‘Are you still there?’
‘Yes.’
‘Listen, I’m going to have to go. But one last thing.’
‘Go on.’
‘For God’s sake, just go and . . .’
‘What?’
‘Tell Zach how you feel.’
I splutter. ‘Sorry. I thought for a moment you were going to suggest something morephysical.’
She starts to laugh. ‘Well, now you mention it – that too.’
Chapter 56
As I start walking away from the tram stop, rain getting heavier, I make two phone calls. The first is to my mother, to check she’s on board with what I’m about to suggest. The second is to Leo.
‘Hiya, what’s up?’
‘Do you think if I ask Grandma to drop Jacob off, you could hold the fort for an hour or so? I’m going to be a bit late tonight, that’s all.’
‘Yeah,’ he says, surprised. ‘That’s fine. I’ll look after him. I mean . . . should I make our dinner? I can if you want.’
‘If you like, or I could order you both a pizza.’
‘Ooh yeah. Good idea. I’ll do his homework with him too.’
I raise an eyebrow.
‘Thanks, Mum. See you later. And don’t rush home. I’ll really look after him, I promise.’
Zach mentioned earlier that he’d got into work at 5am so was planning to leave early. Which means he must be at home.
I turn away from the tram stop and look in the direction of Zach’s flat. Am I really going to do this?
Oh, fuck it.
It takes less than five minutes until I’m in the car park of his apartment block. I’m still trying to work out whether this is a bad idea and I should just head back to the tram. I check my phone, but he hasn’t responded.
I head around to the side of the building. The gym is on the ground floor, with a waterside view. The moment I turn the corner, I see him through the glass on a treadmill, his arms andlegs pumping at an unfeasible speed, his expression one of total concentration.
He sees me immediately and I have a pang of concern that he might think I’m stalking him.
But the look that spreads across his face is one of pure delight. He slams on a button, slows to a walk, then a stop. He gestures to the entrance, then steps off the machine to go and let me in.
‘Come for a workout?’ he grins, holding open the door.
‘I’m not dressed for it, sadly.’
The room isn’t huge but it’s bright and airy, with a handful of state-of-the-art machines, as well as some of those ceiling-mounted suspension trainers that I’m not sure what you’re supposed to do with. Zach is wearing pale grey shorts and a slate-coloured T-shirt. His muscular limbs glisten with fresh, clean sweat.
‘I was actually passing and thought you might be around for a drink, but if you’re busy...’
‘What about the boys?’
