Page 29 of It Had To Be You

“It is not. I’m a good girl and proud of it. That doesn’t mean I don’t have needs.”

“I hear you. Everyone has an itch they have to scratch, if you know what I mean.” I glance at her lips.

“Exactly. Can we drop this now?” She looks at my mouth.

“Yes. If you answer me one question. Who do you think about when you’re having your ‘me’ time?”

Her eyes almost bulge out of her skull. “Okay. I’m getting up. Do you want coffee?” She rolls off me and off the bed. “I’m going to make some toast too.” She walks to the door.

Disappointment fills me. “If it’s someone famous but embarrassing, I won’t tell anyone.”

She rolls her eyes and leaves the room. I usually enjoy teasing her, even if she doesn’t play along. I wasn’t poking fun at her, though. I was pushing for something completely different.

Taking my time, I go to the bathroom to pee and wash up. Finding a T-shirt and some loose shorts in my suitcase, I start to get undressed. I’m stark naked when Lara re-enters the room.

“Sorry. I thought you were staying in bed,” she says, blinking rapidly.

“It’s nothing you haven’t seen before.”

“Are you having your breakfast up here, or are you coming down?” She averts her eyes.

“Give me a minute or five and I’ll be down.” My mood has dropped from horny to disappointed. Abandoning the idea of dragging shorts up my leg, I pull a skater dress over my head and put some knickers on.

Picking up my crutches from where they fell on the floor, I make my way downstairs. Breakfast is already on the table, and I put strawberry jam onto my toast. “What’s the plan for today?” I ask.

“I’m on the late shift again, so I’m going to do chores and relax in the garden unless you were serious about going to the pub?” She sounds sulky. Is she upset that I want to venture out? A sinking feeling starts in the pit of my stomach. I don’t want to dampen her spirit.

“No. I don’t know what came over me earlier. I’m just horny, I guess. Mooching around sounds perfect.” It’s about time I wash some of my own clothes.

Lara stares at me open-mouthed for a few seconds, and I think I might have shocked her by admitting I’m thinking about sex. She clears her throat and then starts eating like nothing happened.Has she always been this passive?

After the food and a hot drink, I poorly assist Lara doing chores, but at least she washes my things too. We hang everything out on the clothesline, then we sit in the garden with non-alcoholic raspberry cocktails.

It doesn’t take long for Mr Hatta to spot us. “Morning, ladies,” he says with a wave.

“Morning, Mr Hatta,” we shout in unison.

“Please, call me Colin. It’s a nice day for some garden romance.”

“I’ve already told you, we’re not a couple,” I say, shaking my head.

“I meant the pair of house sparrows.” He points to the roof.

“Oh, of course,” Lara says with a giggle. She’s amused by my new hobby with her neighbour.

“You won’t be saying that after they poo on your washing,” I say.

“Here I was thinking you’d got love for these birds, and now you’ve ruined it,” Lara says, smiling. She clearly thinks I’m invested in their relationship by the smugness in her grin.

“Hank and Dotty love a good white sheet to dirty,” I say.

She arches her eyebrow. “You’ve named them?”

I shrug. “Maybe.”

She points at me. “I knew it. You love my garden birds, and you’re coming around to the English way of life.”

“Being here hasn’t been as boring as I thought.”

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