Liz poked Helen’s knee. “But you’re inlurvenow.”
“No, I’m not.” Helen twirled the stem of her glass. “On one hand, I barely know Sebastian, but on the other, it feels like I’ve known him all my life.” She cringed at the cliché but, tired of lying to Liz, it was finally time for some truth. “I like him. We get on okay, and even though I don’t fit in with his ideas about certain things, I feel like I can be myself around him. We’re equals.”
Liz’s eager smile faded. “I never felt like I was Raz’s equal. He always made me feel inferior.”
“That’s because he’s a bully with a very small penis.”
“I know that now. Tony said I let Raz walk all over me because I lack self-respect.”
“That was the old Liz. The new Liz is set on a different path now.” Helen cocked her head. “Who’s Tony?”
Liz mumbled something.
Helen gasped. “Pencil Neck! Is Tony his real name? And since when have you started using it?”
“Since we had to pull in a few extra hours together alone on a night shift.” Liz looked sheepish. “He’s actually not as bad as I thought.”
Helen sucked in a cheek, glad for the change of subject. “Are you seeing him?”
“We’ve met for coffee a couple of times out of work hours, but … I dunno.”
“You’re not still hung up on Raz, are you?”
“No, of course not!” Liz studied the ice cubes in her glass. “It’s just … how can I trust my own judgment after I got it so wrong with Raz? I thought Raz was The One. My Happy Ever After. I want to puke now when I think about him.”
With her own puke-makinghappy ever afterdisaster to deal with, Helen understood. “But you’ve changed, Liz. You’ve grown and blossomed. If you like this Tony and he likes you, just see what happens. You’ll soon know if it’s not right.”
“Is that what you’re doing with Sebastian?”
“Sort of.” The truth teetered on Helen’s tongue, but she bit it back. If Liz’s reaction to Sebastian moving into the cottage was anything to go by, the whole bar would hear about his fake-girlfriend plan by the end of the evening. And Helen had promised. “It’s different between me and Sebastian. He’s going back to Canada in nine weeks so it’s not like we’re talking forever or anything. We’re just friends, dating, hanging out—”
“Shagging.” Liz nudged Helen’s knee again, flashing her a saucy smile. “I’m so pleased for you, Helen. It’s about time you had some fun.”
Hmm.Helen had been thinking a lot lately about the fun she wanted to have with Sebastian—but other than the occasional fire in the hole, her steamy fantasies would have to remain just that. Fantasies.
Her phone buzzed in her jacket pocket. She pulled it out and read the message.
“Is that him?” Liz asked.
Helen nodded. “Sebastian says the pool’s closed early for maintenance so he’s hanging out at the gym’s café until it’s time to pick me up.”
“Ask him to join us.”
“I’m not sure that’ll be a good idea.”
“Why not? I’d love to meet him.”
Oh, no way.Liz would study Sebastian’s every move! They’d never be able to fool her. “He’d feel like a spare wheel.”
“I’m the one who’s meant to feel like that.” Liz laughed.
Biding time, Helen took another sip of her wine-lemonade. Sebastian wouldn’t mind sitting in the café for a couple of hours. Knowing him, he’d be happily kicking back with a spreadsheet or two. Helen could pretend that he’d declined the offer, but Liz would eventually meet him when he came to pick her up. What if she asked him straight-out why he hadn’t joined them? That would be awkward for all concerned.
“Come on, Helen,” Liz said. “I’m dying to meet him.”
“Okay.” Stomach swirling, Helen texted Sebastian.
It’s cool if you’d rather not, but Liz wants you to join us.
