Page 50 of Happily Never After
‘It was just a normal kiss, Liv. There wasn’t any tongue.’
‘I know that, but even normal kisses can be revolting. There was this guy I thought I was attracted to once, but as soon as he kissed me for the first time, I knew nothing was going to happen. He had fishy breath, like cat food. I nearly threw up in his face. It doesn’t sound like Finn was like that.’
‘No. There was nothing wrong with it at all.’
‘And then you kissed him back.’
‘Yes, but only to stop him beating himself up. I thought it would help him see that I wasn’t offended.’
‘Interesting approach. And how was that one?’
‘It was nice.’
‘Nice? That’s all you’ve got?’
‘Yes. It was a couple of seconds, maximum, Liv. We’re not talking snogging here.’
‘OK, but these two very normal, apparently nice kisses have sent you into a spin. What does that tell you?’
‘I don’t know! That’s why I’m asking you.’
‘I think it’s pretty simple. Finn’s basically admitted that he’s into you, so I think the choice is yours. Either you dismiss what happened today and go back to not fancying him?—’
‘But how do I do that without ruining our friendship?’ I interrupt. ‘I do like him, Liv.’
‘Or,’ she continues as if I hadn’t spoken, ‘you jump his bones and see where it goes.’
‘I think we’re a long way from bone jumping. What would you do?’
‘Oh, I’d jump his bones. It’s one of Liv’s lessons for life.’
‘Dare I ask?’
‘It’s much easier to live with the regret of something you did than something you failed to do.’
I grin in spite of myself. ‘You’re like Descartes and Confucius all rolled into one. Anyway, enough about me. How are things with you? Any progress on the Donna situation?’
Now it’s Liv’s turn to smile. ‘There might be. We’re going out for a drink tomorrow.’
‘Ooh. How do you feel about that?’
‘Well, she said yes when I asked her. That’s got to be a good sign, I reckon. She absolutely adores Meg, by the way.’
‘So she should. But have you got anything in common with her besides your mutual love for my fabulous dog?’
‘That’s what I intend to find out. Don’t you worry about me, honey. I know exactly how to play this. You focus on you and whatever this thing with Finn might or might not be. I’ll catch up with you soon, yeah?’
As we end the call, I think about what she’s said. The thing with Liv is that she makes perfect sense when you’re talking to her, but it’s only afterwards that you start to realise the massive holes in her seemingly impenetrable logic.
Oh, God. I’m no further forward at all, and I still don’t have the faintest idea what to do.
19
DI Harrison was tired and, to top it all, she could feel the beginnings of a migraine coming on. Her desk was right next to the window, which combined with the inadequate heating and ventilation of the police station to ensure that she consistently froze in winter and boiled in summer. Today was typical; the hot sun had blasted her relentlessly from the moment she’d arrived this morning, and was undoubtedly a contributing factor to the pain building in her head.
‘Have you got a minute, Ma’am?’ She looked up as DS Rogers spoke. Unlike her, he looked crisp and comfortable in his shirtsleeves and tie. Maybe she should pull rank and get him to swap desks with her. The problem was that the window desk was seen by everyone as the best one because it came with a view, even if said view was only over the car park, and her complaints about the temperature had fallen on totally deaf ears. On the one occasion that the sun was so strong she’d closed the blind, there was such an outcry from the other occupants of the office that she’d been forced to open it again.
‘Sure, what’s up?’
