Jilted Read Online Free PDF

wrong about a pub without that smell. New owners had renovated and The Commercial Hotel had lost its rural character. Its beige walls with a chocolate feature and the leather upholstered bar stools could have been transplanted from any city establishment. The people he’d loved had moved on or changed. At least the music still had the right vibe.
    He barely had the chance to nod at Rats and Whitney or take in the others hanging around before Lauren had an arm round him and was practically licking his ear.
    ‘My shout, Flynn. What are you having?’
    ‘Just a Coke, thanks.’ He extracted his limbs from hers and moved along the bar to Rats.
    ‘Hey mate.’ Rats slapped Flynn on the back and grinned. ‘Good to see ya. S’pose you’ve heard?’
    ‘Grapevine wouldn’t be working if I hadn’t.’ Flynn looked straight ahead.
    ‘Doubt she’ll be here for long,’ continued Rats. ‘She’s only back to help Ms T. Surely a broken ankle won’t take long to mend. Right?’
    Flynn wanted to ask if anyone had seen her yet, but he didn’t want to look like he gave a damn. He didn’t give a damn. So instead he said, ‘Free country. She can go where she likes.’
    ‘True, true.’ Rats took a sip of beer and pulled Whitney into his side. ‘So mate, we’ve been talking and you don’t have to say yes straight away but …’
    ‘There’s no one we’d rather want as our best man,’ gushed Whitney, reaching past Rats to take Flynn’s hands. ‘Please, please say yes.’
    Hell. Flynn supposed he should have seen this coming. His friends hadn’t planned a long engagement and Rats had been decked out in the best man suit the day Ellie had left him standing at the altar of St Pete’s. But today? Just the thought of setting foot inside a church made his skin crawl.
    ‘Sure,’ he managed. ‘It’d be an honour.’
    ‘Yippee!’ As Whitney shrieked, she leaned forward and kissed Flynn on the lips. It was only quick, and entirely platonic, but whoops went up around the pub.
    ‘Did he say yes?’ Lauren returned with a bottle of champers, four delicate glass flutes and no sign of a Coke. ‘This calls for a toast.’ Behind her were Emma and Linda with another bottle and more glasses.
    As glasses were filled, Rats edged close to Flynn. ‘I’ll get you that Coke, mate. You don’t have to drink to take part in the toast.’ Rats was one of the few people who knew just how dependent he’d become on booze before his dad died.
    ‘Don’t be stupid,’ snapped Flynn, suddenly feeling like a tiny shot of bubbles would work wonders for his tension-infused body. ‘I can handle a glass on a special occasion.’
    ‘Fair enough.’ Rats held up his palms in surrender but Flynn couldn’t miss the worry in his friend’s eyes. ‘Just looking out for you.’
    Flynn didn’t reply. He was tired of people looking out for him, like he was some sort of pathetic child. He took a glass and raised it along with everybody else’s.
    ‘To Flynn,’ Lauren said, staring at him as if he were the only person in the room, ‘for completing our fabulous bridal party.’
    ‘To Flynn,’ chorused his friends.
    He took a gulp and only as the bubbles caressed his throat did he register Lauren’s words. Dinner was ordered soon after, and once the pub grub had been devoured the group broke up – some playingpool, others chatting near the dartboard. This was Flynn’s chance to escape, but just as he was about to make a sly departure, Lauren pulled up a stool next to him. She barely sat on it, however, and Flynn got the impression she was angling for a spot on his lap instead.
    ‘You know,’ she drawled in an unmistakably seductive tone, ‘the best man gets first pick of the bridesmaids.’
    ‘Is that so?’ Flynn took another sip to stop himself from saying the first thing that came into his head.
    ‘It’s tradition. And it just so happens I’m maid of honour. ‘Was she actually singing her words? ‘Care for a top-up?’ she asked,