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Anna hurriedly pulled tissues from her pocket and tried to mop up the worst of it. ‘How I missed my mouth, I’ll never know,’ she said, trying to hide her fluster levels.
‘You okay?’ he asked.
‘No, I’m not really comfortable with the whole “I’ll need something in return” scenario.’ She was feeling brave and she liked Liam’s surprised expression.
‘Oh, I meant … the coffee.’ They both swallowed and looked uncomfortable. ‘It’s nothing prohibited. I just wondered what your thoughts are on … us?’
Anna’s hand wobbled and she returned her cup to the safety of the table for fear of a second dousing. She narrowed her eyes as she stared at him for a moment. Was he joking?
‘Umm, I don’t know what you mean, Liam.’
Liam stretched his legs out, dug his heels into the carpet tiles near to Anna and pulled himself and his wheelie chair up close to her. ‘I’ve tried hard to ignore it. But being around you … I think we acted too hastily when we said it was over.’ He gave a practised smile and Anna almost laughed.
‘Now you’re joking. Aren’t you?’ She still wasn’t sure.
‘No.’ His forehead puckered. ‘I spoke to Hudson and I didn’t get the feeling he saw you as anything more than a fling.’ Anna was momentarily offended and then she remembered and gave herself a shake. ‘Anna, you and I were great together. I’m willing to give our relationship another go if you are.’ There was that smile again.
‘Bugger me,’ said Anna. Liam gave a lascivious look and opened his mouth. ‘Don’t even go there,’ she said, her tone harsh.
He leaned a fraction closer and went to take her hand. ‘What do you think?’
Derision slid across Anna’s face. ‘Liam, I think you are a supercilious shit, beyond deluded, and so far up your own bottom you’re inside out. And not only is my mind thinking “no”, it’s screaming it.’
For once Anna had said what she thought and it felt great. Liam’s face was a picture but Anna feared she may have just sealed her redundancy. She raised an eyebrow, stood up and left.
Anna was sitting in the communal lounge with Bert. It was good to see him being a bit more sociable rather than shutting himself away in his room. They both had large takeaway cups of coffee and sipped them in unison.
‘What’s new?’ asked Anna.
‘These bloomin’ chairs for starters,’ said Bert, wriggling himself about in the large armchair. Anna realised the room was filled with them. All in dark green, very uniform and inoffensive.
‘Are they uncomfortable?’
‘Hmm, it’s not like the old chair I used to sit in. I liked that one better.’ He gave an uncharacteristic pout.
‘Us humans aren’t good with change. I’m sure you’ll get used to it.’
He nodded but was still pouting. ‘How’s Maurice? Has he brought you any presents?’ he asked.
‘He’s excellent, thanks. He’s brought me a few mice.’
Bert brightened. ‘Oh, that’s just the start.’ He chuckled to himself.
‘I’ve bought him some sponge balls to play with instead,’ said Anna hopefully.
Anna hadn’t been to visit for a while so she had lots to update Bert on. It was like bringing someone up to speed on a long-running soap opera when they’d missed a few episodes.
When she’d finished Bert nodded sagely. ‘On my reckoning that makes three.’
‘Three what?’
‘Young men who are after courting you.’
Anna shook her head. ‘No, just Connor and Liam. And seeing as Liam has already let me down and I am very much over him, it leaves Connor.’ She’d only met Connor once, and they’d spoken on the phone a couple of times since. They were taking things very slowly at her request, but so far, so good.
Bert was frowning hard. ‘But what about the American?’
‘Hudson. He never was in the running.’
Bert relaxed back into his chair and breathed out slowly. ‘At first you hated Hudson because he was doing your job.’
‘Hate’s a little harsh …’
Bert gave a slow nod. ‘You disliked Hudson at first. Then the two of you clubbed together against Liam. You seemed to be close through the summer until you found out he wasn’t in a homosexual relationship …’ Anna noticed a few heads turn in their direction but Bert was unaware so he continued. ‘So how has finding out he’s not gay put you off him?’
Anna opened her mouth. ‘I was never on him!’ Realising what she’d said and the sound of hearing aids being turned up she decided a more carefully considered reply might be better. Bert did have a good point. ‘The thing with Hudson is I liked him as a friend. As a gay friend, I guess. And now he’s not my gay friend it all feels a bit weird.’ It was the truth. She had relaxed into an easy friendship with him knowing there would never be anything else between them. It had been safe and comfortable and there was no pressure to be anything other than herself around a very good-looking man without worrying about her behaviour and, if she was being honest, how she looked. Now she wasn’t sure what their relationship was. They were still rubbing along okay at work but things did feel different between them. She finished her coffee and put the cup down.
‘This Connor chap then. Too good to be true?’ asked Bert.
Anna was taken by surprise by the comment and a snort of a giggle escaped. ‘I don’t know. He seems nice enough.’
‘Nice?’ Bert pulled a face. He was as judgemental as Sophie over her word choice.
‘Yes, nice is a good thing. I like him.’
‘Hmm,’ said Bert, feeling for the table to put his cup on. ‘If I ask you a few questions you have to answer honestly with which of the two men pops into your mind. Okay?’
‘Not really. It sounds like being on Jeremy Kyle.’
‘I can’t stand him, the whining West Ham supporter. Come on, humour an old man,’ said Bert, shuffling to the edge of the seat.
Anna let out a loud sigh. ‘O-kay.’ She closed her eyes and concentrated. ‘Ready.’
‘Going to the cinema.’
‘Connor. Hudson and I can’t decide on anything.’
‘Trapped in a lift together.’
Anna was tempted to ask what floor they were on: if it was high up in one of those glass ones she’d probably pass out anyway so it wouldn’t matter who she was with. Connor would be calmer than Hudson but Hudson was a better talker. ‘Hudson, if we’re going to be stuck for anything over half an hour.’
‘Have a row with.’
‘Hmm, Hudson. I don’t think I could have a row with Connor.’ Her lips lifted at the edges as she thought of how easy-going Connor was.
‘Dress shopping.’
‘Connor. Hudson doesn’t have the patience.’
‘Be silly with.’
Anna paused. She was going to say Connor again but she couldn’t recall laughing with him like she could remember laughing with Hudson. ‘Either.’
‘No. That’s not the game. Choose one.’
‘Okay.