‘Come on.’ She led him towards the front of the airport building where they joined the queue at the taxi rank, which moved very quickly.
‘How was your flight?’ she asked as they slid into the back seat of the taxi.
‘The flight was okay. It was getting up at four with a hangover that was a killer, especially when we didn’t get in until after one.’
‘Poor you,’ said Anna with an unsympathetic grin. ‘That’s what you get for going to the rugby club on a Friday evening.’
‘It was a good night, though.’ He put his arm around her shoulders and drew her closer to him. ‘James, Tim and your Uncle Henry were on top form. Right laugh. Then after, we ended up the Punjab curry house and –’ he winced ‘– to be honest, it turned into a bit of a sesh.’
‘I can tell.’ Anna wrinkled her nose at the slight scent of spices on his breath.
‘You don’t mind,’ he said in the comfortable tone of someone who’d got away with it every previous time. Anna squelched the thought that perhaps for once he might have forgone the Friday night piss-up when he was travelling to see her the next morning.
‘I’ve got some great news, though. Did you know the Czech Republic are playing England tonight in a friendly?’ His face lit up in a lopsided grin.
‘No,’ said Anna with a smile before adding, dryly. ‘I hope you’re not going to suggest we watch it in a pub somewhere.’
He shook his head, his eyes alight with excitement. ‘Even better than that.’
She gave him a quizzical look.
‘I’ve managed to snag us tickets for the Letná Stadium.’ With the flourish of a magician producing a rabbit out of a hat he pulled his phone out of his pocket and waved it, looking delighted with himself. ‘Stroke of luck I got them. Literally just before the cabin crew made us switch off WiFi. I couldn’t believe it!’
‘But … I’ve booked a boat tour. Dinner.’
‘Yeah, but this is England. What are the chances? While you’re here?’ He beamed at her and then his face fell. ‘But of course we don’t have to go. Not if you really don’t want to.’
Anna swallowed, hating being a pushover. Steve did love his sport.
‘What time’s the game?’
‘Kick-off is at six-thirty.’ He beamed again, assuming her acceptance. ‘I promise you it will be great. You’ll love it.’
Loath to fall out when he’d just arrived, she simply nodded. What else could she do?
When they arrived at the flat. Leo looked up from where he was working on one of the chairs in the living room. ‘Hey Steve, how you doing?’
Steve stiffened. He’d been dismayed when Anna had explained why she hadn’t been able to move out of the flat, and now she was immediately reminded of a dog warily sussing out its territory. She felt guilty that she’d lied, saying she and Leo barely saw each her. She could tell that he wasn’t comfortable with Leo’s easy familiarity and didn’t like being the outsider. It was going to be very tedious if the two of them were going to play pissing contests all weekend. Anna couldn’t imagine what it would be like if Steve had any inkling that she and Leo had known each other, let alone been married. A little ball of fear nestled in her stomach like a spiky burr making itself felt.
* * *
‘We can’t,’ said Anna, as Steve’s hand burrowed into her bra.
‘I haven’t seen you for weeks,’ he said, kissing her again, his hand unbuttoning her shirt.
They were sitting on her bed, the beers abandoned on the side table and Steve’s overnight bag dumped by the door. He’d started making amorous overtures the minute it had closed.
‘Leo’s in,’ hissed Anna. ‘He’ll know.’
‘He’ll know what?’
Anna blushed. ‘That we’re having sex.’
Steve’s head lifted and he looked at her with a sly smile. ‘And what’s wrong with that?’
Was he doing this on purpose to make a point?
He pushed her back on the bed, kissing her more deeply. ‘God I’ve missed you.’
