‘Life is busy.’ When he grunted, she cringed. ‘Sorry, you’re stuck here and not working, I didn’t mean to rub your nose in it.’
‘So help me out. Don’t rub my nose in it; agree to letting me take you out for dinner.’
‘You mean like a date?’ Dinner together was one thing, but taking her out? ‘Gio, I’m not sure?—’
‘You think it’ll complicate things.’
‘We’re friends; we’re on the job together.’
‘We don’t work together, not really. And yes, we’re friends, but I’d say that’s a good thing. So what other excuses have you got?’
She was all out. She did want to go on a date, she wanted nothing more than to say yes to him. She just knew that she shouldn’t.
‘I don’t want to ruin things. I’m not in the right headspace to start something with anyone,’ she said truthfully. ‘And I don’t think you are either.’
‘I’ve hurt my knee, not my head or any other part of my anatomy.’
His voice was teasing and her mind went to the anatomy she knew lay beneath his clothes. She’d seen him enough times in action to know how strong he was and her imagination right nowwas running riot. She’d seen him around the house too, back when they shared a place with other people, when he’d sauntered downstairs for breakfast in nothing more than tracksuit pants hung low at the waist, the rest of his body on display. None of the housemates thought anything of walking around in their pyjamas; why would they when it was their home? But every time Gio had come into the room, Bess had felt uneasy, as if her gaze was constantly drawn in his direction. She should’ve known back then that if she was to admit it to herself, she thought about a lot more than friendship when it came to Gio Mayhan.
‘When I get back on my feet, literally,’ he said, ‘I will take you to dinner.’
‘Gio, I?—’
‘Try not to overthink it. We’ll go to dinner, have a good time, what do you say?’
‘We’ll see.’ The words were out before she really registered them.
He punched the air.
‘I said, we’ll see.’ But she was laughing at his boyish enthusiasm.
‘It’s not a no; I’ll take this as a good sign.’
She liked that he seemed a little happier, more upbeat.
But that changed when there was the sound of the front door opening.
Gio frowned. ‘She’s not supposed to be home yet.’ And then he called out a little louder, ‘You’re home early.’
A voice hollered back, ‘Mix-up with the jobs today so earlier finish and an earlier start in the morning.’
Gio’s mum came into the lounge and when she spotted Bess, she beamed a smile her way. ‘I didn’t realise you had company, Gio.’ She smoothed the front of the shirt she wore over faded jeans. ‘And look at me, I’m in a state from work.’
‘Don’t apologise,’ said Bess. ‘I’m in my scruffs too.’ She waved her hand down the sweatshirt and jeans she’d thrown on to make the trip from the airbase to home. ‘It’s good to see you again.’
‘Same, love. Good to see you too.’
Gio eyed the carrier bags still hanging from each of her hands. ‘Tonight’s meal?’
‘I have my uses.’ She went into the kitchen and called back, ‘Are you staying, Bess?’
‘Thanks for the offer but I need to go,’ Bess replied.
Gio leaned closer, his good leg almost touching hers. ‘Wise choice. She’ll be force feeding me meat pie, potatoes and peas.’
‘That doesn’t sound too bad to me.’
‘It is when you’ve had it for the last four days straight.’
