‘Massive… spider!’ Julie forced out in between giggles.
He rolled his eyes and mumbled a couple of choice expletives.
‘Still in there?’ The other chap stepped past him.
Julie nodded. Was that a faint blush I detected on her cheeks? It looked as if there was a story here.
‘Want to show me where, Jules?’
Behind him, Jesse glanced up at the sky.
‘That’d be great, Pete, if you don’t mind? Although I’m going to stay close to the door!’ She giggled again and Pete grinned.
‘No problem. Come on, then.’ And they disappeared into the building together.
‘What are you shaking your head about?’ I asked in a whisper, coming to stand next to Jesse. ‘It was huge!’
‘I’m sure. You’re in the countryside. It won’t eat you though.’
I gave him a Paddington stare. Wait, was that a smile? I deepened my frown. ‘I’m well aware of that, but I paid for this place and inherited some animals I’m desperately trying to keep happy and alive but I’m not prepared to cohabit with an eight-legged monster. That wasn’t part of the deal.’
‘You’re doing great. Better than you think.’
‘Apart from opening the tin of paint with a tin opener?’
His mouth twitched.
‘Bloody hell!’ Pete’s exclamation interrupted us.
My hands went to my hips. ‘Told you.’
‘He’s just going along with it because he fancies my sister.’
‘Ooh! Does she know?’
‘Nope.’
‘She clearly likes him though.’
‘Yep.’
I let out a frustrated huff of air. ‘Well? Is he single?’
‘Yep.’
‘Then why don’t you say something? It’s obvious to everyone else that there’s a spark there.’
‘A spark?’
‘Yes.’
He checked his watch. ‘None of my business. They’ll work it out sooner or later.’
I looked back towards where the two were now exiting back into the bright light of the midday sunshine, squinting and laughing as they did so, Pete’s hands cupped around what I certainly hoped was the monster that had been within.
‘And don’t you say anything either,’ Jesse whispered hurriedly to me before they reached us. ‘People will work it out or they won’t. The last thing anyone needs is others telling them what they should and shouldn’t do about their love life. All right?’ His eyes were fixed on me.
‘All right! No need to get uppity.’
