“I’d better not have too much more,” said Annie. “I’ve got work in the morning. And I need to be on top form, I’ve got Billy in tomorrow morning for a trial.”
“Billy?”
“One of the truants who was in the Nook the other day.”
“Is that wise?”
“Why? Because he was playing hooky? Didn’t you ever bunk off?”
“Well, I,” John spluttered indignantly, “yes, I suppose . . .”
“And did that mean you were untrustworthy?”
“No, but . . .” He shrugged. “You’re absolutely right. I’ve not got a leg to stand on.”
“Ely vouched for him, Billy and his grandad used to fish with him. Besides, I’ve got a good feeling about Billy. I think he needs someone to give him a chance.”
John looked at her for a long moment and said: “I think Billy is very lucky.”
The evening had felt as if they were in their own little cocoon, despite the hubbub around them. It was just her and John: his face; his mouth; his deep, smooth voice; the curl of his words; his long, slender hands; the worry lines on his forehead; the sharp line of black stubble at his jaw. Was it just the booze? she wondered. The conversation between them was easy. It had been a long time since Annie had talked like this with anyone, and she didn’t want it to stop; she felt as though she could talk with John forever and never get bored. Ridiculous, she knew. And yet here she was, sharing her thoughts and hopes in a way she hadn’t done since she was teenager.
When the bell rang for last orders, Annie was shocked by how quickly the time had gone. She was even more surprised, when, what seemed like only a moment later, Raye came gingerly to their table and said apologetically that they were closing up. Annie looked around her. The last customers left in a flurry of scarves and coats; a swirl of damp leaves gusted in like a swarm of brown butterflies as they opened the door. And just like that, the spell was broken: Annie was a grown-up again, with responsibilities and saggy boobs.
“I’ll walk you home,” said John, getting up from the table.
“Don’t be daft. There’s no sense you walking all the way down to the Nook, only to have to come all the way back up here. I’m perfectly capable of walking myself home.”
She stood up and felt the carpet shift beneath her feet as though someone were pulling it from the other end of the room. The sangria had really packed a punch. She stumbled, just a little, as she bent to pluck her coat from the back of the chair. John put his hand out to steady her. Annie recovered herself, swayed a little on the spot, and laughed.
“Maybe I’ll get a taxi,” she said.
“Maybe that’s for the best. I’ll call you one now.” John whipped out his phone and made the call. He seemed to know the person at the taxi rank. He chuckled and asked the person on the other end of the line how Thea and the girls were getting on.
“Ten minutes,” said John, a moment later.
“I think I’ll wait outside.” She was feeling hot and a bit woozy.
“I’ll wait with you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
“I’ll just pay up,” said Annie.
“It’s done.”
“It’s done?”
“I asked Raye to put it on my tab.”
“Let me give you my half,” said Annie, fumbling in her handbag for her purse.
“I don’t want half. I wanted to treat you to dinner.”
“Oh!” Annie was taken aback. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to. Call it a goodwill gesture to make up for us getting off on the wrong foot.”
“Well, thank you. The next time is on me.”
John raised an eyebrow. “There’s going to be a next time?”
Annie realized she’d jumped right into that one. She felt her cheeks flush. “I don’t see why not,” she said, trying to be cool and collected. “There’re bound to be things that need to be discussed at some point, and we may as well do it over a good meal.”
John smiled and helped her into her coat. “We may as well,” he said.
Annie called her good-byes to Raye and Aiden. John said he would be back in when Annie’s taxi arrived, and Aiden promised not to lock him out.
Annie shivered as the outer door gave way with a creak and opened out onto a wall of navy blue cold. Annie pulled her coat closer around her and parked herself on a wooden picnic bench. Across the road, she watched the lights go out one by one in the Sunken Willow and imagined Pam and Bill making their weary way to bed. Bed. She shivered again, a convulsive full-body shudder. John sat down beside her, and she forgot the cold; suddenly all she could think about was his nearness.