Page 15 of In the Long Run
‘I’m happy to help too.Maybe we can draw up a schedule at dinner tomorrow night?You think Eug will be up to it?Yeti texted me earlier about it,’ she says.
‘That something you do?’he asks.‘Text with Yeti regularly?’
She harrumphs and plants her hands on her hips.‘Yes, Knox.All the time.He loves it when I call him Sir.You know I can barely tolerate that human-shaped lump of swagger.’She rolls her eyes before shifting her attention to me.‘He can’t turn it off.’
‘Hmm?’
She lifts her chin at Knox.‘The protective instinct.Will you please help remind him that he doesn’t have to be everything for everyone?That it’s okay to accept help?’
Maybe I have misjudged Knox.
‘I really would be happy to help Eugene out,’ I say.‘And I owe you a favour, remember?’
Celeste looks up from the takeaway box she’s filling with extra treats Knox didn’t ask for.She winks at me and adds a slice of opera cake to it.
‘That’s too much stuff.Eug isn’t very hungry right now,’ Knox says.
‘What a shame.I guess you could always share it with someone else.Maybe in your front courtyard?For breakfast.Like a neighbour?’She makes a point of looking at me and raising her eyebrows in challenge.
Now it’s awkward again.I pull out my phone as another message from Brand comes through.
Brand:What’s taking you so long?Can you get me a cappuccino?
God.He’s outside.He must be.How can he think harassing me would make me want to date him again?There’s a reason why Hallmark doesn’t make a ‘thank you for stalking me until I realised I wanted to be with you!’card.
‘You know what?’I’m proud of myself for sounding normal.‘Breakfast would be great.We can figure out how I can help Eugene.’
And it won’t hurt for Brand to see me with Knox again.
6
KNOX
The flat’s quiet when we get back.I leave Gen in the courtyard with Madeleine and Chouquette, ducking inside to grab two plates and a couple of knives.Impulsively I swipe a blanket off the back of the couch as well.
Gen’s sitting at one of the wrought-iron chairs that matches the little table Eugene’s had forever.Her hands are wrapped around her coffee, and she’s untied her hair so it tumbles everywhere.Her nose is pink, cheeks all rosy, mouth plump.Every time I see Gen, she’s more beautiful than I let myself remember.
If I allowed myself to have a type, she’d be it.
And she runs.Active women have always been my kryptonite.
‘Thanks,’ she says when I pass her a plate.Her gaze doesn’t stay on me for long though.She cocks her head to the side and rolls her lips inside her mouth, surveying the park in front of us.It seems like there’s something on her mind, but I don’t want to pry, so I sip my coffee and pull out the chair next to her.The metal feet scratch along the pavers.
Wherever he is right now, Yeti’s shaking his head at me.He shouldn’t be surprised though.I’ve never been confident talking to women.A therapist would suggest it has something to do with always bracing myself for people to leave when they find out what happened when I was younger.And they wouldn’t be wrong.
Eventually I think of something to say.‘Brought you a blanket too in case you get cold.’
Gen’s running tights and jacket cling to her curves but they don’t look warm enough, considering the sun’s still climbing into the sky.She hums appreciatively and wraps herself in the tartan blanket.Unsurprisingly, she looks great in it too.
I sit and nudge the box from Alizée’s towards her.‘Ladies first.’
She places her drink on the table and taps her fingers against the top of the cardboard.‘How do you feel about cake for breakfast?’
Not favourably, but I keep that to myself.‘It’s all yours.’
Gen lifts the slice of opera cake and holds it in front of me.‘I’ve had indecent thoughts about this cake, it’s that good.’
I hide my smile in the top of my coffee cup.This is more like the night we met, before I stuffed everything up.I want to keep the easy, fun conversation going, so I say, ‘Should I leave the two of you alone together?’
