Which was absolutely true. It was just the last thing she needed to hear when her head was still ringing, presumably from a bang.
‘I know, I know, sorry.’
A kindly older man offered to help her up but by this stage she was back on her feet, still too shocked to register any pain. All she could think of was the last time they’d met .?.?. and judging by William’s face, he was thinking the same.
‘Erm, sorry .?.?. Look, I was away at the weekend. Are you OK? I have to go now .?.?. once you’re all right .?.?. Are you all right? You seem to be .?.?. which is great, but I’ll get in touch, OK?’
Ally was too dazed to think of a reply so nodded mutely as William climbed on his racing bike and headed off in the direction of Celtic Concrete.
She limped the short distance back to The Owl’s Nest and pushed open the door.
‘Bloody hell, what happened to you?’ Pete was unpacking his tools and setting up for the day.
‘Nothing, nothing, a guy .?.?. I know .?.?. crashed into me on his bike but I’m fine, I think. I suppose it gives a whole new meaning to “I ran into someone” .?.?.’
She petered out, realising Pete and Evelyn were staring at her in alarm, and glanced down to see that her leggings were ripped and her knees underneath were bleeding.
‘Jeez, come back here and sit down. I’ll get the first-aid box,’ said Pete, while Evelyn offered to make tea.
He dusted the sawdust off a chair for her to sit down. She looked at the ripped leggings – how was she going to manage this discreetly?
Pete was rummaging in the first-aid box so she peeled them off, too dazed to care that she was now sitting opposite Pete in her knickers, while thanking the great influencer in the sky that she’d had her legs waxed recently. Getting knocked down was bad enough but getting knocked down with hairy legs .?.?.
‘It was totally my fault, the whole thing .?.?. I’m fine,’ she blabbed.
‘Will you stop it, you’re probably still in shock. Sit still.’
She tried to explain about William while leaving out the part about their last meeting, obviously. She realised it was something she didn’t want Pete to know. He carefully poured disinfectant on cotton wool, and the familiar smell of Dettol filled the room. Ally began to feel comforted. She found herself focusing on the tossed, dusty brown hair and powerful shoulders she’d observed the previous day tearing down a partition wall,but here he was, gently wiping the grit from the cut on her knee, which was still bleeding. For a second she felt her hand almost reaching out to touch his hair. Stop it! What was she thinking?
‘Hold the lint there while I cut the plaster.’
His tone had something authoritative about it, as though he was used to taking charge.
‘Jeez, you were lucky, this could’ve been nasty. You could’ve cracked your skull,’ he muttered.
‘I wasn’t looking where I was going, that’s the truth.’
‘Sure, we all do that from time to time. What were you thinking of, going running through rush hour anyway?’ He smiled up at her.
‘Trying to get fit.’
‘Fit for what?’
She inhaled but couldn’t put together a reason that wouldn’t sound lame. Pete seemed to read her thoughts.
‘Is he worth it?’
Just then, Evelyn stuck her head around the corner.
‘Dave texted, says he’ll be in by ten. I’ll hang on to do breakfast with you, Ally.’
‘God, I’d better get moving. Thank you for looking after me, Pete.’
He nodded, then without looking up, remarked, ‘I mean it, if you have to change that much for anyone .?.?.’
Something in his tone made her wonder whether he was referring to her or himself.
Chapter 6
