Page 123 of Cover Story

Bel wiped at her face and steadied her breathing. You could cut the air with a rubber knife.

She waited for horrendous, shrivelling regret at saying the L word, right into the face of the man who had made her feel it, to arrive. It didn’t. It turned out she’d grown so close to him, she wanted Connor to know. His insights were unmatched. Maybe Connor could tell her how to get over Connor.

‘That’s why you think he said no, he wanted you as a friend?’ Connor said.

‘Yeah. He said as much. I mean, it wasn’t a surprise. I would hate it if the big-headed bastard ever knew I said this, but when all’s said and done, I think he’s out of my league.’

‘No one is out of your league. There is no league above you.’

Bel smiled gratefully and couldn’t answer him or she’d bawl. Don’t be lovely and kind, honestly.

‘Is, uhm …’ Connor cleared his throat: ‘Is this guy at work, me?’

‘Yes,’ Bel said, one flat syllable she’d never forget having uttered.

‘Wow.’ He looked at her intently. ‘You and I have had some misunderstandings but we saved the biggest and best until last.’

She smiled and shrugged. Bel didn’t need him to let her down gently, she was already there.

‘Why are you here?’ she said.

‘Remember my brother left me a card, with strict instructions not to look at it until today?’ Connor said. He pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to Bel. She opened it and read:

You’re in love with Bel. Do something about it.

She looked up in surprise.

‘Shaun wrote this? About me?’

‘Yep. Can youbelievehis presumption? Based on one evening’s observation, too? I mean, for my brother to work it out I’d need to have been unable to tear my eyes away from you that night or stop talking about you. Maybe it was me pathetically criticising you for wearing “unprofessional knitwear” when he asked what your supposed faults were, as he thought you were amazing …’

She was speechless, heart thudding.

‘Bel, I have something to tell you …’ Connor paused. ‘Shaun’s right, I’m in love with you.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes. I didn’t think you felt anything like I did, so I’ve been trying to style it out about wanting to keep you as a friend. I just wanted to keep you, full stop. Very much not as a friend.’

‘But you rejected me!’ Bel blurted, half in tears again, half-laughing. ‘I tried to grope you and you were all, no lustful hoes, thanks. One-night stands are bad news.’

‘They are, with people you haven’t told you’re mad about.’

‘But it only being a one-night stand was your premise, not mine?’

‘I was hinting that was what I didn’t want, so you could reassure me it wasn’t that.’

‘So, while being rejected I was expected to risk saying the thing you wouldn’t say?’

‘Yes. Shame on you.’

Bel burst out laughing. ‘I know you like an abundance of caution but arguing the case for the outcome you didn’t want, to test me, is next level.’

‘I know. No wonder my brother’s had to do me an Oblique Strategy card to break my own deadlock.’

‘To be fair, I did a version of this with your moving back in with Jen. That was the moment I knew that you were mine, and she couldn’t have you, and there I was, wisecracking light-heartedly that maybe you weren’t over.’

‘At least I strongly contradicted that.’

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