Page 83 of Toy Boy
Tim Featherstone is one of the nicest guys I’ve met, unlike his wife. She comes across as slightly aloof, like she’s constantly trying to get the measure of newcomers like me, and it’s quite obvious she feels nothing but a burning disdain for Scott Warren. So maybe she’s a very good judge of character, but her husband is far more welcoming, and a lot less intimidating. I like him.
“I wasn’t, in the beginning, when I first arrived here.”
“But…?” Tim arches a brow, looking at me over the rim of his beer glass. And I know he’s waiting for me to say something about Megan, but I don’t know if I want to go down that route, if I want to say the words out loud, because, in reality, I’m not sure Icanstay, even if I wanted to. “Have you changed your mind?”
I smile, and quickly look around me but I can’t see Megan anywhere. She might’ve gone outside, which is where I’ll head, in a minute.
“The truth is, I haven’t really decidedwhatI’m doing yet.”
Tim sets his pint down on the counter top and fixes me with a look, and I know what’s coming next. “What about Megan? You and her, is it serious? She’s told me it isn’t, but…” And then he laughs quietly, and shakes his head. “Sorry, I have no right to ask you that. That’s between you and Megan, so please, I apologise.”
“Tim, it’s fine. Really. There’s no need to apologise.”
He smiles, and I think Megan is very lucky to have people around her who care about her so much.
“I won’t hurt her, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Except, I might. I don’t know yet, it all depends. But I don’twantto. And I’ll try my hardest to make sure it doesn’t happen, but I really can’t promise anything.
“That’s all that matters.” Tim picks up his drink and takes a sip. “You’ve put a smile back on her face, you’re making her realise she can actually go out there and have fun again, I was beginning to think she’d forgotten how to do that.”
“Yeah, we’re definitely having fun.”
“Good. I was always telling her she needed to take some time away from the café; take some more time for herself. I’m glad to see she’s doing that.”
“She is. Anyway, talking of Megan, I should probably go find her. It’s been nice talking to you, Tim.”
“And you, Xander. Hopefully, we’ll get a chance to talk again, before you leave.Ifyou leave.”
I smile at him. “I’m sure we will.”
“Enjoy the rest of the party.”
“You too.”
I grab the drinks I’d originally gone to the bar to fetch, and head outside onto the terrace, and as I walk my shoulder connects with someone coming in the other direction, and I stop to say sorry, and as I turn to face them, my eyes lock with those of Scott Warren.
My reason for coming here, to Beachcastle Bay.
My reason for everything I’m doing.
The reason my world changed, in a heartbeat…
“I’m sorry, I should’ve watched where I was going.”
He smiles, a slow smile that causes his eyes to crease up at the edges. “Don’t worry about it.” And then his expression changes, a frown now crossing his face. “Xander, right?”
“Yes.”
“Megan’s friend.”
I laugh, briefly dropping my gaze, before raising it back up. “We’re more than friends.”
His eyes darken slightly, he gets the sudden mood change. He better get used to it.
“Okay… Well, enjoy the party.”
He walks away, and I watch him for a moment; the way people stop to interact with him, this world-famous surgeon. And then I tear my gaze away and continue to make my way outside.