Page 6 of Just Do It
‘Actually it’s brand new.’
‘Oh God,’ I said, attempting to pull my hand back but Finn held on, gently but firmly.
‘But give me time. I have a twin niece and nephew who I see a lot so I’m sure its time will come.’
I looked up from under the fake lashes Colette had, by message, insisted I wear for the occasion and met his eyes.
‘Really. It’s OK. Relax.’
‘Oh, she’s not very good at that.’ Colette leant back, adding her thoughts to our conversation.
‘I’m perfectly capable of relaxing,’ I said, turning so that my back was to her.
‘And what do you do to relax?’ Finn asked.
‘I… like to read.’
‘About her job.’ Colette poked her head over my shoulder.
‘I love my job, so sue me.’
Finn and Greg exchanged a glance and apparently decided it was going to be easier to talk as a small group and moved accordingly.
‘Finn, your lovely companion there is Elizabeth and this is Colette.’
‘Enchanté,’ Finn replied and my friend beamed.
‘Maybe we should swap?’ she said, throwing a glance at me but I’d seen the way she was looking at Greg and, even through my alcoholic haze, I knew she was teasing. His smile, however, faded for a moment.
‘She’s joking,’ I reassured him. ‘She’s just the most enormous flirt.’
‘Oh pah,’ she said, ‘I merely appreciate manners.’
‘Finn’s got all the smooth lines,’ Greg replied, nodding at his mate. ‘It’s amazing any of the rest of us get a look in.’
‘Very funny,’ Finn replied. From the glance he shot his mate, there was definitely another layer of meaning in his reply but my brain was warmly, and quite happily, now dozing inside myskull and it was way too much effort to think about anything that deep.
Greg smiled, and grabbed his friend good naturedly around the shoulders, something he had to reach up to do, despite being taller than Colette who in turn was taller than me. Finn towered over all of us.
‘You can call me Lizzie. Everyone does.’
Finn studied me for a moment. ‘I think Elizabeth suits you better.’
I beamed to the point that it actually hurt. ‘You do?’
‘I do,’ he replied, his own smile now showing.
‘I prefer Elizabeth too! But you know how it goes.’
‘I do. Handy having a name no one can shorten.’
I nodded, sagely. ‘Very wise,’ I replied, as if Finn himself had had something to do with choosing his own appellation.
‘So what is it that you do?’ he asked.
‘Hmm?’ I peered at him over the top of my glass.
‘Colette said you enjoyed reading about your job.’
