Page 38 of Cover Story

Somehow, even though Connor hadn’t felt what a partner ought to feel throughout, the specificity of four was antagonisingly graphic. He felt like he’d been in the room.

They stared at each other until Jen looked away.

‘I guess I should start looking for somewhere to rent?’ she said.

‘Yeah. No rush for leaving. It’s not like I’m using the flat again until August.’

Connor’s napkin level maths in the past told him he could pay Jen her share from it and still afford the remaining mortgage.

‘While we’re doing practicalities, there’s no point you coming back to Salford and there’s only one bed. Why don’t we check you into a hotel near the station after this, go for dinner and you can head back south tomorrow morning?’

‘You don’t have to go to dinner.’

‘We need to eat, and I’d rather make this amicable, if we can.’

Jen slugged the last of her V&T and nodded. They wentthrough the tasks mechanically, Connor watching her ask if they had any rooms left for tonight and the receptionist’s quick look to him that saidgot lucky, eh?

After they were seated in Erst, Connor, wishing he’d not made a proper dinner reservation, said in a low voice: ‘Oh, I almost forgot, in all the excitement. If we get approached by a girl called Amber this evening, you’re my sister. I’m doing an undercover assignment where I’m supposed to be dating a colleague.’

He’d been so concerned at saying this, and it was such a nothing burger after the missent bare boobs.

He palmed the stone from a Gordal olive and took a swig of Negroni.

‘What? Which colleague?’

‘Bel.’

‘Why would she need you to be her boyfriend?’

‘She was working undercover and I walked into the situation and she was forced to introduce me as her bloke. I promise you, she’s sick about the fact. Not least because she doesn’t want to share credit for the story.’

‘Newsflash,Belis using this to pull you.’

‘Hah. I promise you, Bel would not pull me out of the way of a speeding truck.’

‘What does it entail? Making out with her?’

‘No, of course not. In name only.’

It was strange, Connor thought, how Jen didn’t really want him anymore, but didn’t want anyone else to have him either.

‘Do you find her attractive?’

‘Why? What does it matter?’ Connor said.

‘I don’t know,’ Jen said. ‘I hate the thought of you withsomeone else, Connor. I’ve spent five years fending off the competition. I don’t want to see whoever she is coming in as I’m leaving.’

Connor thought Jen might be trying flattery as a last bid– there’d been no fending he was aware of.

‘Well, be reassured the only desire Bel Macauley creates is the longing to be out of her company.’

Jennifer turned to him, eyes shiny with natural wine and real emotion, outside the Britannia lobby.

‘I know I’ve behaved appallingly. But I didn’t realise how totally out of love with me you were, until tonight. Carrying on when you knew you didn’t love me anymore wasn’t right either. I know what you’re like when you’re devastated, because of losing Maurice.’

Connor pushed his hands into his pockets.Do not take Maurice’s name in vain to minimise your shittery.

‘I’m the bastard because I haven’t been horrible to you about this?’

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