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“No worries,” Carts said.
“Okay, then, shall we go? We can grab a coffee after.”
“Don’t you have to be at Trojan’s?’
“No rush.” Nope, Aaron certainly wasn’t falling over himself to get to Trojan’s. Not these days. A radical shift in his priorities had taken place.
Carts looked pleased. “I’ve got until 8.30. My suit’s in my car. If I can change into my work gear here, we’ll have time.”
As they ran, Carts spluttered and complained. Stopped every five minutes and dropped his hands to his knees, puffing loudly. Drank from his water bottle ten, maybe fifteen times? Aaron waited patiently each time. He could forfeit his fitness regime for once. It gave him time to think about his text exchange last night with Alice.
Aaron:How did it go seeing your dad?
(Yep, he’d had his heart in his mouth sending that.)
He waited, no answer, so he got out the vacuum cleaner, thenping.
Alice:Amazing. Thanks. (smiley face)
Promising. Hope flared in his chest.
Aaron:How’s the indifference going?
Alice:????
Aaron:As in, r u indifferent enough to me to meet up yet?
Alice:Maybe.
Aaron:It’s Gran’s birthday party next Saturday.
Alice:I know.
Aaron:Are you coming?
A long, long silence, during which Aaron had vacuumed under the coffee table, around the couch, under the couch. With frequent stops to check his phone. Finally, he couldn’t stop himself.
Aaron:Gran would love it. I would love it.
Come on, come on…
Alice:Okay.
Aaron:Meaning?
Alice:Okay, I’ll come.
His heart had done a tap dance. Oh, what the hell;he’d sent a kiss-blowing emoji. After a couple of minutes, Alice sent a smiley face back. Okay, no kisses, he’d worked out he’d have to earn those from here on. He was prepared to work his butt off just for one sugar-coated marshmallow kiss. More than that, Aaron refused to think about. Not if he wanted his fly to do up.
By now, Carts had stopped panting, hands still on his knees as he looked up from behind a slick of sweat-drenched hair. “Christ, you never said there would be hills.”
Aaron grinned. “That’s not a hill.” He pointed to where the path wound steeply through thick bushland. “That’sa hill.”
Carts groaned. “Pleeease, someone kill me now.”
Forty-five minutes later they were both showered, suited up and perched opposite each other on high stools at the coffee shop next to the train station.
Aaron steeled himself. “I think we need to clear the air.”
