Page 93 of Pyg

“I tried to talk Facilities Management into putting a bench out here, and some plants to make a proper little garden out of it. I pitched the wellbeing angle; it’d be somewhere for people to get away for a bit.”

“It’d be perfect for that.”

“Unfortunately they knocked it back for health and safety reasons, but I suspect it was funding.”

“Shame.”

Ash nodded. “I usually bring a cup of tea up here.”

“Mmm, yeah, a cup of tea right now would be perfect.”

“Best I can offer you is a couple of fingers.”

Alice whipped around so fast she almost caused herself another injury. “Sorry, wha?—”

Ash’s lips quirked into her wonky smile as she held out a red wrapper. “Kit Kat. Do you want half?”

“Right, yes.”Of course, that’s what she meant. Christ, Alice.“Thank you.”

Leaning on the railing and looking out over the vista, Alice nibbled the chocolate off the wafer fingers, whilst Ash crunched hers.

“Mmm, delicious, but so much better after it’s been dipped in tea,” Alice said.

“Yuck, I don’t do that.”

Alice looked at her, mouth open in mock outrage. “What? Come on, at least tell me that you’ve used a Crunchie as a straw?”

“What? No!”

“Doctor K., you haven’t lived. I’m going to have to buy you a Crunchie now, aren’t I?”

Ash smiled as she gazed into the distance, squinting slightly in the sun. Alice scanned her profile. A few strands of Ash’s glossy black hair floated in the light breeze, fluttering around her face. Alice resisted the pull to reach out and gently tuck the hair behind her ear, as well as the urge to touch her face and curl her fingers around Ash’s jawline, to caress her soft, smooth skin. Alice’s eyes dropped to Ash’s lips, which lifted into a smile as she turned to face her.

“What?” Ash asked.

“Huh?”

“You’re staring at my mouth. Have I got chocolate on my teeth or something?”

Alice breathed a laugh. “No, no… it’s just…”

“Just what?”

Alice felt the heat rising into her cheeks and turned away. “Did you used to come up here with your ex?”Why did I ask her that?

“Yeah, it was Sam who showed me this spot, back in the day.”

Great.

“Does being up here still remind you of her?” Alice asked, hoping for an immediate, “No,” which would’ve paired nicely with an, “All I can think of at the moment is you,” and she wouldn’t have declined a, “Let’s go back to yours and get naked,” to finish off with.

But none of that came and Ash looked so lost in thought that when she spoke again, it startled Alice a little.

“I wasn’t entirely honest with you about Sam.”

“Oh?”

“My life is more complicated than I perhaps implied.”

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