Million Love Songs(56)

They barely look up and both mutter ‘Hi,’ in my general direction.

‘Hi, kids.’ I sound overly chirpy, like a CBeebies presenter.

Neither of them looks impressed and I wish I’d bumped into all of them while dressed in proper clothing, in full make-up and not being mugged by greedy geese. I know that Joe’s told me that he’s not ready for a relationship as he has commitments and wants to put his kids first after what they’ve been through. I understand that. But it’s different seeing them here in front of me. He does have other priorities. I get that now. Keeping two traumatised teenagers happy must be a full-time job.

‘I’ve been showing Ruby how to scuba-dive,’ Joe explains to them.

Clearly, this doesn’t rock their world. Eventually, Tom tears himself away from his screen and glances up through his fringe. ‘Cool.’

‘How’s it going?’ Joe asks.

‘I haven’t really been going,’ I confess. ‘Busy and all that. I should phone Bob and explain.’

‘That’s a shame. You were doing well.’

I shrug. ‘You know how it is.’ Somehow I have lost the incentive.

Then we’re a bit awkward with each other and Joe has half of his attention on the kids.

‘I’d better carry on before they come back,’ I say, one eye on the geese who are waddling determinedly in my direction again. Though I don’t really want Joe to see how much of me jiggles when I jog. ‘Thanks again. I’ll see you around.’

‘Yeah.’ He looks thoughtful when he says it. ‘Bye, Ruby.’

I wave and set off again, trying to look like a proper runner and not like a slug. I hope to God and all that is good that he’s not watching me.

‘Damn,’ I mutter to myself again. ‘Damn.’ I like him and, in different circumstances, I think he might like me too.





Chapter Forty-Five





Then Joe calls after me: ‘The kids are going to Gina next weekend. I’m free on Saturday night, if you’re around.’

That stops me in my tracks. I’m working and have no idea how I’ll get out of my shift as no one, NO ONE, wants to swap a Saturday shift. ‘Yes, I’m free too.’ I shout back.

‘Great. Pizza or something?’

‘Perfect.’

He grins at me. ‘I’ll pick you up at seven.’

I refrain from saying, ‘It’s a date,’ because, quite obviously, IT IS a flipping date! Yay! Go me! I have a date with the rather delectable and previously reluctant Joe Edwards. Clearly, he can’t resist my skanky running look.

Now his kids are paying attention too. They’ve both looked up from their phones and are gaping, slightly open-mouthed. Take that, teens! The oldies still have it.

Waving, I set off again. IhaveadateIhaveadateIhaveadate! I also have wings on my feet all the way back to the granny annexe and, until I collapse gasping on the steps up to my flat with oxygen debt, I barely notice that I’m in complete agony.





Chapter Forty-Six





‘Swap shifts with me,’ I beg Charlie on our bench.

‘No.’

‘Pretty please.’

She sucks on her e-cigarette. ‘No, no, no. Thrice no.’

It’s too cold to be sitting out on the bench today, but I don’t want any of the other staff overhearing this conversation, particularly not our manager. Charlie and I huddle together and she pulls her jacket around her. Our summer is coming and going as British summers are prone to do. Yesterday, shorts and scorchio. Today, cold enough for coats. The sky is as flat and dreary as Farrow and Ball paint.

‘I can’t miss this date with Joe.’ I try to sound as pathetic as I can. ‘He could be the love of my life, the one I’ve been looking for.’

‘He’ll wait,’ Charlie says.

‘He might not.’ I do my imploring face. ‘He hardly ever gets any free time to himself. He’s always got his kids and his ex-wife yanks his chain.’

‘That should tell you something.’

But I don’t listen to that bit. ‘I’ll swap you one shift for two shifts. Double bubble.’

‘No. And don’t even think about phoning in sick and dumping your work on the rest of us.’

‘I would never do that.’ I was thinking of it.

‘I’ll grass you up to Shagger Soames.’

‘It’s just one little Saturday. I’ll never do it again. I promise.’

She sighs. ‘Have you ever heard of playing hard to get?’ Charlie fixes me with a stern gaze. ‘First you go running off to Paris with Shagger and we both know how that ended up.’ She makes lascivious movements with her fingers, giving me a flashback to the night of my threesome with Mason as my dear friend had intended.

I hold up a hand. ‘Don’t.’

Unperturbed, she continues, ‘Now you’re chasing after this bloke who’s saddled with a couple of surly kids.’

‘I’m not chasing him,’ I point out. ‘He’s the one who changed his mind.’ I hug my knees to my chest and try to pretend I’m not on the verge of shivering. ‘The thing is, there are so few good guys out there that I want the chance to grab one while I can.’ I don’t mention that I think Charlie is letting one of the good guys slip through her fingers. And I don’t mean Gary Barlow. She could have a lovely relationship with Nice Paul but, for very good reasons, she’s closed herself off to any possibility of that happening.