Page 70 of A Home Among the Snow Gums
‘It’s late. I wanted to see you.’
Her face split into a grin and he reached out to touch her messy braid (why, Tom? Why! Because he was a sucker for punishment, that’s why) and—
Too late, he realised they weren’t alone. Kylie was standing by the couch wrapping herself in scarves and a woollen cap and a hot pink fleece-lined jacket that a lumberjack would have been proud to own.
‘I’m just leaving,’ she said.
‘No need,’ he said. Kylie being there was perfect. Three friends, just hanging out, no thorny unrequited love drama lounging around like an elephant in the room with them.
‘Definitelyleaving.’
‘Kylie, it’s late,’ said Hannah. ‘You can’t walk home alone.’
‘I’m barely two minutes away and I have a six-inch spanner in my handbag. I’ll be fine.’ And with two kisses aimed loosely into the air either side of Hannah’s face, and a long, cool, raised-eyebrow look at him, she was gone.
Tom moved further into the flat. The dining table was set up for dinner with fancy glasses and napkins. The coffee table looked like a bomb had exploded on it. He cocked his head. ‘Is that Carly Simon playing?’
She sniffed. ‘You don’t get to arrive nine hours late for dinner and criticise my music.’
‘Two hours.’
She looked at her watch and it seemed to take quite a while for her to perform the calculation. ‘I’ll agree to three.’
‘Three it is. You seem to have a fair bit of wine on board, brat.’
She frowned. ‘More criticism?’
‘Not at all. Just an observation.’
She took a deep breath and stared at him and the silence lengthened long enough for him to remember that he had promised himself he wouldn’t come here tonight.
‘I guess now you’re here I can tell you that I’m sorry I didn’t answer all your text messages,’ she said at last.
‘I figured you needed some time. How are you doing?’
‘Good. Mostly. Good enough to know you were very nice to me at that effing wedding and I never thanked you.’
‘I don’t need thanks.’
‘But still. Up until the last ten minutes, I was actually having a nice time. That’s … kind of a big deal. So thank you.’
He shrugged. ‘You’re welcome. Since we’re being so adult and all and using our nice words, I’m sorry I didn’t answer your dinner invite.’
She looked across to the kitchen counter which, now he stopped to notice the dripping pans and scattered utensils and slight aroma of scorch in the air, was in an even worse state than the coffee table. ‘Calling it dinner might have been a stretch.’
‘Hannah,’ he said, moving towards her until his hands gripped her shoulders. ‘It’s been a long month. I’ve been worrying about you.’
She pulled away. ‘Not you, too. I get enough of that from Josh. I’m fine. I was embarrassed, all right? That’s why I needed to crawl into my cave for a while. I’ve been regrouping. I actually think travelling away and then getting the opportunity to tell dickwad that he was a … a … totaldickwadwas a good thing.’
‘Well, that’s good then. I’m pleased. Really pleased.’ He’d got what he came for, he’d assured himself she was truly okay, and now he needed to go before everything got sticky again. ‘I’ll, er, say goodnight.’
‘Not so fast. We had a deal, remember? I know I’ve been a little AWOL, but we agreed. My help with the campdraft for your support on out-of-town adventures.’
‘The campdraft is coming together. I know you’re busy; don’t worry about Marigold and her minions. I’ll tell them you’ve got too much on.’
‘Over my dead body. I’m helping.’
He frowned. ‘What?’
