IfI’m going to ask.
My feelings on the subject seem to change hourly.
By the time we reach the road leading to my house, it’s almost nine o’clock and I’m starving. There’s a bacon-and-egg cob in my future and my stomach rumbles just thinking about it.
Although I’m not working today, I’ve offered to have a look at the trail map at the edge of the pub car park. Hailey seems to think it’s damaged, and if it is, then it’s something I’ll need to take care of anyway. It also means there’s a good chance I’ll run into Vic again, and I’m not sure I like how my pulse races at the thought.
It’s almost ten o’clock when I load Lucky into my car and head for the Charnwell Inn. It’s only a short drive, but for whatever reason, it seems to take so much longer to get there this morning. Probably due to the anticipation I can’t quite get a handle on.
When I finally pull into the car park, it’s empty apart from a black Audi. I park alongside it and idly wonder if it belongs to Vic. There’s a coat slung on the back seat, far too thin to be of use here in December, and I really fucking hope if it’s Vic’s car that he’s brought something more useful than that if he plans on being outside for any length of time.
The pub’s front doors are locked when I try them, and then I remember Hailey saying something about coming to the house. I walk round to the side, Lucky trotting next to me, shoving my hands in my pockets, because for all my moaning about the coat in the back of the car, I’ve left my hat and gloves on my passenger seat.
Too busy nosing at a car that may or may not be Vic’s.
With a curse, I turn around and jog back to my car. I’m going to be outside for a while, and I know better than to be out in this cold without the proper clothing. As a Ranger, I’ll be setting a poor example.
I turn around at the sound of laughter, rooted to the spot at the sight of Vic and Joe walking towards me. They’ve not noticed me yet, too caught up in whatever it is that’s so amusing. In the bright morning light, it’s easy to see the resemblance. Their mouths curve up in the same smile, laughter suiting them, like they should always have that look on their faces.
My focus narrows to Vic.
He’s happy, relaxed in a way that screams contentment with life. My heart squeezes, because I realise while I’m happy with a lot of things in my life, I don’t havethatlevel of happiness.
It makes me think Vic has someone waiting for him back home. Wherever that is. I’m too lost in my thoughts and I don’t notice that they’ve stopped laughing and are walking towards me.
“Mornin’.” Vic’s smile lights up his face, his eyes dancing with lingering amusement. “Hailey said you were dropping by this morning.” He shivers and it’s then I notice that, while Joe’s wearing a nice thick coat, Vic’s only got a hoodie on. The sky might be a beautiful shade of blue this morning, but the wind has a bitter edge to it.
“Where’s your coat?” The words come out sharper than intended, but I’ve seen more than my fair share of people who don’t know how to protect themselves from the elements.
Joe smirks and Vic’s eyebrows rise.
That irritates me because I’m only trying to help. “And if that’s your car, I hope you’ve got something better in the boot than that sorry excuse for a coat on the backseat.” They both stare at me, mouths slightly open, and it’s so in sync that a laugh bursts out of me.
Fuck’s sakethey must think I’m a nutter.
I run a hand over my jaw, aware that I’m badly in need of a shave, and Vic’s eyes follow the movement. “Sorry,” I manage, but it sounds forced even to my ears. “It’s colder here than people realise sometimes. I’m just making sure you have adequate protection if you’re going to be outside a lot while you’re here.” I gesture to Joe, whose coat is a brand I recognise. Not too expensive, and great quality. “Like Joe,” I say, and Joe grins, elbowing his dad.
“Told you it was a good make.”
Vic rolls his eyes, but that mischievous glint is still there. “Thank you for your concern, Sean, and yes, I do have a better coat in the boot of my car.” He walks past me towards the back of his car and I get a waft of aftershave. It’s a mix of citrus and spice and really fucking good.
“Who’s this, then?”
I glance back to find Joe watching Lucky with a soft smile.
Ahh, animal lover. My favourite kind of person.
“This is Lucky.” I bend so I can stroke Lucky’s head. “You like dogs?”
He grins. “Yeah.”
“You can stroke him if you want, he’s good with people.” I suspect that’s the Labrador in him. His tail is already swishing back and forth in anticipation, lips curling up in a doggy smile as Joe crouches in front of him. “He was a rescue,” I tell Joe. “Found him in one of the car parks about five years ago.”
Joe frowns but doesn’t stop fussing Lucky’s ears. “People suck,” he mumbles.
“Yeah, they do, sometimes.” My job as a Ranger means I interact with people of all ages. I do a lot of work with the local schools, but kids Joe’s age can be tricky to find common ground with. He seems at ease with Lucky in a way that makes me think he’s used to handling dogs. “Have you got any pets?”
He shakes his head. “No, but I work at my aunt’s animal shelter after school and at the weekend sometimes.”
