Page 98 of Love Letters on Hazel Lane

‘Why are you so bothered anyway?’ said Kate.

‘He’s a good friend. I saw her with someone else and well… I didn’t want him getting hurt.’

‘Hmm. And the rest.’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘Anyway, you needn’t worry about Razz. Zoey didn’t turn him down. She didn’t have to. He never got in touch.’

37

She’d been avoiding him for absolutely no reason, Jo thought next morning, as she drew up a schedule for the following week’s shoot: a documentary following some actor from EastEnders as he went on a mission to rescue an endangered species of bird.

Why had she just assumed that they were together?

It had been her own insecurity talking, convincing herself that she had lost him.

And why on earth hadn’t she asked Kate for clarification in the first place?

She’d been too afraid of the answer – that was why. She didn’t want to ask for fear of hearing how loved up the two of them were.

Ludicrous. It seemed totally ludicrous now.

She decided to text Razz.

Fancy meeting up tonight? Drink? Or dinner even? My treat.

And then she waited.

His reply took a whole three hours and seven minutes to arrive. Jo had almost given up hope.

Sure. New pizza place in Hebbleswick. Fancy it? 8 o’clock?

Perfect.

*

‘I wasn’t sure if you’d say yes,’ Jo said to Razz.

They were sitting opposite each other in Emily’s latest venture, Garlic ‘n’ Games. Her (Not So) Little Board Game Café had been such a big success in Essendale that she’d decided to expand her little empire.

‘I nearly didn’t,’ he said. ‘We were so close, Jo, and then you…’

There was a cough. Jo looked up to see the waitress standing by their table.

‘Do you need a few more minutes?’ she said.

‘No, thanks,’ said Razz. ‘I’ll have a margherita, please.’

‘Aren’t we having starters?’ said Jo.

‘No starter for me. The margherita and a sparkling water.’

The waitress looked at her.

‘Pepperoni please, and a glass of Pinot Grigio.’ Jo glanced down at the menu again. ‘And I fancy some dough balls.’

‘As a starter or with the mains?’ the waitress asked.

‘With the mains, please.’

When the waitress had gone, Razz looked round at the huge board games pictures on the walls.