‘Right now, getting wet. I just… think we need to talk.’
‘Alex…’
‘Come on, please. I won’t stay long, I promise.’
My heart instinct got stronger. I told him to come up. Flicking off the television, I went to the door, opened it and leant against the jamb, waiting for Alex to appear. A moment later he turned the corner at the end of the hall, dripping from the rain.
‘Oh my God!’ Paler than usual with shadows under his eyes, his handsome features looked drawn and tired. His right eye was swollen, the bruise surrounding it beginning to bloom outwards. I stood back to let him in.
‘Please tell me Charlie didn’t do that.’
Alex screwed his face up momentarily. ‘Of course not. Why would he?’
‘I… I just…’
‘Oh. Right. Of course. I should have known he’d be the first one you’d call. I guess I’m in the doghouse with him then too.’
I glared at him, stung. ‘Excuse me?’
‘I came up to explain that I was late because—’
‘Late? You were a bit more than late! You didn’t even show up!’
‘I’m here, aren’t I?’
‘We weren’t having dinner here! And now is not five hours ago!’
‘So, you rang your knight in shining armour instead?’
‘No! I was waiting at the bus stop in the pouring rain and he drove past.’
‘Whereupon you told him your tale of woe?’
‘What the hell is wrong with you? You’re the one that stood me up and yet it’s me that seems to be in the wrong!’
Silence settled heavily between us. Alex turned, his hand on the front door catch.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said, his voice lower and softer. ‘I didn’t realise you were actually in bed.’
I looked down at the dressing gown I was wearing. ‘I wasn’t.’
He turned back and I gave a quick flash to show that I was still dressed underneath.
‘Nice dress.’
‘Thanks,’ I replied.
We stood there.
‘So, what happened to your eye?’
‘A lucky swing from a bunch of troublemakers.’
‘Do you need ice on it?’
‘I will, when I get home.’ He met my eyes and the meaning behind that sentence was understood, if unsaid. This weekend was supposed to have been a turning point. An opportunity to get to know each other better. It was still shaping up to be a turning point but not the one either of us had envisaged. A look passed between us. The possibility that we could right this thing hovered in the air. But we both knew the truth.
‘Do you think you should get it looked at?’
