Page 97 of You Spin Me Round

‘The car?’ Leigh asked.

Alex groaned. ‘The payments on that fucking thing are killing me.’

Leigh tutted. ‘That’s a disappointment.’

Alex arched an eyebrow. ‘Yeah?’

‘I thought you were rich. That’s most of your appeal, if I’m honest.’

Alex laughed. ‘Screw you.’

‘No, really. I thought if things went well, I could probably marry you at some point, give up work, and become a woman of leisure.’

Alex grinned. ‘Didn’t work out so well for Erin. You might need a new plan.’

Leigh shrugged. ‘Probably. So, you wanna go to mine?’ she asked.

Alex looked shocked and slightly scared. ‘What?Now?’

Leigh felt maybe she’d moved a bit fast. ‘Sorry, have I scandalised you?’

‘No, not at all. I just can’t believe this is happening. I thought I’d blown it with you. Like, alot.’

‘You did. I guess I like you enough to give you a last chance, though.’

Alex smiled. ‘I’m sorry I said I loved you.’

Leigh was disappointed. ‘You’re taking it back?’

‘No,’ Alex said immediately. ‘I just should have waited.’

Leigh sat back in her chair. ‘That’s what I’ll do then.’

Alex tensed. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean, I’m not gonna say it now. Or tomorrow,’ Leigh said carefully.

‘But youcould?’ Alex asked intensely.

Leigh smiled and ate another fry.

Alex took a deep breath. ‘Can this work? I mean, are we just crazy?’

‘I don’t know,’ Leigh admitted. ‘I really don’t. I just… Something about you… I don’t know, Alex. It just feels right, somehow. You pull me in.’

‘I feel like I don’t deserve that,’ Alex said.

‘Yeah, I don’t feel like I earned this yet either,’ Leigh admitted. ‘But you know what my boss said the day he nearly died? He said I don’t ask for things for myself. And he was right. But I want this. I’m scared, but I want it. So, I’m telling you now, you better never pull anything like you did when we were younger. Because I’m putting a lot on the line even talking like this,’ Leigh told Alex.

‘I’m stupid, Leigh. But notthatstupid. If this doesn’t work out, I won’t let it be because of cowardice. Not this time.’

‘What’s different?’

‘I don’t totally know. But what Idoknow is that it’s been ten years since we met, so I feel confident in the knowledge that there’s never been one person in my whole life who makes me feel the way you do. So, what do I do with that information? Everything I can.’

Leigh liked everything she was hearing, but she needed to say something. ‘You’re selling me right now.’

Alex looked down for a moment and sighed. She looked back at Leigh, sincerity in her eyes. ‘I am,’ she admitted. ‘I’m sorry about that. But my mouth is all I have, so I’m using it.’

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