Page 52 of A Change of Heart

“Everything,” Kit said while Keira moved to put her own toppings on the dough.

“Have you been up to anything fun recently?” Noah asked Kit once he’d put the pizza in the oven.

The question sounded fairly loaded, but Kit wasn’t sure what reply Noah was expecting. “Not really.”

“Not been on any dates or anything?” Noah leaned back against the counter, his lips twitching to a smirk.

Kit groaned. “What’s Mum been saying?”

“Not a lot. Just that she spotted you chatting to some pretty blonde chick.”

“Holly?” Keira asked in surprise. “The girl from the tourist office?”

“Yeah.”

Noah grinned. “Mum reckons she was fluttering her eyelashes and flirting outrageously.”

“She wasn’t,” Kit insisted. “Mum’s delusional.”

“So, there’s nothing going on?” Noah asked.

Kit rocked his head from side to side. “We went out for dinner last weekend.”

“You went on a date!” Keira sucked in a quick breath. “Where did you take her?”

“Juliet’s Garden. It wasn’t really a date though. I don’t think.”

“Sounds like a date,” Noah said, plucking a piece of tomato from the salad bowl and popping it in his mouth. “It’s good that you’re getting out and seeing people. I thought you’d mope around over Seren for ages.”

“It’s not as though I suddenly got over Seren. I’m just bored of feeling sorry for myself. Holly’s good company, and I like hanging out with her. Anything that takes my mind off Seren is a good thing, but Holly and I are only friends.”

“When are you seeing her again?” Keira asked, seeming completely oblivious to his comment about them just being friends.

“I don’t know. We didn’t make any definite plans.”

She dropped her elbows to the counter and propped her chin on her hands. “Are you going to call her?”

“Maybe. I’m not sure.” If he was going to call her, he probably should have done it by now. Almost a week had passed since they’d been out.

In a bid to change the subject, Kit asked Keira how she was finding life on St Mary’s and how she was enjoying living a stone’s throw from their mum. She was cheerful and positive about everything and chatted away until the pizza was ready.

Kit didn’t stay long after they’d eaten. Driving home in his golf cart, he thought about Seren at work and the times when he’d have detoured to go and prop up the bar and keep her company. A pang of sadness hit him at the thought of not being able to do that any more.

Back at home, he perched on the edge of his bed with his phone in his hand, staring at a message from his mum asking him to go over for lunch on Sunday. No doubt Noah and Keira would have been invited too. And Seren. After a couple of minutes, he replied to his mum, saying he’d be there. He’d have to start seeing Seren again eventually. May as well start easing himself back into it.

As his mood spiralled, he contemplated messaging Holly. That would be unfair though – getting in touch with her to distract himself from thinking about Seren. On balance, the kindest thing he could do for Holly would be to stay away from her.

Of course, that was easier said than done. He was on his way to work on Saturday morning, driving the train through the town, when Holly waved at him. Slowing the train, he felt a pang of guilt that he hadn’t been in touch with her. He should have at least messaged to say he wasn’t in a good place for dating at the moment.

From her bright smile he got the impression she wasn’t concerned by his lack of contact.

“How’s your week been?” she asked, leaning into the train.

“Not bad.” Surprisingly, that was the truth. Things were starting to feel more normal and his heartache wasn’t quite so raw. “How about you?”

“It was fine. I’ll be glad when I finish work today.”

“Got much planned for the weekend?”