Chapter 30 #2
Margery left them to it while Helena and Johnny pored over the figures for what felt like the hundredth time.
Her next step would be to register the business with Companies House, before applying to become a CIC.
They leafed through the different designs for the kitchen and the air ventilation system, the different options for the refurbished toilets.
There would be so many decisions to make, if she managed to get the money.
They discussed different ways she could raise the funds required, searching online for different grants she could apply for.
‘You know I think it’s so great, how inspired you are,’ Johnny said, lifting his eyes from the laptop.
‘It’s impressive. How you’re going to turn a really shit time in your life into something so positive.
’ Her fingers grazed against his lightly as she gathered her papers together.
She felt that electric charge flicker between them again.
Helena blushed at the praise. She met his gaze and she felt herself tingle under the warmth of it.
His beard was even scruffier than usual.
The creases around his eyes deeper than ever as he smiled.
She couldn’t deny it any longer, she was attracted to him.
She mentally shook herself. He was a close friend, that was all.
Besides, there was a strong possibility he was dating Nathalie.
‘Thanks. I mean, I have absolutely no idea if I’ll be able to pull any of this off…
But, thank you. And for all that you’ve done to help me get this far. ’
‘It’s always a pleasure. Any excuse to come and hang out here.’
‘You miss it?’ she asked. She knew she was asking a leading question, trying to figure out if she was imagining things. Could he possibly have noticed this shifting dynamic between them as she had? Or was it all in her mind?
Johnny laughed to himself, searching her eyes but for what? ‘Something like that,’ he said.
‘Well, I really appreciate it. I don’t know what I’d do without you. And Margery.’
‘The feeling is most certainly mutual,’ Johnny smiled. ‘I—’
‘I—’ They both spoke at exactly the same time.
‘Sorry,’ they both said, overlapping again, before bursting out laughing.
‘You go first,’ Johnny said.
‘I was going to say…’ There suddenly felt like a lot she wanted to say, but she couldn’t find the words.
Instead, she said ‘I don’t know about you, but I’m knackered.
’ She thought he looked disappointed. If she was being honest, she wanted to tell him that she realised she liked him more than as a friend.
But she couldn’t risk it. What if it destroyed their friendship?
That was so precious to her, she would do anything to avoid losing it.
She knew that saying something like that would change everything between them.
Besides, he would want to avoid someone with a romantic history like hers like the plague, especially after everything he’d been through with Naomi.
She continued, ‘My head is spinning with all of this.’
Johnny rubbed his forehead and yawned. ‘You’re right.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘It’s far too late. And I’ve got to be up at the crack of dawn to meet Malcolm in the morning.’ She chided herself for considering that he might have had anything else on his mind other than an early night.
‘Oh yes! The witch!’ she laughed, grateful for the new topic of conversation.
‘Exactly.’
‘How’s it going with him?’
‘The greenhouse is up and running, the herb garden’s pretty well established. I think he’s happy. And I’ve got several new clients through him too, so that’s good. He’s been great at sending work my way.’
‘Keeping you out of mischief!’
‘Well, I don’t know about that,’ Johnny raised an eyebrow. ‘Sadly, my own garden lies neglected. I need to make some time to sort it out.’
‘Let me know if you need any help with that? I really want to learn more about gardening, but I’ve got no idea what I’m doing.’
‘I’d love that,’ Johnny smiled.
He bent down to kiss Helena goodbye, his beard felt surprisingly soft against her cheek.
A small voice inside her head wondered what it would feel like to kiss him, and she had to silence the sudden crazy impulse to do exactly that.
Johnny pulled her into the warmest of hugs.
She caught the scent of bonfire smoke clinging to his jumper and found it hard to tear herself away.
There was something about him; she was always sad to leave his company whenever they said goodbye.
‘Bye then,’ she said. ‘And thanks again for all your help.’
‘Good luck with the grant applications. Let me know how it all goes.’
As Helena closed the front door behind him, she told herself off for indulging herself in romantic notions about Johnny.
She was clearly imagining things due to her distinct lack of love life.
He was definitely not interested in her like that.
Perhaps she just needed to find herself a one night stand, and stop this crazy train of thought in its tracks before she ended up losing one of her only friends in the process.
She needed to focus on her new business, no distractions.
She could hardly believe she had come this far.
If she could raise the funds there was nothing stopping her from making her dream a reality.
It made her feel sick with nerves but also heady with excitement at the same time.