Page 70 of The Do-Over

‘Hammering something. I don’t know. Whatever it is you do to traction engines. I’m improvising here, OK? Come on, join in.’

I sigh. ‘George, we need to talk.’

He stops the hammering movement and looks at me. ‘What about, Thea?’

‘About what happened in the barn.’

He gives off a big theatrical sigh. ‘I don’t want to talk about that. I’ve said everything I need to in the letter.’

‘But your letter was wrong, George. If anyone took advantage, it was me. I was the one that kissed you, remember?’

‘You were upset. I should have maintained the boundaries.’

‘Alasdair, this isn’t working,’ I tell him crossly.

‘Why not? Is it me? Do I need to do something different?’

‘No, it’s just this isn’t how I want it to go. It feels like I’m having to justify myself.’

‘You could just march in there and snog his face off.’

‘Yeah, that didn’t turn out so well last time though, did it?’

‘OK, look,’ he tells me, fixing me under his gaze, which has suddenly turned very serious. ‘I don’t know George, but I do know you. If this relationship is going to have any chance of going anywhere, he’s going to need to earn your respect. It’s not about you justifying yourself to him; if anything, it’s the other way around. You are the complete package, Thea. He needs to show you he means business. If he can’t do that, you’re better off walking away now, because he’ll only let you down later.’

‘Wow. When did you become such a relationship expert?’ I ask him.

‘Ha! I’m no relationship expert, but I like to flatter myself that I’m a Thea expert. The recluse act may fool some people, but I can see your Thearless heart is still beating underneath it.’

I smile at him. ‘What?’ he asks.

‘You,’ I laugh. ‘I’d forgotten what a confusing set of contradictions you are.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘You’re funny, exasperating, clever, insightful, and somehow relentlessly optimistic. You’re a hugely talented lawyer who can dissect a contract and pull out the loopholes as accurately as a surgeon with a scalpel, but you also care enough about your friend to set a reminder on your phone to pitch up outside her house the day her gardening leave ends. Oh, and then you make it your personal mission to help said friend sort out her relationship issues, even though there’s absolutely nothing in it for you except an extremely uncomfortable night on the floor of an unfurnished cottage.’

‘That’s what friends do though, isn’t it?’

‘It’s what you do. I’m not sure everyone would. Thank you.’

He lowers his gaze to the table and mumbles, ‘It’s nothing, honestly.’

‘Is that a hint of a blush I can see on your cheeks?’ I ask, laughing again. ‘Have I embarrassed you?’

‘A little,’ he admits.

‘Goodness me. I thought you were made of stronger stuff.’

‘Do you want my help or not?’

‘Relax,’ I tell him with a grin. ‘Your secret is safe with me.’

As we pull up outside the industrial unit once more, the breakfast I consumed so happily while exchanging banter with Alasdair feels like it’s turning to concrete in my stomach. Alasdair evidently senses my nervousness because he reaches across and squeezes my knee encouragingly.

‘You’ve got this,’ he tells me. ‘Thearless, remember?’

‘I don’t feel very Thearless,’ I reply.

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