Page 61 of You Only Live Once
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling. At least he was honest. ‘I bet you say that to all the girls,’ I teased him again.
‘Not for a very long time.’
And I believed him.
* * *
‘Anyone in?’ my brother’s voice bellowed moments before he opened the back doors I’d forgotten to lock after letting Clive out and climbing back into the warm bed. Jack had been right. I was knackered and we’d both fallen back asleep almost immediately. Obviously, we were both wide awake now, sitting up next to each other in the sofa bed and staring silently back at my brother, Poppy and both children.
19
‘Doggy!’
Clive was up and wagging his tail at the new people, all potential playmates.
‘Umm, is he OK with kids?’
‘Excellent,’ Jack said, sounding just as sleep roughened as he had earlier, and I tried to ignore the flutterings that voice caused.
‘Out you go then, kids. Be nice to Clive.’ All three of them hared off into the garden as though it was their first taste of freedom in years. Felix and Poppy then turned back to us.
‘Shall we come back?’ My brother’s eyes switched between us, lingering with what I knew was suspicion on Jack.
‘No! It’s fine. And this isn’t what it looks like either,’ I said, staring at Felix pointedly. ‘Clive was upset last night and wouldn’t settle properly. Jack tried sleeping sitting up but that wasn’t working, despite his protestations that it was. And the last thing he needs to do is knacker his neck or back whilst he’s trying to build up his business.’
Under the covers, out of sight of my family, Jack’s little finger brushed mine in thanks. He’d obviously not missed Felix’s look either. They might be old friends, but Felix had always been protective of me, especially since the accident. He might want me to move on with my life and probably meet someone, but he’d also be mad as hell if he thought someone was trying to take advantage of me. Jack Coulsdon-Hart had a reputation and, although he claimed to have left those days behind, I could see this from Felix’s point of view. He’d just walked in to find his old lothario friend, who he’d effectively placed in my house, in bed with his sister.
‘We’ll just go and see how the kids are getting on and come back shortly,’ Poppy smiled, gently tugging my brother out of the door and closing it behind them.
Jack turned to me. ‘I’m pretty sure if looks could kill, you’d be having to bury me in the garden this afternoon.’
‘He’ll be fine. Anyway, I’m not messing up my garden by sticking your big lump in it. Although maybe you’ll make good fertiliser?’
‘Thanks.’ He smiled.
I smiled back. And then I began to laugh. Once I started, I couldn’t stop and, before long, Jack was joining in. The farcical situation, the look on Felix and Poppy’s faces and the shock on Jack’s. I didn’t imagine that it was the first time he’d been caught in bed with someone, but his face had been almost as shocked as theirs.
‘I’m glad you think it’s funny.’
‘Oh my God,’ I said, trying to stop. My stomach was hurting now, but I didn’t care. It felt good. I felt good. ‘Your face.’
‘I thought Felix was going to finish me off with a bread knife then and there.’
‘He knows better than to mess up my kitchen like that,’ I said, lying back, exhausted from the giggling fit.
Jack looked down at me. ‘You look happy.’
I looked back up at him, his hair sticking up at odd angles and a dark shadow on his jaw from a few days without a shave. ‘I haven’t laughed like that since… honestly? I can’t remember.’
‘Then it’s too long.’
‘Yes,’ I replied softly. ‘I think you’re probably right.’
‘Can I say something, without it seeming weird?’
‘You can try,’ I said, pushing myself up.
‘I had a really nice time yesterday, including all this. Well, maybe not getting a death glare from your brother.’
