he adds dramatically, ‘and if Jas is feeling like she’s lost you, because of me, then she might… do something out of character, something weird.’
‘Hang on, Alex.’ I feel quite angry and defensive of my friend, I also feel he’s being a hypocrite. ‘The only person doing anything weird around here is your ex-wife.’
‘I just want you to be safe, Hannah.’ He sighs. ‘And as much as I worry about Helen being a danger, I’m not convinced Jas has your best interests at heart.’
‘Who does?’ I ask, peevishly.
‘I do and you know it.’ He looks at me earnestly. ‘Just remember what I said, be careful.’
‘Okay, I will be careful next time I go out with her,’ I say, sure he’s wrong.
Chapter Thirty
‘Did you say Alex is working late this week? Perhaps you and I could have one of our legendary girls’ nights out?’ This is Jas’s opening gambit the minute I walk in on Monday morning. She’s already called me several times over the weekend, and when I explained in whispers from the bathroom why Alex had turned up at the wine bar, she laughed out loud.
‘So that’s what he’s doing now is it? Pretending Helen’s on the loose, so he has an excuse to be wherever you are?’
‘No.’ I sighed, unable to have a proper conversation because he might hear and then say again that I tell Jas too much. I do tell her most things, but she’s my best friend and that’s what friends do, it’s what we’ve always done. But her calling pissed off Alex, because the first time we were trying to watch a film together, then she called again when we were having dinner, then she called later when we were making love.
‘For God’s sake, does she never stop?’ he said, each time my phone rang. It made what should have been a lovely, relaxing weekend very tense. It seems that after meeting her in the office, then seeing her with some random men on Friday night, has turned an irrational dislike into something far worse.
‘So, what night are we having a girls’ night?’ Jas asks again now. ‘After all, it’s Christmas next week and we need to get festive.’
‘Let’s sort something out,’ I say vaguely. I don’t want to say no to her, but I have a lot of work to catch up on and as Alex will be working late this week, I was hoping to do it then. I’m planning to spend a couple of nights at my place. I haven’t been there for what feels like weeks, except to pick up clothes, and I’m looking forward to spending some time there. I love spending time with Alex, but I find it hard to concentrate with someone else around. It’s bad enough at work being distracted by Jas’s latest dating disaster, Sameera’s constant wedding planning, and Harry teasing us and waving bags of croissants in my face. I don’t really want to give up a precious night alone at my flat.
‘So give me a day – when are you and I going to hit the town?’ Jas has her head to one side, a smile playing on her lips.
How can I say no? And would she ever stop asking even if I did? I agree to go out with her on Wednesday and Jas seems happier.
‘I just feel like we need a big catch-up,’ she says. ‘I miss you, and Alex took you away early on Friday, just as we were having fun.’
‘Yeah it was great, but I wasn’t well. I felt really rough after just a few glasses,’ I say. I don’t think for a moment that Jas had anything to do with that, but I can’t help but think about what Alex said and discreetly check her face for any tell-tale twitches. Immediately, I’m ashamed of myself for even thinking my friend might have spiked my drink.
‘Could have been something you ate?’ she offers half-heartedly.
‘Yeah, probably. Anyway, I promise I won’t get wasted on Wednesday, just pleasantly pissed,’ I say.
She giggles. ‘Me too!’
I watch her bounce back into her office, curly black hair caught up in a scrunchie, her long legs clad in thick woolly leggings, and the usual ‘Conversed’ feet. She looks good; she doesn’t look forty-two – she dresses like an eighteen-year-old and carries it off. I love the way she doesn’t care, she is who she is and she wouldn’t change for anyone. At the same time, she wants a relationship, and recently I feel like she’s