Page 44 of Love or Your Money Back
CHAPTER
Freddy may well be the only person I’ve ever met who is brave enough to tell me what to do. Which right now is a real relief.
‘Here we go.’ Freddy places plates on my coffee table, which is a glued-together pile of classic books with a glass top. ‘Vegetarian king thali, salt lassi and a poppadum with extra ghee.’
I shuffle forward on the sofa. ‘Are you going to tell me why you have scratches all over your face?’
‘I told you. I got hit by a baguette.’ Freddy scoops up curry with Peshwari naan. ‘Nothing for you to worry about.’
‘I’m not worried. I’m curious. How did the baguette come into things? Wait a minute. Ahmet had a picnic. You and Ahmet didn’t get into an altercation, did you?’
‘Of course not. I like Ahmet. We had a good chat. After you left. I got some valuable market insights.’
‘Oh. Good. What are they?’
‘Ahmet really likes you. And Marcus thinks you are, I quote, perfect marriage material.’
‘No way!’ I sit up straighter. ‘I was worried Marcus would think I was insane and desperate. Chris blabbed about Project Marriage, and Marcus walked off –’
‘I know,’ says Freddy. ‘Marcus told me. Then he thanked me for introducing the two of you.’
‘So, who did you have a fight with, then?’
‘Who says I was in a fight?’
‘Your bashed-up hand.’
‘It was nothing. The guy was an utter prick who deserved it.’
‘Oh my God.’ I throw a hand to my mouth. ‘Chris! You fought with Chris!’
‘Not a fight,’ says Freddy hastily. ‘He came at me with a baguette and I punched him. Maybe I shouldn’t have done. But he was saying bad things about you and I lost it.’
‘You hit Chris?’ I confirm. ‘For saying bad things about me?’
‘Look, I know you’re a vegan and all of that –’
‘WHICH DOESN’T MAKE ME A PACIFIST! And I’m a vegan who eats cheese. Wow. Wow
.’ I reach for a spoon, careful not to jerk my arm.
‘What?’ Freddy asks.
‘I don’t know how to feel about this.’ I spoon curry onto a plate with a minorly shaking hand. ‘Is Chris okay?’
‘Don’t do that.’ Freddy snatches the spoon from me and takes over the curry dispensing. ‘Don’t waste your pity on that arsehole. He doesn’t care about you. If he did, he’d be letting you get on with your life.’
‘You’re right.’
‘I’m sorry. Say that again?’ Freddy puts a hand to his ear.
‘You’re right. Chris doesn’t care about me. There were moments when I thought … well. I got it wrong. He doesn’t care about anybody but himself.’
‘Tell me I’m right again. I need to record it.’
‘Oh, shut up.’
‘Listen.’ Freddy hands me back my spoon and puts the plate on my lap.
‘I’d better stay in your guest bedroom tonight.
You’re not moving well and you need someone to bring you tea or romance novels or whatever.
But no funny business, okay? I know I’m irresistible, but we’re business partners and work and romance don’t mix. ’
I laugh. ‘Can you imagine the two of us together? We’d kill each other.’
‘Yes, we would. But we’d probably have a lot of fun in the process.’
‘Do you know something, Freddy?’ I load curry onto my spoon. ‘You seem to have a positive effect on my MS. I’ve felt better since you’ve been here. So I accept your offer. On medical grounds.’