symptoms and were hopeful she’d turn a corner soon. Maria promised she’d be in touch if she had any more news, then ended the conversation and retreated inside, closing the door firmly.
Maybe Lily had just got used to people on the island being friendly, but Maria’s abruptness left her a little stunned.
As she set off again, walking this time, her mind drifted back to the way Maria had dragged Lily inside on her last visit, and how unnerving it had been when she’d talked about someone being out to get them.
They’re not going to stop until we’re dead.
The words rang in Lily’s head. It had been a strange thing to say. Even if she thought someone was intentionally poisoning newcomers, there was no sign that anyone was trying to do more than warn people off.
Caught up in her thoughts, she almost missed Denzel walking out of the supermarket with a bag of shopping in his hand.
“Hey!” Lily called out, catching up to him at his truck. “I was hoping I’d bump into you.”
“Yeah?” He opened the passenger door and put his shopping on the seat. The quirk of his eyebrow expressed more than a hint of disapproval. “What can I do for you now?”
“I just wanted to check… Which pub were you in on Friday night?”
He walked around to the driver’s doors and pinned her with a frosty glare. “The Old Town Inn,” he said, a rough edge to his voice. “Why do you want to know?”