‘A different one. A local comprehensive.’
‘How was that?’
‘Awful. My aunt was rather fierce and if I hadn’t been so scared of her, I’d have bunked off as much as I could. In hindsight, it’s probably just as well that I didn’t but at the time, I dreaded each day even to the point that I was throwing up most mornings.’ I glanced up. ‘Sorry. Too much information.’
‘Not at all. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy the new school.’
‘I hated it. And they hated me so at least it was even. Although I teased you about reverse snobbery, it definitely exists. As far as most of the other students were concerned, I’d come in with this posh accent and therefore thought I was above them. Actually, I was terrified and completely intimidated by them and the whole situation so they couldn’t have been further from the truth. If I opened my mouth, they took the mickey out of my accent but if I kept silent, I was a snob and “too good to speak to them”.’ I wiggled my fingers to make bunny ears as I recounted those dreaded days. ‘And of course, once they found out I was there because my father couldn’t pay the private school bills, it just got worse.’
‘How did they know that?’
‘I guess word had got around about my family’s fall from grace. However they found out, that provided extra ammunition.’
‘I’m sorry you had to go through that.’
I shrugged. ‘People go through worse. You, for example.’
‘That doesn’t take anything away from what you were dealing with.’
‘No. I know, and thanks.’
‘So what happened after that?’
‘I went to sixth form at a different school two bus rides away to get as far away as I could from the school I’d been to. Got my head down. Got my A levels, took on three jobs to put myself through university and worked my arse off to get to where I was a couple of months ago. Then my fiancé dumped me for an heiress, I got absolutely blotto, made some very bad life decisions and ended up in a village deep in the countryside that I’m still not entirely sure I could give directions to!’
‘I can help you with that if needs be.’
I gave him a tired smile. ‘Thanks.’
‘As much as I’m enjoying our conversation, you really do look fit to drop. Why don’t you head up and get some rest?’
‘Yes, I think that might be for the best.’ I pushed myself up from the sofa. ‘Are you coming?’ I asked, then immediately felt a rush of blood to my face that had nothing to do with the heat of the room. ‘I didn’t mean?—’
‘I knew what you meant, don’t worry. I’m just going to sit here for a little while longer.’
‘OK. Thanks again for tonight and sorry about earlier. I promise I’m really not normally that much of a drama queen.’
He held up his hands, palms towards me. ‘It was on me.’
‘No, it wasn’t.’
He stood and rested his hands on my shoulders. ‘How about we talk about this tomorrow?’
I nodded, too tired now to even reply. ‘Goodnight,’ I managed, gave the dog a quick pat and headed upstairs.
Less than five minutes later, I was under the covers and dead to the world.
11
The following morning, Ned greeted me as if I’d been on a six-month trek to the Andes.
‘Hello! Hello!’ I laughed as I patted his side, which led him to flop down and expose his tummy to me, his whole body wiggling from side to side on the polished oak flooring. Crouching beside him, I gave him a thorough tickle as I chatted away quietly.
‘That’s you set for the day.’
‘I can think of worse ways to spend my time,’ I replied to Jesse as I straightened. He was leaning against the door jamb of the kitchen in faded jeans and a white T-shirt, mug in hand, hair damp from the shower and feet bare on the heated floor. There were also worse sights to wake up to.
‘I’m just doing some breakfast. How did you sleep?’ he asked as he stepped back for me to pass into the kitchen.
