Page 40 of The Happy Hour
Ash circled his right shoulder slowly. ‘I hurt my rotator cuff playing rugby, so flipping cars might be a step too far today.’
‘Such a shame,’ Jess said.
People were glancing at them, probably because of their hats, but she didn’t mind: her cap was warm and smelled comforting, and Ash had said she looked stunning in it.
‘Do you know what else was filmed here?’ He spread his arms wide. ‘One of the greatest movies of all time.’
‘Les Misérables?The Queen?Sherlock Holmes?’
Ash narrowed his eyes. ‘Have you been on the film tour before?’
‘No,’ Jess told him. ‘And definitely notthisfilm tour. I don’t care about the other one – there’s no way this one isn’t the best.’
‘I’m glad you think so, because I bet theothertour doesn’t talk aboutMuppets Most Wanted.’
Jess almost choked on her coffee. ‘Seriously?’
‘They used the Old Royal Naval College as a stand-in for Berlin. If we’re talking about films Ihaveseen, thenMuppets Most Wantedis near the top of my list of all-time favourites.’
Jess clutched her hand to her heart. ‘I’m giving up my Sundays to spend time with a Muppets fan?’
Ash looked affronted, and Jess’s stomach flipped at the stern expression, his eyes shadowed beneath the hat, which suddenly didn’t look ridiculous at all. She let her gaze trail over his wide shoulders, the way his black shirt clung to him. She wondered if he’d meant it about his rotator cuff, and if so, how sore it was.
‘Do you prefer horror films?’ he asked.
‘I would argue that all Muppets films fit into that category. Apart fromThe Muppet Christmas Carol, which is a yearly tradition, obviously.’
‘At least there’s one thing we both agree on. We have one more stop, but it’s a bit of a walk.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘I think we have time.’
‘I’m up for it,’ Jess said, and they fell into step alongside each other, walking a few paces in silence.
‘How has your week been?’ Ash asked, and Jess felt a strange mix of relief and sadness that he’d dropped his tour guide persona.
‘It’s been all right,’ she told him. ‘Though I had a shock, the other day.’
Ash’s steps faltered as he looked over at her. ‘What kind of shock? Are you OK?’
‘I’mfine. But I found something out about someone, and it’s shaken me a bit, I suppose. Made me re-evaluate things.’
‘Do you want to share?’ he asked gently. He moved closer to her as a cyclist clad in shiny red Lycra sped down the inside of the road, next to the pavement.
‘I don’t want to betray any confidences.’
‘I don’t know everyoneat the market,’ Ash said. ‘But if it’s someone you know I’ve met, then don’t tell me.’
‘You haven’t, as far as I’m aware.’
‘You can unburden yourself, then.’
‘OK,’ Jess said. ‘I’m going to call her... Tina, just to make things easier.’
‘Disguising her identity like in a Panorama documentary.’ Ash nodded. ‘Very wise.’
‘Shush. This is serious.’ She fought a smile. ‘Behave.’
‘I always behave,’ Ash said, in a low rumble that suggested exactly the opposite.
Jess’s breath quickened. ‘And stop distracting me. I’d actually love to know what you think, as a psychologist. You might be able to help.’
