‘How long have you been single?’ asked Manuela.
‘Mum! Seriously!’
The insane thing was that Manuela’s smile was so inviting that Georgie almosttold her that she’d been single since Max’s conception, until she realised that she’d probably have sounded as though she was telling her that for Raf’s benefit, not to mention the fact that not many people were single for theirentire adult lives and it was far too much personal information to impart.
‘Ha. Hope you get a good night’s sleep, Raf.’ She picked up her bag. ‘Bye.’
As Georgie walked out, she reflected that either Raf was verygood company or she should really make an effort to improve her social life because she’d enjoyed this hospital visithugely.
‘This really wasn’t necessary, but I’m verygrateful.’
Late the next afternoon, Raf folded his legs into the front passenger seat of Georgie’s car.
‘I did not enjoy that,’ he continued. ‘I shouldn’t moan, because a lot of people in there had much bigger problems, but I didn’t love the beeping monitors all night. I’m very glad that I talked them into letting me out today. And I have to admit that getting a lift from you is so much nicer than waiting for a cab. So thank you very much.’
He’d been discharged a day earlier than expected, and at such short notice that no one had been there to pick him up. Noah had put a message on their ‘Resolutions’ chat asking if anyone was free to go and get him, and Georgie had leapt in, insisting she should go because the whole injury was her fault. Which was true, and also it was ideal for spending more time with him and trying to work out how to get her secret back.
‘The least I could do.’ Georgie jumped as their fingers brushed as they did their seat belts up at the same time. Raf was large and her car was not. He looked quite ridiculous – and also very sexy – filling the entire half of his side of the front of the car. She was going to have to be careful when she changed gearor she’d end up touching his – very nicely solid-looking – thigh. ‘Given that it was all my fault.’
‘You are so right. If you hadn’t been there I’d just have ignored the cat and left it up there to die. Or let a drunk elderly person take his chances up the ladder.’
She smiled at him and then put the car into first, very gingerly, keeping her fingers strictly away from his leg, and began to roll forward out of the parking space.
‘Exactly. All my fault.’
‘So how’s your finger today?’ He shifted towards her to reach into his pocket on the other side and their shoulders touched for a second and Georgie nearly crashed into the car ahead of them. ‘Oops, sorry.’
‘Ha, my car’s too small.’ It really was. If she didn’t get used to being this close to him soon, she’d be hyperventilating by the time they got back to Melting. ‘My finger’s much better. Yours?’
‘Also much better. I still can’t believe that one cat can do so much damage.’
‘I know.’ Georgie shook her head. ‘Such sharp teeth. Total vampire material.’
As she stopped at some lights, she reflected that the journey back to Melting would be about half an hour, and then she and Raf would say goodbye and sometime soon Raf would go back to New York and would be in possession of her secret letter. Howwas she going to get it back? How would she stay in touch with him so that she could evenhopeto get her hands on it?
‘So when are you planning to go back to New York?’ she asked as nonchalantly as possible, as they headed past converted Georgian villas towards grander ones on the outskirts of Cheltenham. This was the second time she’d tried to ask him this; he was going to think she was obsessed with his whereabouts.
‘Quite soon, I think. But I’ll probably be backwards and forwards.’
Hmm.
Maybeshe could go on holidayto New York and steal it. If she went with Beth, say, it wouldn’t be too weird to visit him. They could take him Marmite or brown sauce. British people abroad always missed those.
They’d want to make sure he was home, though, if he was travelling back and forth.
‘So where’ve you been going on holiday since you’ve been living in New York?’ Honestly, she was becoming so devious.
‘I’ve been travelling within the US and South America.’
He had some very interesting stories about his travels and Georgie gave up for the time being on trying to work out how to get the letter back, and they didn’t stop talking and laughing until she pulled up outside the Duck.
‘Thanks again.’ He hefted his overnight bag (Noah had taken it to the hospital for him) over his shoulder and held a hand up. ‘See you on the thirty-first of December, if not before.’
Hopefully they’d be seeing each other way before the end of the year, Georgie thought, for her secret retrieval.
‘Yep. Have a good year.’
And that was that. He’d gone.
