Page 63 of It Was Always You

‘And don’t you forget it.’ She smiled as sadness tugged at her heart.

After they had eaten a cooked breakfast together courtesy of Adam using whatever he could find in Lily’s fridge, the friends stood at the sink washing up.

He flicked soapsuds at her. ‘You should join the twenty-first century and buy a bloody dishwasher, you know.’

‘There’s only one of me, and I don’t produce enough washing-up to warrant adding to the hole in the ozone layer, actually.’

He stood silently for a while. ‘Lil?’

‘Yes?’

‘Can we go through some of the profiles together? Will you help me?’

She turned to glance at him. ‘What… now?’

‘Why not?’

She swallowed hard. ‘Well, because it’s Sunday, and I’ve got many things to be doing with my time today.’

He scrunched his face. ‘Like what?’

She shrugged. ‘Stuff… things… you know.’ She tried her best to sound convincing.

He fluttered his long dark lashes at her. ‘Come on, Lil. Please?’

‘Sod off, Adders, you can’t get around me like that.’ Who was she trying to kid?

‘Please, Lilington McPretty Pants. I’ll be your very bestest friend in the whole world, forever and ever. Please?’

She pursed her lips, trying not to laugh. ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, Adders, you really are a big girl, and a pain in the arse.’

‘Seriously though, who knows me better than you?’

She shook her head. ‘Oooh, I don’t know… your mum?’

‘Oh no, she doesn’t. You know me best of all. And do you honestly think I would ask twinset and pearls for relationship advice? The most significant relationship she’s had outside of Dad is with her tomato plants.’

Lily laughed. ‘Well, they say that they grow better if you talk to them.’ She pulled her lips in, trying to stifle a full-blown laugh.

‘Exactly… so please will you help me? Just to go through them?’

She rolled her eyes for what felt like the millionth time. ‘Ugh. Go get my bloody laptop, will you?’

Adam logged into his profile and nervously clicked on his matches. He tapped his fingers as he waited for the list to load up.

Thirty-five matches.

Lily’s eyes widened. ‘Flippin’ heck, Adders! Aren’t you mister popular?’

He grinned at her, feeling a little embarrassed. ‘I know. I couldn’t believe it.’

She clapped her hands together decisively. ‘Okay, let’s go through them, one by one.’

‘Okay… here goes…’ He clicked on the first profile.

Lily read aloud from the description. ‘Thirty-four-year-old busty brunette. Loves cats⁠—’

He shook his head. ‘Nope… next.’