I drop the glare obediently.
‘So youdon’tactually have any idea what his type is,’ she confirms. ‘If types even exist, which I’m not sure they do.’
I suppose that isn’t strictly true. Josh taunting Elliot about having a thing for redheads suddenly flashes in my mind. I stare at the ground, not confirming or denying.
‘Right. Well, I’d hazard a guess that it sounds like his typemightbe you, given he kissed you. And most of the time, people tend to kiss someone on the mouth if they deem them attractive.’
My body folds inward and I cover my face with my hands. ‘I just… I don’t think I can ask him out, Hennie.’
‘Why not?’
‘He’s just…’ The words come out strangled and tight. ‘He’s too – he’s tooperfect.’
‘But that’s just it! Heisn’t,’she bellows. She starts listing traits, counting them off on her fingers. ‘He’s horrible at communicating, cares far too much about his hair, really quite argumentative, might be more stubborn thanyou, he’s crap at talking about his feelings, refuses to dance at amusicfestival, wears colours that absolutely don’t suit him–’
‘Okay, alright!’ I motion for her to stop with a smile.
‘And his trousers needed a wash,’ she mutters.
‘Still think I should ask him out? That’s a lot of negatives,’ I joke.
‘Yeah, I do. I think you should do it for yourself.’
I resist the urge to sigh irritably. ‘Why are you rooting for Elliot, anyway? I didn’t think you liked him.’
‘It’s my job to be protective of you.’ She shrugs. ‘And he’s proved himself, in my eyes. Mostly.’
She’s avoiding my gaze; there seems to be some meaning behind the words that I’m not getting.
‘What do you mean?’ I ask.
‘I don’t know.’
‘Yes, you do.’
‘Fine,’ she snaps. ‘He might have… offered assistance sometimes. In a way.’
‘What kind of assistance?’ I press, my brows pulled sharply together.
‘He just…’ She watches me with what looks like an apology in her expression. ‘I didn’t know if I should mention it, but he asked what he could do in case you ever had a panic attack. Theinstantyou were first separated, he asked me. He looked a bit ruffled actually. I believe his words were…’ She assumes a comically deep voice. ‘What’s the best course of action if she ever panics? Blah blah blah, I would like to be able to help her if I can, blah blah.’
The most upsetting part is that this information doesn’t even surprise me in the slightest. OfcourseElliot asked Hennie what he could do to help me in case I panicked.
‘Ah.’ No other words reach me.
‘Yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t say. It’s always a good idea for people around to know how to help you, though.’
‘You’re right… so he’s a really decent human being, is what you’re saying?’
‘Well… yes. I suppose that’s my point.’
‘Oh.’ I pause. ‘I really thought you didn’t like him.’
‘I only acted that way towards him because you did, and the whole drumstick fiasco, of course. I wasn’t about to start kissing his feet.’
I draw my legs up and wrap my arms around them for warmth, resting my chin on my knee.
‘So, you won’t consider it? Giving it a go, with him?’
