This Time Next Year(71)

‘That’s a sad story,’ said Minnie with a sigh, turning her attention back to the enclosure. ‘Quinn, I think you should adopt that one,’ she said, pointing at the penguin shuffling around with the pebble between his flippers.

‘He’s called Coco,’ said the old man.

‘Maybe he’ll get an extra ration of fish or something – might make his poor little love-struck day.’

Quinn and Minnie spent hours strolling around the rest of the zoo. Minnie was intent on reading all the information about every animal. She bought them ice creams as they walked. Quinn bought a headband with giraffe ears on for her and a hat with elephant ears on for himself. They chatted so easily about everything and nothing, veering effortlessly between silly and serious in the space of a sentence. Minnie liked this version of Quinn; she liked his manner, his humour, the ease he had with his own body. Minnie liked this version of herself, too; she liked the person she was around him. Now she didn’t have her defences up, she felt fun, optimistic, interesting. She hardly recognised herself and yet, somehow, this person felt like the truest reflection of who she really was.

When they’d finally seen all the animals, they stood near the exit and turned to face each other.

‘Well, thank you for that,’ Minnie said, biting her lip. ‘I’ve had a lovely time. Plus, now I finally know what a giraffe looks like.’

‘You’re welcome,’ said Quinn with a little bow. ‘Thank you for helping me choose a penguin.’

‘I can’t take you seriously with those elephant ears on,’ Minnie laughed.

Quinn pulled the hat from his head and looked back at her.

‘That’s better,’ said Minnie, reaching up to tap his nose with a forefinger. ‘You don’t have a big enough nose to pull off the elephant look.’

Quinn reached up to intercept her hand, to stop her from tapping his nose, but he held on a beat too long before letting her go.

‘I don’t know if you really get to adopt a specific penguin,’ Quinn said, his gaze following the hand he had let go.

‘That’s why I smuggled Coco out under my coat,’ Minnie whispered as she leant in towards him.

He reached out for her coat collar, gently pulling her towards him, pretending to look beneath her coat for the stowaway.

‘You’re full of surprises, Minnie Cooper,’ he said in a deep, soft drawl.

She looked up into his eyes, her face so close to his. He was going to kiss her; Minnie felt her heart in her throat, every part of her alive with anticipation. Then something flashed across his face. Doubt? Fear? He pinched his lips shut and turned their physical proximity into an awkward hug. He patted her back then extracted himself and turned briskly towards the exit.

What the hell was that? Minnie blanched. She hugged her arms around herself, wounded by the indignity of being patted like a dog. She’d been sure he was about to kiss her. Was she so deluded that she’d entirely misread this chemistry between them?

‘OK, well, this is where I … ’ he said as they stood next to each other in Regent’s Park. ‘I really should get to the office.’ He nodded his head to the right.

‘And I’m getting the bus up there,’ Minnie said, nodding to the left. ‘See you, I guess.’

She couldn’t conceal the hurt in her voice. She felt as though she’d just had the most perfect date of her life, and then had a door slammed in her face.

She dared to look up at him again, trying to see what that look had been a few moments ago, where the hesitation had come from. As soon as their eyes met again, he closed his.

‘Don’t look at me like that, Minnie.’

‘Like what?’

‘Like you want me to kiss you,’ he said, unable to look at her.

‘Why not?’ Minnie felt her voice catch in her throat.

‘I thought we could just hang out. I didn’t plan … ’ Quinn squeezed his forehead between finger and thumb. Finally, he looked at her, then dropped his gaze again. ‘I’m kind of seeing someone. I don’t want to be a dick here.’

Minnie felt the words like a punch in the stomach. ‘Oh right,’ she said quietly. ‘Amanda?’

‘No.’ Quinn shook his head. ‘Someone else. It’s not like, a relationship but … ’

‘I see. Busy man.’

Quinn took a step towards her. He blinked slowly. ‘I wouldn’t be good for you, Minnie, not like that, trust me.’

Quinn’s phone started to ring. He took it out of his pocket, looking at the display, momentarily distracted. Minnie set her jaw firm, trying to stop herself from crumbling where she stood. She watched him torn between saying more and taking the call – no doubt from her, whoever she was.

‘You can take it, I need to go anyway. And for the record, I wasn’t looking at you like I wanted to be kissed. I was just looking at you, Quinn.’

Minnie marched past him and kept walking. Hot tears instantly sprang from her eyes. She started to run. He called after her but she didn’t turn around, determined he should not see he had made her cry. What was wrong with her? She’d been so stupid to get caught up in today, feeling as though she was on some kind of magical first date when clearly he thought it was nothing of the sort. How could she read people so badly?

As she blinked away the blur of tears, there was only one person she wanted to speak to right now, one person she needed to see. She pulled out her phone.