“How could I forget somebody with such a silly name?”
Hanna watched as Ruby slowly walked through the main gate, never once turning back to look at them. When she looked over, Richard’s face was pulled down into a frown. Even Nathan looked glassy-eyed.
“Do you fancy a coffee?” Hanna suggested, trying to find a way to cheer them all up.
“I’m meeting a couple of friends this morning, but you go ahead.” Nathan leaned forward and gave Hanna a gentle squeeze. “It was a real pleasure to meet you, Hanna. The way you look after Ruby is awesome.”
“She’s an easy kid to love.”
“Somebody should tell her that.” Nathan agreed, and then gave Richard a slap on the back before walking up the street, back toward the tube station.
Hanna turned her gaze back to Richard. “Coffee?” she asked again with a gentle voice.
Richard turned to look at her. “That sounds good.” As he stared down at her, she could see the good humor returning to his face, his lips curling into a crooked smile.
She reminded herself that it was just a coffee. They would sit opposite each other and discuss inanities while sipping lukewarm—rather mediocre—coffee, from a chipped, over-used mug. It meant nothing; it was just two friends sharing some time together. She wouldn’t be looking at him and wondering if he liked her. She wouldn’t be thinking about that snowy night in New York City, when for one electrifying moment she thought he might be about to kiss her.
She wouldn’t be doing a lot of things.
Telling Josh about this coffee date was one of them.
THEY WERE RESTING near the statue of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, blanketed by the warm summer air. Richard lay back, his head propped on his rolled-up jacket. Hanna lay curled up beside him, her cheek resting on his chest. An empty bottle of expensive wine lay on its side next to them. They were both feeling a little drunk.
“Ruby will be home soon,” he murmured, his hand tangling in her hair, playing with her loose tendrils.
“Mmm.” Hanna’s eyes remained closed. He could feel a slight moistening of his t-shirt where her mouth was.
“Are you dribbling on me?” He lifted his head to get a better look.
“I don’t dribble.” She was suddenly awake, whipping her head around to catch his eye, surreptitiously wiping her lips with the back of her hand. Richard laughed at her telltale gesture.
“Come on, admit it, I make you salivate.”
“Your modesty is scaring me.” Staring up at him, she bit her lip to restrain a smile before poking her tongue out and licking his t-shirt. “But if you’re going to accuse me of something I haven’t done, then I’m going to do it, anyway.”
Clocking the expressio
n on his face, she jumped up and grabbed her bag, running over the open grass. She passed the statue in the middle of the lawn, heading toward the wooded area surrounding them. Grabbing his coat, Richard ran after her, his long, fast strides allowing him to catch her before she even reached the first oak.
“You’ve got no chance,” he laughed. Hooking his arms around her waist, he pulled her body back to his. He could feel the softness of her stomach rising and falling in line with her short, sharp breaths.
Hanna tried to wriggle against him, tugging at his arms, trying to escape. He held firm, keeping her body contained within his embrace, fighting off her attempts to get free. Her breathing slowed. He could feel his own heartbeat starting to calm after the unexpected burst of activity.
They went back to pick up their trash, disposing of it in a nearby bin, and began their long walk back through the park. It was nearly 3:00 p.m., and though Nathan was picking Ruby up from school, Richard had promised to be waiting for her at home as soon as they arrived.
“So, how are things with Josh?” he asked. They reached the Long Pond, following the path around until it became the Serpentine.
Watching as a smile crossed Hanna’s face, his stomach clenched in response to her happiness. He tried to work out why her obvious attachment to her boyfriend caused such a reaction in him. They were just friends. So why was he feeling jealous?
“He’s good. We’re good. It’s going to be strange not having him with me at university this year.”
The pain in his stomach lessened. “Why won’t he be there?”
“He graduated in July. He has a trainee journalist position here at The Guardian. He’s moved into a little flat in Earl’s Court.”
“Are you guys going to stay together?”
“Yeah, of course. We’re only a couple of hundred miles apart. We can see each other at weekends and holidays.”