One Hundred Proposals by Holly Martin Page B

had the most glorious body, he was so big in every sense and I just wanted him to wrap his arms around me and hold me like he did the other night. But clearly that wasn’t going to happen with Samantha, ready, willing and able, waiting for him inside.
    ‘Oh!’ Samantha’s voice sliced through the air above us. ‘It’s you.’ The disappointment was evident. I looked up at her and saw her shifting awkwardly, not least because Harry hadn’t taken his eyes from me. She was dressed just in his shirt, it swamped her but with her hair tousled and her lips red she looked every inch the sexy girlfriend.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ I mumbled to Harry. ‘I didn’t realise you had company when I came over. Don’t worry about me, go and have some fun.’
    I took a step away from him but he caught my hand. ‘Don’t go.’
    ‘What are you suggesting, that I join you for a threesome?’
    He laughed. ‘I don’t think I could cope with that. You naked in my bed…’ He rubbed his hand across his eyes as if to dispel that image from his brain.’
    I was mortified. ‘Right well on that rather unflattering note, I’ll leave you to it.’
    Harry caught my arm. ‘Wait, I didn’t mean…’
    I pulled my arm from his grasp. ‘I got it.’
    ‘I don’t think you do…’
    I turned and walked away. Could this evening get any worse?
    ‘Hey, wait up.’ I heard Samantha’s voice call out to me. Oh apparently it could get worse. I turned to see her running across the green towards me, Harry was standing at the top of his steps watching us curiously.
    ‘Look, Harry told me about your brother, I’m very sorry to hear that.’
    ‘Erm thanks.’ Where was she going with this?
    ‘Harry’s a great guy.’
    ‘He is,’ I said, cautiously, painfully aware of what a mess I looked like in comparison to her effortless beauty.
    ‘I know he’s been there for you a lot since James died.’
    ‘Jack.’
    ‘He feels sorry for you. He told me.’
    Wow. That hurt a lot more than it should.
    She stared at me, her eyes were honest and clear. ‘I like you Suzie, and I don’t want to see you getting hurt. Just… don’t confuse pity and kindness for love, because it’s not that. If he wanted to be with you, he would be with you.’
    Talk about brutal honesty.
    ‘Samantha!’ Harry called. There was a warning edge to his voice. He didn’t like that she was talking to me, or warning me off more like.
    Samantha smiled at me. ‘Have a good night.’
    I watched her turn and run barefooted across the grass and straight into Harry’s arms. With a last look from Harry they disappeared into the house.
    Samantha was right. Harry wasn’t shy. If he had any feelings for me he would have told me by now. And, after the quick dismissal of the idea of me in his bed, I wanted to get down on my knees and thank the powers that be that I had never declared my undying love to him that night. He wouldn’t have told me quite so bluntly but the conversation would have been mortifying.
    I turned away and didn’t look back. Yes it hurt, but to finally have it confirmed was like a weight off my shoulders. I was free, there was to be no more wondering if his kind actions or words had some ulterior motive, no more thinking that one day we would fall into each other’s arms and live happily ever after. That was never going to happen now. For the first time in two years, I could finally move on.
    *
    I knocked on Jules’s door early next morning. She’d be up, Bella always woke up ridiculously early.
    I had lain awake most of the night thinking about Harry and I needed some kind of distraction from him today.
    Jules opened the door looking very dishevelled and her eyes widened when she saw me.
    ‘Did I wake you, aw sorry mate, I thought you’d be up by now, with Bella.’
    I kissed her on the cheek and pushed past her into the house.
    ‘Bella’s still asleep.’
    ‘I thought we could go out today, maybe London Zoo. Bella loves the animals.’
    ‘Great idea. I’d