Page 102 of Just Do It
‘OK, it’s not quite the same as leading a dig on my own but he promised that all the papers and any credits would be joint and decisions made together after calm, logical discussion. Logic is kind of his superpower so I’m not worried about that aspect.’
Colette shook her head. ‘I need a drink.’
‘It’s ten o’clock in the morning!’
‘Exactement!’She threw her arms in the air. ‘That is how bad an idea I think this is.’ She rummaged in the fridge, pulled out a half empty bottle of wine and took a large slug, bypassing the need for a glass. Wow. Shereallydid not approve of this.
‘I think you’re over reacting a bit, Col.’
She slammed the bottle down. ‘And I think you’re under reacting! Getting back together with Friedrich is quite possibly the worst idea you’ve had, second only to dating him the first time around. In fact, probably worse as you already know that he didn’t make you happy before.’
‘Who said anything about getting back together with him?’
‘You did!’
‘No I didn’t.’
‘You did!’
‘No,’ I repeated, slowly. ‘I didn’t. This would be purely a work thing.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh.’ Her energy dropped about five levels. ‘OK. That’s a little different.’
She took another slug of the wine, placed the novelty stopper in the shape of the Eiffel Tower back in the top and put the bottle back in the fridge.
‘Although,’ she said, turning back from the baby-pink fridge to face me. ‘I still think it’s a terrible idea.’
I let out a sigh. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have come to you to discuss this. You’re a little biased against him.’
‘I am not biased at all. Yes, I think he is a condescending toad with a superiority complex but I can still be objective.’
‘Clearly.’
Colette gave a shrug then let out a sigh. ‘OK. So, no, I don’t think it’s a good idea. You can get leadership of your own dig.’
‘Apparently not.’
‘Well, not this one but there will be others. I don’t trust him.’
I opened my mouth to reply but she held up a hand. ‘And I know what he’s said. But what Friedrich says and what he does are two different things. Even you know that.’
There had been evidence in the past to corroborate this but his general behaviour the other night, excluding the unexpected goodbye kiss, had suggested that perhaps the changes he’d talked about had truly been put into practice.
‘I know, but I do think he’s changed. It’s been a few years since we were together.’
‘But only a short time since he had a fling with Bella, promising her a place on the dig before turning around and insisting it went through the proper channels after all.’
‘These things have to be done properly.’
‘And there you go.’ Colette flung up her hands.
‘There I go what?’
‘Defending him. Finding ways to explain his behaviour, just like you used to before.’
