Page 15 of Just Do It
‘Funnily enough, that’s not top of the list of things I’m bothered about.’ I let out a sigh. ‘Am I over reacting? Is this what happens with one night stands? I have no frame of reference. I just didn’t think he was so drunk he’d completely forget me.’
‘No, I agree. He didn’t seem as drunk as you were.’
‘Thanks for that.’
‘You know what I mean. And no, you’re not over reacting. If someone forgot me, I’d be livid!’
‘They wouldn’t forget you.’
‘You’re sweet but thank you.’
‘I feel like an idiot.’
‘Well don’t. He’s the idiot. He had a chance with you and he’s ruined it.’
‘Maybe he got everything he needed from me already.’
‘I really want to give you a hug right now.’
‘I’d take it.’
That was one of many things I loved about my friend. She didn’t bullshit me. There was a good possibility that I’d spoken the truth and she didn’t try and dress it up as something else. It was what it was and, whatever it was, she was there for me. ‘I’m at the station now. I’ll catch up with you later, OK?’
‘Sure. Love you.’
‘Love you too.’
Finn’s bag was already beside his chair when I got to work the next day, his laptop open on a complicated-looking spreadsheet but he, thankfully was nowhere to be seen. I let out a breath I didn’t realise I’d been holding and sat down at my desk, pulling open the top drawer to drop a snack bar in there for later. Inside was a small package folded in tissue paper that hadn’t been there yesterday. I lifted it out and unwrapped it.
My eyebrows shot up my face and my mouth dropped open. Grabbing the package I hurriedly shoved it back in my drawer and slammed it shut, catching my finger in it as I did so.
‘Fuuuuuu—’ I looked up to see Finn’s frame filling the doorway, his face creased in concern.
‘Are you OK?’
I clamped my lips together. ‘Mmhmm.’ That was about all I could manage right now. That or a string of expletives a mile long.
Finn crossed the floor in a few strides. ‘Let me see,’ he said, bending to take my hand.
I shook my head. ‘No,’ I gritted out. ‘Just throbbing a little. It’ll go off in a minute.’
‘If you grit your teeth any harder, they’re going to explode. Let me see. I’m a trained first aider.’
I shook my head again and kept my hand rammed within the other one in my lap.
‘Don’t make me come and get it.’
My head snapped up and I saw the mischief in his eyes. And the recognition.
‘You thought I didn’t remember you?’ His voice was softer now.
In my surprise, I’d relaxed my posture a little and he took advantage of the change to gently lift my hand and look at the finger I’d crunched. ‘You did a good job there. We need to clean it up.’ I looked down and saw the blood.
‘Oh, balls.’
Finn grinned and pulled my chair out from behind the desk with me on it. ‘Come on, let’s get you to the kitchen.’
‘No, I’ll go and rinse it off in the loo. It’ll be fine.’ I moved and bumped my hand on the desk as I did so and the string of expletives I’d diverted earlier flowed out. Finn waited patiently until I’d finished.
