My Year of Saying No - Maxine Morrey Page 0,9

not even practical. And that’s without the small point of the fact he’s never even hinted that he’d be interested. We’re just friends, and right now, that’s actually really good for me. We get on really well but I honestly don’t think we’d be all that compatible as anything more.’

‘What makes you say that?’ Jess asked, topping up my wine.

‘You know what he’s like. He’s missing part of a leg and he can, quite literally, still run rings around me when it comes to fitness and stuff like that.’

Jess paused, thoughtful for a moment. ‘You do have an affinity for your pyjamas, I will give you that. But you’re not entirely potato.’

‘Always good to hear.’

‘And you’re out every day now with Humphs.’

‘That’s true. It’s not been that long since I got him, although I can hardly remember how I got by without him in my life—’

‘We’re still talking about the dog, right?’

‘Yes. We are.’

‘OK. Just checking.’

‘Harry is aware how you’re like a dog with a bone sometimes, and how entirely annoying it is, right?’

‘Oh yeah. Absolutely.’

‘Good. Just checking.’ I echoed.

She grinned.

‘Anyway. As I was saying, I’ve already noticed some benefits to having him. Even just getting up to let him out for a tinkle gets me moving away from the computer, whereas I’d probably have sat there – correction, did sit there – for hours at a time before. And then, obviously, we have our walk every day, rain or shine. I’d never have just gone out for a random walk in the rain, but now I don’t even think about it. We just go.’

‘And they say it’s sociable, walking a dog.’

‘It can be. You start seeing some familiar faces and we’ve met a few dogs that Humphrey loves to see now.’

‘Anyone interesting?’

I looked up and immediately became suspicious at the far too innocent expression Jess was wearing. ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake! Just because you’re hooked up doesn’t mean I have to be!’ I said, half laughing, half exasperated. ‘Two minutes ago you were trying to set me up with Seb Marshall, and now we’re already on to the other dog walkers!’

‘I’m just giving you options!’

‘I choose the option of none of the above, thanks!’

Jess gave a dramatic roll of her eyes. ‘Fiiiiine.’

I leant over, chinked my glass against hers and smiled. ‘Perfect.’

4

‘You look knackered.’

‘Thanks. Remind me to write to Yves St Laurent later.’

‘OK. Any particular reason?’

‘Only because when I caught a glance of myself in the mirror late yesterday afternoon after stacking up the last of Jess’ boxes, I made a detour to the local department store and forked out on a tube of Touche Éclat. It claims to make “signs of fatigue virtually disappear”. And, judging by your immediate reaction upon seeing me, it would appear I have been diddled.’

He grinned and, tired as I was, bits of me definitely perked up.

‘Rubbish. You still look great. You always do. I just know you pretty well by now.’

I made a derisive noise. ‘It’s a bit late to start sucking up now. I’ve already worked out where I’m sticking the fee for that comment.’

‘Damn. Worth a try.’

I smiled and shook my head.

‘You do look tired though, and,’ he held up his hands, palms towards the screen, ‘I mean that in a concerned friend kind of way, not in a critical one.’

I waved my hand. ‘I know. I am. Turns out Jess has waaaay more stuff than even I anticipated.’

‘Did you have to get it all done this weekend?’ Seb had rung for a video chat with a cup of tea around eleven on Saturday morning, as he quite often did, but I’d had to quickly explain that I was taking part in Operation How The Hell Has Jess Accumulated All This Crap and couldn’t really talk.

‘Kind of. They both can’t wait to live together and she was only working herself up about getting everything done. It wasn’t good for her.’

‘I’m not sure it was that good for you. Why don’t you take the day off?’

‘No, I’m fine. It’s done now anyway, so she can stop worrying. Harry’s arranged for a firm to move all her stuff and put it in his spare room and she can just unpack at her leisure.’

‘You still look shattered.’

‘I’ll get an early night tonight. And it’s looking a bit breezy out there,’ I said, leaning back in my chair to peer out of the window, ‘so that’ll wake me up when I take Humphs out in a bit.’

‘Don’t overdo it.’

‘Says the man who probably went