‘He should be angry. If it had been the other way around, I’d have given him a hefty kick by now.’
I gave a weak smile, knowing that much at least was true.
‘I told him I’d fix things. I’m really sorry, Fliss.’
I nodded before looking back up at her.
‘I’m starving.’ A smile edged onto her face and this time mine reached my eyes.
‘Me too,’ I replied, moving my menu across so that we could both share it, our tummies rumbling as we scanned the delicious selections.
19
A few minutes later, the men were back at the table with another round of drinks and the atmosphere, thank goodness, was entirely different.
‘I’m sorry it felt like I wasn’t including you when talking about the house. Of course I meant us,’ Jesse said quietly, reaching for my hand as he slipped back into the chair beside me.
‘I know. I think I was just overreacting because I felt like I was suddenly on my guard,’ I replied.
‘Understandable. It was an honest mistake, but I realise now that it would have sounded like I was trying to take control because it had been in our family, or something… I promise I’m not.’ He dipped his head before meeting my eyes once more, his face close to mine. ‘It’s been a long time since I was a “we” – it’s going to take some getting used to. I would never make a decision without involving you or even think of doing so. It’s your house.’
‘Which you’re working on for free for a reason I’m yet to understand.’
‘I can remind you why later.’ The smile I loved slid back onto his face and he kissed my cheek before returning to the table conversation. He took one look at his sister and pointed a finger. ‘Don’t.’
‘I can’t help it!’ she said, dabbing at her eyes with the heel of her hand before tilting her shoulder in a one-sided shrug. ‘I can’t remember the last time I saw you looking this happy. No wonder you were so angry over there.’
‘Let’s forget all that now,’ I said. ‘Come on, let’s order. I’m bloody starving!’
Thankfully, the rest of the afternoon was a complete reversal of the first part. Relaxed conversation and easy laughter. Although I understood it, and even the reason behind it, it was hard to completely forget that, as an outsider, I’d immediately been subject to a treatment that a local wouldn’t have by someone I had considered my friend. Jules and I chatted and laughed but I think both of us knew, deep down, that something had shifted. I felt that, yet again, I was having to prove myself worthy of fitting in somewhere. And frankly, I was getting tired of it.
* * *
‘You and Jules OK now?’ Jesse asked as I climbed into bed that night, having returned to my original plan of staying over at his place after all.
‘Absolutely.’ I kept my tone light and breezy.
‘Oh, good.’
Excellent. He bought it.
I turned to plump up my pillow and found Jesse looking at me.
‘What?’
‘You know I can tell when you’re lying, don’t you?’
‘I’m not lying.’
‘Yep, you are. You do this cute wrinkle thing with your nose when you fib. And your voice drops a little lower.’
‘All right, Poirot. First of all, nothing I do is “cute”. I’m not the “cute” type.’
‘Oh, you really are. I’ve got a list if you want to hear?’
I kind of did but, as a matter of principle, that would have to wait.
‘And, secondly, my voice is perfectly normal.’
