Page 58 of Toy Boy

“Because I genuinely didn’t know what was happening, Hanna. I didn’t. We’d got talking, and yes, we clicked, and yes, there was an attraction there, but I had no idea that anything was going to happen. Not so soon.”

Her expression changes again, and I hate that there’s a sadness in her eyes, a sadness my actions have caused.

“Are you and him…? Are you, together?”

The way she asks that, it’s like it’s the strangest thing in the world, for me and Xander to be thought of as a couple.

“I suppose we are. Sort of. I’m not sure it’s that straightforward, and it certainly isn’t anything serious, he isn’t here forever, is he?”

Her shoulders sag in defeat, and she turns her head away again. “I’m sorry, Megan, I don’t know why I’m trying to make you feel guilty about this, I just – I really liked him.”

“I know you did.”

She looks at me, and she tries to force a smile, but it’s doing a terrible job of reaching her eyes. “I just had to get it off my chest, that’s all.”

“I understand. Look, have you told anyone else, about me and Xander?”

She shakes her head. “No. I don’t think it’s my place to do that, especially when I didn’t really know what was going on.”

But she had an idea, and the fact she hasn’t even told Iona or Graham is testament to the kind of person she is.

“Thank you, Hanna. It’s not that Xander and I are trying to keep anything secret, as such, it’s just, well. You know how this place can work sometimes.”

This time when she smiles it almost reaches her eyes. Almost. “Yeah. I do.”

“So, if you could keep it to yourself for now, I’d be really grateful.”

“Of course.” She starts to walk towards the door.

“Hanna?”

She stops and turns around. “Yes?”

“You know can talk to me, don’t you? I don’t want anything to change that, I’m always here for you if you need me. Always.”

Another smile.

“I know.”

And then she’s gone, and I watch her head back into the kitchen, and I still feel that guilt swamping me.

You did nothing wrong.

I know. But it still feels like I have…

Scott

“They want to write an article about you, specifically about your time in Denmark and the research you did over there, as well as the pioneering surgery you performed.”

Tania perches herself on the edge of my desk, clasping her hands together in her lap, and it’s no surprise that my eyes immediately drop to her long, slender legs, crossed elegantly at the ankles. She’s wearing a knee-length, navy-blue dress, but the second she sat down it rode up a little, and I’m sure that was deliberate, on her part. Tania is an expert in PR, she’s an exceptional professional, but also an incorrigible flirt. Is it harmless? Probably. Like I said, we have history, a history I still think she’d be quite happy to revisit, but I’m trying hard not to let that happen. However, she’s become someone I love being around, a breath of fresh air in a town that can sometimes be quite stifling. Especially when you’re not everyone’s favourite person.

“I thought I made it clear that I didn’t want to do any interviews.”

“Oh, come on, Scott! When did you suddenly become shy?”

“It’s not a case of being shy, Tania. I just don’t have time to suddenly become the new face of this hospital. Besides, what would Greta say?”

She lets out a snort of derision, and I can’t help but smile. “This has got nothing to do with Greta.”

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