Page 59 of Just a Number

I get the list from Abby. I’m amused to see it’s an actual written list, with little tick boxes she’s drawn next to every item.

I’m in the process of moving barrels in the cellar when I hear footsteps coming down the stairs.

“Hello?” calls a female voice. I duck out from behind the pillar, which is obscuring me.

“Hi, this is staff only down here,” I reply to the woman I recognise but can’t quite place.

“Oh, I know. Abby sent me down. I’m Cassidy.”

“Hi, how can I help you?”

“Ahh, perhaps I should explain the connection. I’m a friend of Mel’s and I’m also banging your boss.”

I choke at that last comment. Perhaps it’s all the dust I’ve been moving around. “Tom?”

“Yeah.” She gets a dreamy smile on her face, as if she’s imagining banging him right then and there.Jeezus. “Anyway, Abby said I could come down and say hi.” She steps all the way down the stairs and I take a couple of steps closer. Cassidy gasps as she gets a glimpse of my eye. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, thanks. Tom didn’t want me scaring the customers, so Abby’s got me on spring cleaning duty.”

“Ah, that explains why they’re keeping such a pretty face tucked away in the cellar.” She chuckles. “I’ve been in your corner through all of this, Alex. I hope I’ve not inadvertently been suggesting my best friend gets together with a violent man.”

“This is a one-off, I can promise you.” I gesture to my eye.

“Did the other guy come off worse, at least?”

“I didn’t touch him. It was Zack.”

“Oh shit. This is after he found out about you both?” She winces.

“Yeah, he wasn’t too pleased.”

“This isn’t good. She’s already too wary of this whole thing.” Cassidy seems to be thinking hard, looking up to a corner of the ceiling. “We’re going to have to make a plan.”

“Who is?” I ask, confused.

“You and me, Alex. And maybe Abby too. You like her, right?”

“Abby?” I shake my head with confusion.

“No, silly. Mel.”

“Oh, yeah, I like her.”

“You wanna keep shagging her seven ways to Sunday, right? And I’m pretty sure, by now, you must have realised what a catch she is and want to do more than just shag her?”

“Um, this seems like a really personal conversation and I don’t know you.” I run a hand down my face, trying to work out what the fuck is happening.

“Oh, come on, Alex, I can assure you, she’s got Mel’s best interests at heart.” Abby appears on the stairs.

“How long have you been there?” I ask, trying to work out how I didn’t hear her.

“Not long. I came to see if Cassidy was having much luck convincing you to make a go of it with Mel.”

“Ladies, look, I appreciate you’re concerned for your friend, but I don’t think I should be discussing this with you. It’s not fair on Mel.”

“Oh my god, he’s fucking adorable,” Cassidy wails.

“I know, right? And perfect for Mel. She needs a guy that can worship her and knows how to treat her right.”

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