‘No,’ she blurted, and his expression made it clear he didn’t understand the objection. Or maybe he just wasn’t used to that word. Tress had a feeling he didn’t hear it often.
‘No?’
She desperately backpedalled on the outburst. ‘I mean, I live out in Weirbridge. It’s miles away. I wouldn’t ask you to come out there to pick me up.’
‘I live in the West End, and it’ll take me twenty minutes from there. Honestly, it’s fine. At least that way I know you’ll show, and I won’t be left staring into the bottom of a beer bottle like Nobby No Mates.’
Tress pondered that. It did make sense. It would make life easier. And if Nancy found out that Rex Marino was taking her out tonight and she didn’t get to see him, she’d be apoplectic and may never speak to her again.
‘Okay. Pebble Cottage. River Lane. Weirbridge. And can you make it 8p.m., because I’ll need that time to put my son down, grab a shower, and schedule in at least three panics because I haven’t dressed up to go out at night for the last year.’
‘Done.’ Wow, the dimple in his chin was so sexy when he smiled. ‘And you can wear anything you like. Joggers. Pyjamas. Bin bag.’
‘Don’t joke. At least one of those was on my previous plans for tonight.’
He leaned over, kissed her on the lips, just a warm, gorgeous, brief, touch.
‘See you later?’ he murmured.
‘You will. Now run.’
Laughing, he turned, bolted through the door, and left her to travel one flight of stairs to her office. There, she packed up her stuff, changing her mind with every item she put in her bag. Laptop.I’m going to cancel. Pen.No, I’m not.Mobile phone.I can’t do this.Notepad.Don’t be bloody ridiculous, of course you can. It was a relief when she grabbed her jacket and made her way out to the car, because at least she was forced to pay attention to the world.
At the front entrance, Bob, the security guard, gave her a nod as he opened the door for her. ‘Bye Tress. Great to see Dr Noah today. Lifesaver, that man.’
‘He sure is, Bob. Have a good weekend. Love to Mrs Bob and the family.’
‘I’ll be sure to tell Mrs Bob you said that.’ She could still hear him chuckling when she crossed the road to the car park.
For a moment, she couldn’t remember where she’d put the car, because this morning had been a bit of a blur, but a press of the key fob set off a beep that told her where it was.
The traffic was just starting to get busy, but she still made it back to Weirbridge in the usual half-hour. As Tress drove into the village, she spotted an empty space right outside the general store. It felt like a sign, so she pulled in and hopped out of the car, deciding to pick up some flowers for Nancy and Val. Not that a couple of bouquets could even begin to repay them for allthey’d done for her and Buddy over the last year, but she took any excuse to show them that she cared and that she was grateful for them.
On the left of the flower section, there was a pyramid of Budweiser cases, so she picked up one of those for Noah too. He’d mentioned that he was popping over to his mum’s for dinner tonight, but she could leave them at his house for when he got home. And yes, maybe she was just pre-empting the guilt of texting him to say that she was going out on a date on the most significant day of their year. The thing was, she knew he wouldn’t mind. All she and Noah wanted for each other was happiness. No pressure. No rules. No expectations. Just unconditional love and mutual support.
Back in the car, she whipped round to his house, only a couple of streets away from her own, jumped out, grabbed the case of beer and was halfway up his path when she realised that someone was sitting on the bench by his front door.
Not just someone.
Tress’s body took charge and shut down. She stopped dead. Her legs refused to move. Her eyes narrowed on the woman in front of her.
Her former friend.
Noah’s ex-wife.
The woman her husband was sleeping with for the entire duration of their marriage.
After the longest of pauses, the words that came out sounded nothing like her own voice.
‘What are you doing here, Anya?’
15
NOAH
Keli had called just as Noah was running to the restaurant. He’d answered with a breathless, ‘Hey, you.’
‘Are you okay? Are you being chased? Or running a marathon?’ she’d asked.
