Edward stood up. ‘Dance with me?’
Anna pushed back her chair slowly. They weren’t a couple who did this, who danced in their flat. But she couldn’t say no. He folded her into his arms and they swayed. She put her head on his chest, felt his heartbeat, its steady thunk. She’d always felt secure in his arms, but now, she felt sort of trapped.
When her phone rang, they both jumped a little.
‘It’s Nia,’ she said, pulling it out of her pocket. ‘I’d better get it. She’s still having problems with that ex, Charlie.’
Edward pulled a face but didn’t make a move to stop her.
‘Hey, Nia.’
‘Anna, I’m sorry, I know it’s your anniversary…’
‘It’s okay. Are you all right?’
‘Not really. It’s Charlie. He came to my office and tried to follow me home. I ducked into a pub and now I’m standing in the doorway, waiting for him to leave.’
‘Text me where you are. I’ll come now.’
Anna hung up. She looked at Edward and he shook his head slowly, as if he couldn’t believe what she had said.
‘I’m sorry, okay? She needs me. Charlie’s following her home.’
‘I don’t want you to put yourself in danger. She should be calling the police, not you.’
Anna sighed. ‘I’m her best friend, Edward. Of course she would call me. And I don’t think he’s dangerous. He’s just too persistent.’
She went out into the hallway, stepped back into her shoesand picked up her bag. Just as she was opening the door, Edward called through.
‘I bought dessert, you know. For you, Anna. I don’t even like dessert.’
She didn’t go back, but when she was on the Tube, she wondered what the dessert was. She would eat it when she got home, in bed. And then she’d make it up to him.
As Anna approached the pub, she saw Charlie pacing up and down outside. She turned her head away and slipped in without being noticed.
Nia was sitting at the bar on a high stool with a glass of red in her hand. She stood up when she saw Anna and took her in her arms.
‘You’re hardly cowering,’ Anna remarked.
‘What’s a girl to do? You can’t exactly wait in a pub and not have a drink. Speaking of which’ – she turned to the barman – ‘another of these, please, and one for my friend here. Thank you, Josh.’
She looked at Anna when she said his name and Anna couldn’t help bursting into laughter.
‘When are you going to stop with that?’ she asked.
‘I’m just saying. Works in food, too – well, sells crisps and nuts and stuff.’
‘He’s still out there,’ Anna said, noting that Nia hadn’t bothered to ask. ‘Charlie.’
‘Of course he is. He’s obsessed with me. We’ll just have to wait him out. Shall I ask Josh to make that a bottle?’
Anna laughed.
‘I am sorry I interrupted your anniversary dinner, though. In all seriousness, I was pretty scared when I arrived. Wasn’t I?’ She looked over at Josh, who slid the drinks across to them and raised his eyebrows.
‘She did seem concerned. I suggested she call the police rather than her friend, but…’
‘That’s such a man thing to suggest,’ Nia said. ‘So what did Edward cook? Pasta?’
