Page 57 of Be More Lucy

Josh pulled a face at Lucy, clearly not impressed with Jack and Em’s answers.

‘Count us out as well,’ said Mark, putting his arm around Hannah.

Lucy noticed Hannah roll her eyes at Josh. No, she wasn’t being paranoid. There was something going on.

‘Lucy?’ Josh looked at her hopefully.

Three hours ago she’d have said yes but the way he was behaving with Hannah again was pissing Lucy off. ‘No. I fancy a hot chocolate in front of a warm fire.’

‘Seriously?’ Josh looked disgusted.

‘Yes, seriously. It’s cold now.’

‘It was 24 degrees earlier.’

‘Not now though is it? In fact, the atmosphere is feeling positively chilly.’

31

Lucy, Josh, Mark and Hannah were all in the kitchen having breakfast the following morning. Jack walked in on his own.

‘Where’s Em?’ Lucy asked.

‘She’s gone out for a paper. She’ll be here in a minute. I’m going to make some tea. Anyone else want one?’ Jack offered.

‘Yes, please.’ Lucy joined him by the sink.

‘Is Hannah making eyes at Josh?’ Lucy whispered to him.

‘Not sure,’ he said. He did glance in their direction but she sensed he didn’t want to get involved.

Hannah was sitting between Mark and Josh at the dining table, ignoring her smashed avocado and looking more animated than ever. Em had told Lucy that Hannah rarely laughed at anyone’s jokes, but it was noticeable that she found Josh absolutely hilarious. She was telling a story about a client while keeping her hand unnecessarily on Josh’s arm. Josh was enjoying being the centre of attention.

Mark, on the other hand, looked deeply uncomfortable. He got up and joined Jack and Lucy by the sink.

‘Are you ok?’ asked Lucy.

Mark sighed. ‘I feel like I’ve slipped into an alternative universe where you’re being nice to me, and Hannah’s dating Josh.’

‘She was all over him last night as well.’

‘Yes, and not me,’ Mark mused. Lucy felt sorry for Mark. He wasn’t used to being second best where women were concerned.

‘Tea?’ Lucy asked.

‘Please.’

She topped up the teapot and poured him a cup. Josh and Hannah were still flirting. Lucy had had enough.

‘Josh, we ought to set off back to Birmingham soon.’

He glared at her. ‘We’re not in a rush. Hannah’s suggested we go for a walk. She wants to make the most of the sunshine.‘

‘Because there’s so little of that in Spain,’ Lucy muttered under her breath.

Jack raised his eyebrows.

‘We’ll it’s true,’ she whispered to Jack.

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