‘Thank you, kind sir.’ He was very tall. ‘Your arm’s very strong,’ she said, as they walked round the village green to the postbox on the opposite side from the pub. ‘It’s got very nice muscles.’ She gave them a little squeeze.
Raf was laughing. ‘I’m going to get you a nice pint of water when we get back inside,’ he said.
It was very slippery again next to the postbox.
‘Slide, slide, slide.’ Georgie was swishing her feet backwards and forwards. Raf caught her just as she started to spin through the air.
‘You should only have swished one foot at a time.’
‘You’re very wise.’ Georgie wagged a finger at him. ‘I’m going to remember that for next time.’ She looked up at him.
She hadn’t kissed anyone since Max’s conception, exactly twelve years ago to the night. Raf had very kissable-looking lips.
‘I like you,’ she said.
‘I like you too. And you are very, very drunk, so we’re going to have a little walk all the way round the green and then we’re going to get you some water.’
By the time they got back inside, everyone except Beth had finished.
‘She’s writing a bloody essay.’ Ankita was tapping the table a little impatiently with her pen. ‘She’s on her third side of A4.’
‘It’s important to explain things fully,’ said Beth. ‘And I’ve almost finished now.’
‘Here you go.’ Raf placed two pint glasses of water down in front of Georgie. ‘I think you might feel better in the morning if you drink this now.’
‘Thank you,’ said Georgie happily. ‘You’re very nice.’
She downed the first one.
‘That was quite watery,’ she said.
‘That’s water for you,’ said Raf, grinning. ‘Have the other one.’
‘Okay.’ Georgie downed that one too, a bit more slowly. Then she slid down onto the sofa next to the fire and closed her eyes.
‘Georgie, wake up,’ she heard Ankita say some time later through a bit of a fog.
‘Mmph.’ Georgie dragged her eyes open. ‘Ow, my head hurts.’
‘Mine too.’ Ankita pulled her arm. ‘Beth’s finished. Time to go home.’
‘Okay.’
Wow. When they got outside, the air was so cold it was like it was biting into your forehead.
Georgie took a couple of steps along the icy path and then suddenlyremembered. She stopped still and Beth bumped into her from behind.
Oh fuck. Fuck, fuckfuck.
‘Are you okay?’ Beth asked.
No. She really was not. She’d made a monumental mistake.
Fuck.
‘Fine,’ she said in a strangled voice. ‘Night.’
And she dashed off across the village green to her mum’s house as fast as she could, only nearly breaking her ankle on the ice about five times on the way.
