My Year of Saying No - Maxine Morrey Page 0,8

‘Thanks, Lots.’

‘You’re welcome,’ I said, my voice slightly muffled by her shoulder. Sitting her back, I tilted my head. ‘Do you want some help with this?’ I nodded at the boxes surrounding us.

‘I’d say yes, but I know it’s your year of saying no, so I’m thinking this might be a trick question.’

I grinned. ‘No tricks, I promise. The saying no thing doesn’t mean saying no to everything—'

‘I feel like this is information I really ought to pass on to Seb Marshall.’

‘Oh shoosh. Look, do you want me to come round with my incredible organisational skills tomorrow and help you whip this lot into shape so you can stop tying yourself up in knots about it all?’

‘I do.’

‘OK. Good. We’ll be round at ten.’

‘We?’ Her eyes lit up expectantly.

I rolled my own. ‘If you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking, I’m pretty sure the way to Seb’s heart is not to ask him to come and pack up my best friend’s house as a first date.’

Jess shrugged. ‘He’s ex-military. They’re usually really organised and like things just so. Who knows? That might be a dream date for him!’

‘He’s been on quite a few dates since I’ve known him and, as far as I can remember, none of them have veered in the direction of moving someone’s stuff. It’s been more candlelit dinners and walks in the great outdoors.’

‘And yet he’s still single. Perhaps because none of those dates were the perfect one?’ My friend was nothing if not persistent.

‘I really don’t know. I know one girl got funny about his prosthetic when it came to… getting intimate.’

‘Getting intimate? You all right, grandma?’ Jess laughed. ‘What do you mean, anyway? She didn’t know?’

‘Oh, she knew. He’s upfront about that and lives in shorts half the time anyway, but… I don’t know. I guess she hadn’t clicked that he takes it off at night or something.’

‘How did he seem after that?’ Jess’ forehead wrinkled with concern and I loved her for it.

‘OK. Just took it in his stride – no pun intended. He said it’s not the first time someone’s been uncomfortable about it, and it won’t be the last. He wasn’t bitter about it and didn’t hold it against her. Said it just showed she wasn’t the one for him and that was OK.’

‘Sounds like he has a pretty healthy attitude.’

‘He does. Although he’ll be the first to admit he struggled with that when he was first injured. I think that’s why he’s so good at what he does with the charity. He’s been there, literally.’

Jess went quiet.

‘I can practically hear the cogs turning. What?’

‘Does it bother you?’

‘Does what bother me?’

‘His injury.’

‘Of course not. Why would it?’

‘I don’t mean now. I meant if something happened. You know, between you two.’

‘Nothing’s going to happen, but it would still be the same answer. Why should it bother me? He’s still Seb. I’m just grateful that he survived and came out the other side of it.’

‘I agree. I have a soft spot for him, being your first client. I still remember how excited you were when you signed him up. Of course, that had nothing to do with you having seen his profile picture on his website…’ Jess arched a perfect brow.

‘It didn’t.’ Much. ‘I was just thrilled, and a little scared, that things were starting to happen.’

‘Of course.’ She nodded in a way that suggested she disagreed with the words coming from both our mouths.

‘Whatever. Do you want me to help you with this tomorrow or not?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then I suggest you stop giving me grief about my love life.’

‘Or lack thereof.’

‘Which is just the way I like it. I have Humphrey and that’s all the men I need in my life right now.’

‘Humphrey is wonderful, of course.’ At this, my little mutt woke up, basked for a moment in the praise, and then went straight back to sleep. ‘But I just worry about you. Especially once I move.’

‘You won’t be that far away.’

‘I won’t be round the corner any more.’

‘Jess, I’m fine. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.’

She flung her arms out. ‘I never want to get rid of you. I’m just worried you will hibernate even more without me living on top of you.’

‘Hibernation is very underrated, I find.’

‘This is not helping my concern.’

‘Oh, will you stop worrying? I’m fine. You’re supposed to be getting excited about this new step in your own life, not fretting about me.’

‘So, go out with Seb and I won’t.’

‘Jess, he lives two hours away. It’s