Jilted by Rachael Johns

terrified her, it was still early for a Sunday. She was less likely to run into anyone at this time of day, and going for milk and bread – the basic supplies that would get them through the weekend – would postpone the inevitable talk.
    ‘I’m just going to pop up to the Shell and get us some milk. Want any munchies?’
    Matilda frowned and sighed. ‘I’m not one to pass up a chocolate bar, but don’t think this gets you off the hook. We will talk. It’s well past time.’
    ‘I know.’ Ellie tried to sound nonchalant, as if the idea of raking up the past wasn’t uncomfortable or painful. ‘But I barely function, never mind do deep and meaningful without my morning coffee.’ She leaned over and kissed Mat on the cheek, then grabbed the car keys and was out of there before her godmother had the chance for further protests.
    She smiled with relief as she pulled into the service station. A couple of trucks were parked and their drivers stood between them chomping on greasy breakfast tucker. The thought of eating that kind of food this early turned Ellie’s stomach, but she guessed it helped combat the chill of winter mornings. She shivered. She’dbeen in such a hurry to leave the house she hadn’t thought about a jumper or a jacket, never mind actually put one on.
    Rubbing her arms, she strode towards the shop, dodging a crusty old ute at the petrol bowsers and ignoring the chill that ran through her as she noticed it was a Hope Junction numberplate. She’d forgotten this about small towns in WA, that you could tell where a car was from by the first letters on the numberplate. She was far from the anonymity of Sydney, and this car belonged to a local.
    Get a grip , she told herself firmly.
    But that was easier said than done. Her encounter with Lauren had reinforced her fears. The reception she would get from townsfolk was likely to be frosty at best, downright nasty at worst. She pushed open the door of the shop, trying to recall what it was she’d come for and crashed head on into a man carrying a paper and a Coffee Chill. His purchases clattered to the floor and without glancing at each other, they both dove to collect them. Their heads knocked, their hands brushed, and laughter at the silliness of the situation tumbled from their mouths. Ellie felt instantly at ease.
    Until they both stood up and the man’s warm chuckle died on his lips as he registered who she was.

Chapter Five
    Ellie reached out to grab the door for support.
    Flynn .
    She wasn’t sure if she said his name aloud or not. Nothing in her wildest imagination could have prepared her for this. It were as if a million different things were going on in her body. Adrenalin had set off a chain of reactions inside her – her hands got sweaty, her heart was beating so fast and loud it felt like it would break out of her chest at any moment, and her knees felt incapable of holding her up much longer. Their overexertion probably accounted for the beads of perspiration bursting out across her forehead. But her mind and eyes were feasting on the sight before her, of which her memory had done no justice at all.
    The grown-up Flynn was a hundred times more gorgeous than the teenage one – and that was saying something. Not that she’d expected otherwise, but he’d filled out in all the right places, grown into his long, lanky body and become a strapping, commandingpresence. Light stubble dusted his jawline and his golden hair was longer than she recalled. And mussed up slightly. It suited him. Yet despite his overbearing good looks, one thing stood out as very different. His lips drew a flat line across his face where once a huge, mischievous grin held prime position. She’d fallen in love with that smile before anything else, and now it was nowhere to be seen.
    ‘Cat got your tongue?’
    Ellie snapped out of her trance and realised not only was she practically drooling, open-mouthed like a codfish, but also that she hadn’t registered Flynn