More Flirting Games (The Flirting Series - Young Adult) Read Online Free PDF Page A

tone.
    “I’m
sixteen, Alex, it’s quite normal for girls to wear some makeup.” She waited for
him to point out that she never really wore makeup. But he didn’t say anything
more, just looked thoughtful as he chewed his cereal. Beside her Toby laughed
and said she needed it. Jack, sat across from Toby, disagreed and said she
didn’t. Which was unusually nice of him.
    “Shall we
go for a walk after breakfast?” Rose poked Alex as he didn’t seem to be
listening. “A walk down to the river? Work up an appetite for lunch?”
    “What just
the two of us?” Alex frowned “No, I don’t think we should.” Was Alex being odd
or was it her imagination?
    “Ohhh kaaay
then… Are you ok, Al?”
    “Of
course!” he smiled at her “I just think we should do stuff as a family, you
know, as it’s Christmas.”
    Maybe it
was just as well, Rose thought. The urge to confide everything that had
happened to Alex would be hard to overcome if they went off privately together.
She wasn’t sure yet how much she wanted to tell him, or even if she should at
all. But she had never kept secrets from him and she was desperate to tell
someone. Maybe she should send a text to Grace after breakfast. Grace was great
at practical advice. Though actually she didn’t really want any advice, she
just wanted to talk about Leo. Or maybe she wanted
to
talk to Leo.
    She fiddled
with the necklace and looked down the table at him and Diana conversing
quietly.
    “I need
some fresh air.” She told Alex loudly “I’m going to go down to the river on my
own, do you mind?”
    “’Course
not,” he said buttering some toast “I’m not finished anyway.”
    Leo watched
her leave the hall and wondered whether he should follow.

Chapter Five
     
    Rose walked
slowly along the edge of the river. She was getting near the woods and would
have to turn back soon. Why had she not worn her trainers? These boots were not
made for walking! She sighed and tried to remind herself that she liked walking
alone, when she heard someone coming. Her heart leapt at the sight of Leo. She
hadn’t realized how much she had wanted him to follow and she hadn’t realized
how happy it would make her to see him. She sat on a boulder and waited for him
to reach her.
    “Fancy
seeing you here.” He quipped with a raised eyebrow.
    She grinned
back at him. “Shocking surprise, clearly!”
    “Do say if
you really did want to be alone?” he asked looking more serious.
    “No.” She
felt suddenly shy. “I wanted to thank you for the necklace. I love it. It’s so
perfect.” She was desperate to ask him when and why he bought it, but wasn’t
sure how.
    “I really
wish I’d given you something more than chocolate now.” She said.
    “Oh, but
you did.” He smiled wickedly. “Or have you forgotten already?”
    Rose
blushed at the memory. “It still doesn’t seem enough compared to this.” Her
fingers stroked the winged horse.
    “Well, we
could always do it again,” he suggested sitting down beside her “and maybe
again after that?”
    Rose
sighed. God yes, she wanted to. “Leo, you know we can’t. You’re a …” She broke
off realizing how stupid it sounded.
    “A
Flanagan, yes, I know. We’re just the regular Romeo and Juliet. A plague on
both our houses! ” He quoted.
    She
laughed, “I know it’s daft. But yes, it is a bit like that. I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be.”
He squeezed her hand to show he understood.
    They sat in
silence for a moment then he said quietly “I know some of the things my family
has done, but they’re not all bad you know.”
    “Oh Leo!”
Rose felt her heart contract with regret “I didn’t mean to suggest that. It’s
my Dad, really. He wanted to take me away from Compass to stop me being friends
with you. He could still take me away if he thought we were getting closer.”
    “I think we
already are friends Rose, except that nobody else actually knows.”
    “Oh, come
on,” she laughed. “This is our first real