This Time Next Year(107)

Minnie quickly checked the flat but nothing looked to be missing. Lucky was sitting contentedly on the sofa licking his paws, and she rushed over to pick him up, nuzzling her face into his fur.

‘I guess maybe I didn’t shut the door properly when I left,’ she said with a frown. “My dad warned me the door had a dodgy lock.’

Quinn stood in the hall, as though waiting to be invited in.

‘Where did you go?’ he asked.

Minnie came to stand opposite him and he reached out to take her hands in his.

‘Westminster Pier – I missed the boat.’

‘I wasn’t on it,’ the dimple on Quinn’s cheek creasing into life.

‘I can see that,’ she said, biting her lip. ‘You came all the way up here, you missed your party.’

‘If you want to stay in and hide from the jinx, I will stay and hide with you.’

‘I thought I might have missed the boat with you too … ’ She paused awkwardly. ‘ … I didn’t know if you’d still feel the same.’

‘Minnie Cooper, I think it’s time I showed you exactly how I feel.’

He put his hands gently on her face, and Minnie had that funny feeling she’d had so often before, that Quinn Hamilton might be about to kiss her. This time she was right. He leant over and gently pressed his lips to hers. His mouth was tender but firm; his hand stroked her hair down around her cheek. Her skin fizzed with electricity and Minnie had to reach backwards for a wall to support herself.

After a few blissful minutes, Quinn pulled away, sniffing the air, his nose wrinkly.

‘Do you smell curry sauce?’

‘It’s me. It’s all over my trousers – it’s been an eventful evening.’

Minnie shivered. She’d got so cold her body was finding it hard to warm up. Quinn rubbed his hands up and down her arms.

‘Maybe I’ll just have a quick shower to warm up and de-curry? Then I’ll be right with you. Hold this thought!’

The hot water scorched her skin and she watched her belly go pink under the stream. The heat was heavenly. Quinn knocked on the bathroom door. Minnie turned, nervously clutching her hands around her body. Was he coming in? Would he be that bold?

‘Oh I, er, I just wanted to check you didn’t actually call the police,’ Quinn called out.

‘Oh, no,’ she called back. ‘I didn’t. That’s just what I shout when I think a burglar is chasing me down the street.’

‘OK, good, just checking. Sorry to disturb.’ His voice sounded nervous. Minnie smiled to herself.

What was going to happen now? Was she going to go out there, kiss him again and pick up from where they’d left off the last time he’d been in her flat? She closed her eyes under the water. She wanted that, of course, but she also felt nervous – could anything live up to the expectation?

She dried herself in the shower and crept through to the bedroom. She wanted to get changed rather than talk to him with nothing but a towel between them. She threw on her warmest clothes; a green polo neck and yesterday’s jeans, then she went through to the living room. Quinn was sitting on the sofa with Lucky on his lap.

She sat down next to him, suddenly acutely aware of the empty Malteser packets, and the looming face of Margaret Thatcher on her TV screen where she’d paused The Iron Lady.

‘Minnie, I am so glad you called tonight. These last few months without seeing you … ’ He trailed off and put a hand up to her face, pulling her gaze to meet his.

‘I promise you, I’m never going to stop you from having that Mustang moment when you need it. And I’m sorry I hurt you, I was scared to feel like this – to not be in control.’ He took a breath. ‘It took me all these months to realise I wasn’t scared of you needing me, I was scared by how much I needed you.’

‘I’m scared too,’ she said quietly. ‘It’s overwhelming.’

They looked into each other’s eyes and in the stillness of the moment, beyond the owls communing with each other, a new dialogue opened up between them. They held hands in the semi-darkness. Suddenly, Minnie knew what she wanted to do.

‘What time is it?’ she asked.

‘Nearly half eleven,’ said Quinn.

‘Let’s go out. Let’s take a picnic to Primrose Hill and watch the fireworks. I’ve always wanted to do that.’

‘Go out? what about the jinx?’ he asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

‘What jinx? I make my own luck these days.’ Minnie cocked her head at him. ‘I just want to do one New Year right, one New Year where I’m not stuck in a toilet or an airport or A&E or hiding at home watching TV. I just want one proper midnight, to start this year right.’

She said it tentatively, not sure if he’d understand. Quinn smiled, something behind the liquid of his eyes flashed in comprehension. Minnie’s owls were not happy about what she was saying; the owls wanted her to get naked with Quinn as fast as possible, but she overruled them – the owls were short-termist creatures.

‘Let’s go find ourselves a midnight,’ he said, standing up and reaching for Minnie’s hand.

Minnie rummaged around her kitchen cabinets and pulled out a picnic blanket. She threw a few picnic supplies into a canvas bag and then they were out of the door and into an Uber.