9
THEN
Gin Blossoms: ‘Hey Jealousy’
The air simmered with heat, despite it being early October. Erin and Greg were standing on the edge of Highfields Park boating lake, squinting out at the water.
‘You sure you’ve got time for this?’ Greg said, as a small rowing boat bobbed in front of them.
Erin checked her watch. ‘Yeah, there’s plenty of time. Adam won’t be here for ages.’
Greg tried not to flinch at the mention of Erin’s boyfriend – this enigmatic man he’d heard so much about and who he already detested with every fibre of his being – and held out his hand.
‘Come on then, let’s get going.’
They clambered aboard and Greg pushed them away from the bank. The air was cooler out on the lake, the heat of the sun scattering across the water, sparkling back at them like diamonds as they headed out, away from the crowds. Erin leaned back, hooked her elbows over the edge of the boat and pulled her sun hat down over her eyes. She peered into the blue-green depths of the lake where fish moved about just below the surface. What else was down there, hidden in the depths?
‘This is better than studying any day,’ she said, squinting at Greg as he pulled the oars back and forth. She tried not to notice the way his biceps flexed, or the way the sun had turned his skin a golden brown.
‘Too right. Might as well make the most of this last blast of sunshine.’
They might have only met two weeks before, but Erin and Greg had become best friends since then. A frisson shimmered between them, some unspoken connection, but they were both content to settle for friendship. For now at least, Greg told himself.
He was dreading this afternoon though, because Adam was coming to visit, and he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to contain his contempt for the man who’d stolen Erin’s heart so completely. He sounded, in Greg’s humble opinion, like an utter arse.
He stopped rowing for a minute and let the boat float lazily. A breeze rippled across the surface of the water and lifted Greg’s hair away from his face. He closed his eyes and held his face up to the sun.
‘Are we stopping?’ Erin said, leaning forward to poke him in the belly. He jumped as though he’d had an electric shock, and felt his face burn. He turned his head away and reached behind him for his rucksack.
‘I’ve brought a few things.’
‘Oooh, what is it?’ Erin said, trying to peer into the bag. Greg snatched it away and held it in the air.
‘Hey, hey, patience.’ He grinned.
‘Come on, what have you got in there?’ Erin half-stood and tried to swipe for the bag. But as she did she lost her balance and tipped forward and, as if in slow motion, she fell, landing on top of Greg, her palms against his chest and her face pressed right up against his. He thought his heart might stop beating as they lay there, momentarily stunned. It would be the easiest thing in the world to snake his arm round her, turn his head ever so slightly and kiss her, gently. But before he could do anything, the moment had passed, and Erin pushed her body off him, leaving him lying there, flooded with desire.
‘Oh God, I’m so sorry,’ she said, her face flushed, laughter bubbling out of her.
‘It’s all right,’ Greg said, sitting up and brushing non-existent dust from his shorts. ‘But that’s what you get for being impatient.’
‘Sorry.’ Erin stuck her bottom lip out and Greg had to look away. ‘But come on, show me what you’ve got in there.’
‘Well, it’s probably not that exciting now you’ve built it up so much, but here you go.’ He pulled a bottle out of his bag and handed it to Erin. ‘Ooh, Asti Spumante,’ she said, reading the label.
‘Yeah, sorry, it’s all I could afford. I reckon it’ll be okay though.’ He pulled out a couple of plastic pint glasses – ‘I swiped them from the Union’ – and a Tupperware box containing cheese slices, Jacob’s cream crackers, a bunch of grapes and a melted bar of Dairy Milk. ‘I got these too,’ he said, pulling out a tube of Pringles. ‘I know it’s not exactly high-end dining, but I thought it would be nice to have a little picnic. A bit of a celebration, you know…’ He trailed off, suddenly unsure of himself.
‘That’s so lovely,’ Erin said, yanking the top off the Pringles and peeling a couple of crisps from the top. ‘What are we celebrating?’
Greg looked at her for a moment as she chewed, watching her face for any reaction. Her eyes were wide and bright, her skin shone in the sunlight, her sunglasses pushed back on her head as the sun surrounded her like a halo. His own perfect angel, he thought.
‘Just – well…’ He stopped, took a breath. ‘Me and you. You know, our friendship.’ He gave a small smile. ‘I know it’s silly.’
‘It’s not silly at all; I think it’s lovely.’ She reached out and pressed her hand into his. His skin was warm where they touched and he pulled it away and picked up the bottle.
‘Want some?’
‘Of course!’ she said, crunching down on a cracker and holding out a plastic glass. ‘Fill me up!’
