Page 76 of A Winter Wish

“I think it’s OK if you can’t forgive him. Forgiveness and acceptance are different things, aren’t they? And it might take some time to work toward either.”

Lexie glanced back at him. “Is that how you feel, with your parents? Because that’s where I was going with this, believe it or not—because I know I’ll never get another chance. So that’s why I was so keen for us to visit your parents today.”

He flicked the indicator on and said nothing for a moment. Then, “Do you know? This is why I was a bit…resentful of you at first. Because your dad was trying to reach out, and your dad was just so great with me. And my parents—they’re annoyed if I don’t visit when I’m here, but really, they wouldn’t ever come to visit me or anything, and they disapprove of everything I do. Whereas your dad, to my mind, was just so proud of you, of the way you explored new places. And it looked to me like you just kept throwing it back in his face.”

Lexie frowned. “It’s more complicated than that.”

“I know that now. And I hope you know how sorry I am, for judging you. For making you think I hated you.”

“You did hate me.”

The corner of his mouth crooked up. “Only a little. Only as much as you hated me.”

She hesitated, not sure of what to say. Then, “I don’t hate you now.” It was the best she could offer.

His mouth spread into a fuller smile. “I know.”

Something inside her lurched at his expression—something she didn’t quite understand. Or maybe something she didn’t want to understand.

—

When they got back to the farmhouse, Simon came out to greet them again, following them at Lexie’s heels as they headed inside, and they found Kieran slouched in an armchair in the guest living room—which was much more haphazard than Theo’s parents’ living room, and much nicer, to Lexie’s mind, because of it.

“I’ll have that pint now, Kieran,” Theo said loudly.

Kieran got to his feet, clapping Theo on the back. “Right-oh.” He turned to head out, then stopped, fished in his pocket, and held out a key with a bird key chain on it.

Lexie took it. “Thanks,” she said. “We’ll just have the one room.”

“Oh good,” Kieran said, tugging at his beard. “Because I’ve only actually got the one.”

Lexie shook her head, then laughed. She glanced up at Theo as Kieran headed out—presumably to get them all a drink. “I suppose you knew I’d cave.” Though she hadn’t been sure she would—because sharing a room felt bigger, more deliberate. No longer just a casual hookup—and something that would be harder to walk away from.

He put his arms around her and kissed the corner of her mouth. “I didn’t know,” he murmured. “I hoped.”

Chapter Twenty-eight

“So what do you think?” Lexie asked her mum as the estate agent walked back to the kitchen to give them some space, leaving them in the bedroom.

Her mum beamed. “I think it’s wonderful.”

But Lexie bit her lip as she took in the bedroom again. It was small, but not cramped, had a built-in wardrobe with mirrors to give it a bigger, brighter feel, and a chest of drawers opposite the double bed. It was furnished, of course, because Lexie had no furniture whatsoever. And it was nice. A steal for the location, according to Fran—not as central as her flat, but still.

Even so…“It’s a twelve-month contract.”

“Yes, well, I think that’s pretty standard these days, isn’t it? Oh, Lex, it’ll be lovely to have you so close for another year.”

Her mum didn’t seem to get it. Twelve months might not sound like a long time to some people, but for Lexie it felt like an enormous commitment, one that made her palms go a bit sticky. And the thing was, she wasn’t doing it to stay nearby, was she? Even if it would be nice to stay close to her—and to Fran—it was Theo she’d been thinking of when she’d booked a viewing. Of the fact that she didn’t want to say goodbye to him. Of him telling her, in Ireland, that she had control over whether they went back there together next year—and all that that had implied.

Her mum seemed to read something on her face. “You can always move when the contract’s up, if you find that living here really isn’t for you,” she said softly. “A year will go by in no time.”

But now that she was here, looking at the flat, she was starting to feel as though she’d be giving up her freedom, the nomadic life that had always suited her perfectly. And for what—for a chance to make things work at the company, and with Theo? To try for a proper relationship? She didn’t even know if she’d be any good at a relationship. Look at Theo’s parents, look at her own parents—and her dad’s second marriage, come to think of it. Relationships didn’t always work out the way you wanted them to.

Lexie plopped herself down on the edge of the bed, rubbed her hands over her face. Felt the bed sink slightly as her mum sat down next to her.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” her mum asked.

She knew, Lexie thought, that this was about more than just a flat. She had her suspicions about Theo, Lexie was sure of it. And she must have known that this was all tied up in the company—because if Lexie committed to renting a flat, then she was committing to running the company, wasn’t she? At least for now.