‘OK. We’ll let Jonathan deal with the news in as dignified and private a manner as he can; it’s his news, no one else’s,’ she said solemnly, before pulling her hand back.
Adrian seemed satisfied with that and offered her another chocolate, rubbing his shoulders into the pillows behind him.
Maybe Mirren wasn’t aware of it but she too shifted so she was more comfortable, moving a little closer, cradling her mug of tea in both hands, her eyes now fixed back on the screen. ‘So what’s this movie about then?’
‘It’s about an angel sent from heaven to help this guy who thinks his life is a mess. He shows him what life would have been like for those around him if he’d never existed.’
‘Oh.’ Mirren took that in for a moment.
‘Am I talking too much?’ Adrian said suddenly, in a strange, slightly slurred accent.
‘What?’ Her eyes snapped to his, amused. ‘What the heck was that supposed to be?’
‘It’s James Stewart.’ He nodded at the screen. ‘Didn’t it sound like him?’
‘If he was doing an impression of Sean Connery, maybe. That was terrible.’ She couldn’t help laughing.
‘Aww, come on, it’s one of the most famous lines in the movie. I sound just like him.’ To prove it he tried again. ‘Am I talking too much?’
She screwed her face up playfully, but he was determined to go on, switching characters now.
‘Yes! Why don’t you kiss her instead of talking her to death?’
They both laughed but Adrian’s eyes darted back to the screen again, having fallen, just for a second, to Mirren’s mouth.
Excruciating silence followed; even the film score was quiet for an agonising moment.
Mirren couldn’t help smiling when she realised Adrian’s eyes were boring into the screen and he was smirking, both of them feeling the awkwardness dragging on until it was impossible not to acknowledge it with a sniffed laugh.
There was no hope of concentrating on the movie now. Mirren glanced at him. His thick, black-rimmed designer spectacles reflected the moving images on screen and she watched the soft blink of his dark lashes, long from this angle, longer even than her own. His lips were parted as he pretended to be rapt in the film.
‘You’re watching me,’ he said, still avoiding her eyes, and his lips tugged into a smile.
‘I was just thinking…’ she began.
This made him turn his head.
‘You told me you weren’t dating. Why is that?’
He reached a hand into his thick hair and mussed it with a deep exhalation, shifting to face her properly. ‘Umm, well. Let’s see. My ex told me I’m not great at being a boyfriend. In fact, not just one ex.’ He inhaled through gritted teeth like the words stung but his eyes were still full of humour.
Mirren tipped her head, listening.
‘Apparently, I’m a lot like my dad in that regard. My parents divorced when I was eight. They marriedreallyyoung and it just wasn’t going to work. Mum said he’d always been bloody-minded, focused on himself and his work and, I don’t know, based on my past relationships and my girlfriends’ helpful feedback maybe I take after him. In Dad’s defence I think he’s changed a lot. He remarried – so has Mum, by the way – and they’re both pretty happy now. Maybe Mum’s still a bit bitter about it. But I can’t help thinking that recently Ihavebeen too focused on work, you know? But I really thought theExaminerwas worth saving. I’d do anything to keep that place going and make it the theatre paper it used to be. It’s too late now though.’ He shrugged, absorbed in his thoughts. ‘After my last girlfriend broke things off I decided to stay away from relationships for a bit. It was easier to be alone and just… work.’ The glaze over his dark eyes disappeared and he fixed Mirren with a penetrating look. ‘But then I met you and…’
They weren’t laughing any longer. Mirren’s hand strayed from the mug she’d been clasping for dear life and she touched her fingertips to his wrist and what felt like sparks burst from their touching skin.
‘Will you tell me about you, and why you’re avoiding love?’ Adrian said softly.
She shook her head at that word. It wasn’t love she was avoiding; it was herself, the very worst bits of herself, and the situations that brought out the worst in her, but right that second her vow didn’t seem as pressing as it had in the days before. This didn’t feel like the kind of situation she’d ever been in, the kind that made her feel scared, or stupid, or both. Right now all she felt was warmth, so she put her mug on the windowsill by the bed and leaned closer to Adrian in his soft jumper and he lifted his arm so she could snuggle into his side.
‘This isn’t breaking your rules, then?’ Adrian said, as their eyes settled on the movie once more. Mirren didn’t answer but curled her legs up and let Adrian rest his hand over her hip. ‘You’re going to love this film,’ he said, smoothing his hand in a slow circle against her side. ‘Everyone gets a second chance at Christmas.’
For one drawn out thunderbolt of a moment Mirren listened to Adrian’s breathing before gathering a handful of his jumper across his chest into a fist and pulling him gently down the pillows until they were face to face. There was a disconcerting moment where Adrian nearly spilled his tea and Mirren had to rescue the mug, but somehow it didn’t matter because he was smiling with shining eyes, and it was Christmas Eve, and they were so close to kissing, and maybe this washersecond chance. So she closed her eyes and let him hold her close to him, their mouths brushing with irresistible softness that felt like melting.
Chapter Thirty
‘Eat and drink as friends’
