Page 63 of All Right No

“Maybe then, yes,” she agreed, while alarm bells rang inside her head, and her heart started pumping like she’d just done a two-hour workout session in the gym. She bit her tongue and kept her eyes tightly closed, praying he didn’t turn that odd little statement into a formal proposal. If he did that, then there’d be no more delaying that huge heart to heart they still needed to have. She knew continuing to put it off was a risk, but these last few days, he’d been doing so well, and she hadn’t wanted to knock the wind out of his sails or risk their relationship. Truthfully, she’d expected more forward motion by now on those aspects of her past that required attention. She’d have to call again tomorrow and check that the nudging had taken place.

She turned onto her side, facing away from him, but Ash snuggled up to her back. “I love you, Penfold. I didn’t ever think I’d feel like this again, but you made it happen.”

“I’ve barely done anything.” Was the second part in reference to love, or were they talking about his future with the band? “Didn’t I mention I’d rather be Jeopardy Mouse?”

“But D.M. and Jeopardy Mouse always fight, whereas Danger Mouse and Penfold are a team.”

“She’s sexier.”

“Yeah, I know… I know, but—”

“One without the other is like strawberries without fish fingers and custard—”

“—fish paste and broccoli,” he corrected her. “You’re mixing your fandoms.”

“Yeah, well none of those things actually go with one another.”

“Have you tried them?”

He had to be joking. “Can’t say I’ve had the pleasure.”

Ash released a huge sigh, of what sounded like relief. “Phew, that sorts breakfast out, then. I was really struggling with what I ought to offer. I didn’t want to serve you plain old eggs again. The omelettes were super messy and Spook’s back tomorrow. I might not have minded the idea of him murderlizing me a couple of days ago, but I’d rather he didn’t now.”

“Actually, I prefer my strawberries with cream.”

Ash settled himself more comfortably again. “No probs, I can fold the fish paste and broccoli into it.”

Bleurk…bleurk…bleurk!Never mind Spook ending him. If Ash served up that crap, she’d do it herself.