Page 36 of Love on the Run
“When it comes to your breathing, remember it’s in through your nose and out through your mouth.” He took a deep nasal breath and exhaled as described.
Watching him repeat the action, Hannah found the rise and fall of his chest mesmerising.
“Your turn,” he said.
Copying his actions, Hannah too breathed in and out.
“Excellent,” Gabe said, leaving Hannah surprisingly chuffed at the compliment.
As they set off down the street, it seemed Hannah’s happiness was short-lived. A stroll was clearly the last thing on Gabe’s mind. Hannah struggled to keep up and before they’d even got to the end of the terrace she felt short of breath. “Do we have to go this fast?” She seemed to be walking faster than she could run.
Gabe stopped to look at Hannah. “We’re not taking a Saturday morning walkabout.”
Hannah felt tears threatening her eyes. It was as if the years had faded away and Hannah was back in school faced with a less-than-understanding team captain. She stared back at Gabe, wondering what had happened to the caring man she’d previously met. The Gabe who’d sat down next to her on the pavement and listened to her snivelling. The Gabe who’d sent her a cocktail of pink flowers, invited her for coffee, and had just agreed to join Dorothy for a cup of tea. Equally as important, the Gabe who only moments before had admired her breathing. “I know that,” Hannah said. “But your legs are longer than mine. I’m taking two steps to your one.”
Gabe relaxed his stance. “Look, no one expects you to win this race you’ve signed up to. But it would be good if you could at least finish it, don’t you think?”
What Hannah wanted was to go home.
A picture of Beth and Archie’s pride during their last video call popped into Hannah’s head and knowing she didn’t want to disappoint them, she realised she’d no choice but to pull herself together. She nodded in answer to Gabe’s question.
“Well then. Let’s go,” he said, setting off again.
“Let’s go,” Hannah mimicked behind his back.
Picking up her pace to try to catch up with him, it seemed Dorothy had been wrong in her assertion about Liv. As it turned out, her friend would, indeed, set Hannah up with a drill sergeant.
Hannah frowned. She was convinced at any moment Gabe would start shoutingLeft! Left! Left, right, Left!
CHAPTER25
The sound of chatter filtered up from the kitchen. Hannah frowned, picturing Aunt Dorothy and Gabe laughing and joking over their cups of tea. Gabe had evidently switched back to his original personality and Dorothy was, no doubt, further beguiled.
Hannah strained to hear what they were saying but couldn’t decipher a word. “You might be able to fool her,” she said of Gabe. “But you can’t fool me.” Hannah had seen first-hand what lay underneath all that Greek god deliciousness. As far as she was concerned, the man was a monster.
She continued to scowl as she got dressed. Going off the noise, the two of them clearly weren’t missing her. Still, having spent long enough in the shower, Hannah knew she couldn’t loiter in the bathroom forever. She winced as she put on her slippers thanks to the blisters on her heels, and dragging her feet as she went, she made her way downstairs to join them.
Hanna stopped in the doorway, surprised to see Dorothy and Gabe weren’t alone.
“Feeling better?” Dorothy asked, spotting Hannah’s arrival.
“What’s going on?” Hannah’s eyes went from her aunt, to Mel, to Liv, and then Gabe, who wore bright pink. “And why is he wearing one of our T-shirts?”
“We’re having a meeting,” Dorothy said. “To organise the team bonding session we talked about earlier. I rang Mel and Liv on the numbers you left me the other evening. And Gabe was already here, of course.”
“I still can’t believe your Gabe and my Quentin are friends,” Liv said, interrupting.
Hannah couldn’t believe Liv was calling himherGabe. She cringed, not daring to look at the man to see what he thought.
Dorothy carried on. “We were waiting for you before making a final decision.”
“And I was just telling everyone about my upcoming date with Russel,” Mel said. “I know it’s only online. But finally. Oh, and I have a picture. Would you like to see it?” She pulled out her phone and excitedly passed it to Hannah. “Isn’t he handsome.”
Hannah took in Russel’s reddish blond hair and black-framed glasses. With a square jaw and great cheekbones, Hannah could see why Mel considered him good looking. However, with not even a hint of a smile, Russel’s intense blue eyes stared straight into the camera lens. His expression was so serious, in fact, Hannah couldn’t tell if he was exceedingly nervous about having his picture taken or planning a murder. “He looks lovely,” she said, passing the phone along so everyone got the chance to see it.
“I can’t believe I took your advice, Hannah. Who’d have thought it? Me, making the first proper move?” She clapped her hands together before suddenly falling quiet. She looked from Hannah to Gabe. “I take it this morning didn’t go too well?”
“It could have been better,” Gabe said.
