Page 64 of My Year of Saying No
‘I didn’t have an expression.’
‘Yeah. You did.’
‘No, I didn’t. I have indigestion from that cake, that’s all. It was kind of rich.’
Seb was driving, turning us back towards the direction of the last garage. Letting his eyes leave the road for the briefest of moments. ‘I’ve already told you you’re a terrible liar.’
‘And I’ve told you I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
His eyes were back on the road, but I saw the sigh he let out.
‘Honestly, Seb, I’m fine.’
‘OK,’ he nodded, without turning. ‘Let’s go and get this car then.’
I made a noise of agreement but felt the churn in my stomach. I hated lying to him, especially when it was so obvious he knew that I was, but I couldn’t tell him the truth either. Wriggling in my seat, I shifted positions a couple of times, the discomfort in my head once more translating to my body.
Seb slowed as the traffic lights turned red and came to a gentle halt.
‘Hey,’ the word was soft and enquiring.
I looked across and gave a smile that felt a little awkward on my face, like it wasn’t quite in the right position.
Seb studied me for a moment, reached out and laid one large hand over the little knot I’d made of my own. ‘Relax.’
‘I’m relaxed!’ I replied, sounding about as relaxed as a turkey upon hearing a Christmas carol.
His laugh swirled around me and the sound of it helped release some of the tension that had built between us.
‘OK,’ he said again, but with none of the disbelief his previous reply had been laced with. His gaze flicked to the lights before resting back on me. ‘You know you can tell me anything, right?’
My heart gave an unhelpful squeeze. ‘I do.’
‘Good.’ He gave my hands a quick press before returning both his own to the wheel and pulling away.
Anything that is except this.
17
‘I can’t say I’m looking forward to Alice’s baby shower on Saturday. Does that sound mean?’
‘Nope,’ I said, hooking my legs over the arm of the squashy chair I was sitting in, as Jess stretched her legs out along the length of my sofa and leant against Harry, who was tuned out to us and watching a sports channel. ‘They’re not my thing either. I don’t really have any desire to play games called “Who’s got the dirty nappy?”’
‘Do you want me to pick you up on the way so we can go together? Strength in numbers?’
‘Thanks, but I’m not going.’
Jess sat up. ‘What?’
I shrugged, stroking Humphrey, marvelling at how quickly he had become an indispensable part of my life and how much I loved this little fuzzy ball of fur. ‘I’m not going.’
‘What… how…?’
‘I said no.’
‘You said no?’ Jess screwed up her face at this apparently impossible concept.
‘Yep.’
