Page 33 of One Midnight With You
He obviously hadn’t been expecting the question because he looked a little startled. ‘Oh. We were out on a job and I got manky. Changed back at the station afterwards.’
‘Ah, that makes sense.’ The rom com sweetness was wearing off, so she let that sit there, wondering if anyone else was sensing a slight awkwardness, or if this was all in her mind?
‘Anyway,’ he went on, ‘I had to nip to Asda for supplies for the lads’ dinner…’
Fair enough. The supermarket was right opposite the hospital and that was perfectly plausible.
‘So just thought I’d swing by and bring you this.’ From the pocket of the black padded Barbour jacket she’d bought him for his birthday, he pulled out a little clear plastic tub and inside was a cupcake with a heart in the middle. ‘It’s the ones you like. The red velvet. I feel bad that I’m not going to be with you at the bells tonight, so I thought this could be the second best thing.’
That fired straight into her chest and tugged at a heart string. It was the kind of sweet, considerate thing he used to do when they started seeing each other. She’d fallen madly in love with all the contrasts in his personality. On the one hand, he was a real lads’ lad, who played football and basketball and liked a game of snooker with his mates. On the other hand, he loved lying on the couch with his head on her lap, watching old episodes ofFriendsbecause it was her favourite show.
On one side, he could be a party animal who loved a night out and a good time, and acted like he didn’t have a care in the world, but on the other, he would – quite literally – run into a burning building to save someone.
He was this big strong guy who wasn’t the best when it came to talking about emotions, but then… well, then he would bring her cupcakes to let her know he was thinking about her.
‘That’s the loveliest thing, thank you.’ She almost held it in. Almost. In the end, she dressed it up as a joke. ‘Unless you’re doing it to soften me up because you’ve done something terrible. In which case, I’ll need a bigger cake.’
Her suspicions took over, suddenly convincing her that she saw him flush a little and then commit the heinous crime of blinking too quickly.
‘Nope, not guilty,’ he acted as if he was in on the joke. ‘Anyway, did you decide what you’re doing tonight? Are you going out or staying in?’
Why did he need to know? To what purpose? Was he projecting something? Didn’t psychologists say that cheaterswere the most paranoid about being cheated on? Or was that a line from a documentary about the Tinder Swindler?
‘I’m not sure yet. My mum got a better offer. Aunt Gwen got out of hospital and, believe it or not, they’ve decided to go to Gino’s. They’re at the hairdressers right now getting ready.’
He was as surprised as she’d been. ‘Gino’s? That’s the last place I thought she’d go.’
‘Yep, me too. And, in other news, my dad’s dumped Donna and wants Mum back, but that’s a story that’ll require a lie-down in a dark room, so I’ll tell you later. It’s been quite a day.’
‘Sounds like it.’
‘But as for tonight… I’m not sure. I’ve been trying to call Gran, because I wanted to see if she fancied some company, but I haven’t got her yet. I’ll probably do that though. Or, if she’s having an early night, I’ll just go home.’
He seemed pensive as he absorbed that. ‘Okay, well, drop me a text and let me know.’
Why text? she wondered. She would usually give him a call on his night shift, and if he was out on a job, he’d just phone her back when he was free. Why did he want to switch to texting all of a sudden?
After glancing around to check there were no patients in sight, he leaned over the desk and gave her a very quick, workplace-appropriate peck on the cheek. ‘I’d better get back. I’ll try to give you a call later, but it just depends how busy we are. I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be crazy.’
‘No worries at all. Thank you for the cupcake. First lovely thing that’s happened all day. I’ll see you in the morning…’
‘You will,’ he said, flashing that cute grin again as he backed away from the desk. ‘See you later, ladies,’ he raised his voice so Keli and Yvie would catch it, although Emmy was almost 100 per cent positive they’d listened to every word. ‘Happy New Year when it comes.’
The two of them snapped their heads up and chirped their goodbyes, returning the most used phrase in Scotland today.
Emmy watched his back as he went all the way down the corridor, then gave her a wave before going out the door.
Yvie came over to stand beside her. ‘Aw, that was lovely. He’s a catch, that one. Has that put your mind at ease and squashed all your worries?’
Emmy paused. Thought about it. Weighed it up. Looked at it from all sides.
‘Nope, I’m even more sure now that he’s up to something.’
And she was absolutely positive that she wanted to find out what it was.
19
DARIO
