Libby said it as lightly as possible, but she saw Dylan frown. “I’m sorry; that’s really shit.”
“It’s okay. I mean, given the way he’s behaved over the past few months, he probably wasn’t going to be winning any ‘father of the month’ awards anyway.”
“He sounds like a massive knob.”
“Yeah, to be fair, I think he might be.”
“You want me to go round and beat him up?”
“What?” Libby looked at Dylan in horror. “No! I mean, thanks for the offer bu—”
She stopped when she saw him smile. “I was kidding, Libby.”
“Oh, right.”
“I’m afraid I can’t even hurt a spider in the bath, let alone another person.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to assume you were the beating-up type.”
“That’s okay. Looking like this, people always think I’m up for a fight. My tactic is usually to run in the opposite direction as fast as I can, as you saw with those coppers.”
“I can’t imagine anyone trying to pick a fight with you.”
“Oh, they do all the time, but I’m a massive coward. In fact, I’ll let you into a little secret...” Dylan leaned toward her, and Libby’s breath caught at his sudden proximity. “I’m scared of blood. Even the tiniest bit and I freak out like a little kid.”
She laughed. “I thought you said you wanted to be a nurse.”
“I do, which makes it even more embarrassing.”
They carried on chatting as the bus made its way south, and Libby felt her body slowly unwinding. She hadn’t realized until now how much she’d missed hanging out with Dylan, their conversation so free-flowing and fun. When Libby was with him, it felt like there was no one else around, even when they were on a crowded bus with a crying baby and a child shouting about snacks behind them. At one point Libby caught Dylan’s eye and felt a lightness in her chest, but she quickly pushed the feeling away. Maybe he could be a friend after all, but nothing more than that. Not now.
“I wonder how they’re getting on up there,” Libby said as the bus passed the Cenotaph war memorial, Big Ben rising up ahead of them.
“I dunno. But it’s got to be a good sign neither of them has come down shouting yet.”
“I didn’t expect Frank to be so nervous. He looked as white as a sheet when we left him.”
“The guy has spent six decades waiting for this moment. He’s built this woman up in his mind to be some sort of goddess. It’s no wonder he’s panicking.”
“I really hope it goes well.”
“Me too.”
Neither of them spoke for a moment, and Libby listened out for any sounds of Frank upstairs, but she couldn’t hear anything above the noise of the children.
“So, is Hector excited about having a cousin?” Dylan said.
“I haven’t told him yet.”
“Oh?”
“It’s a bit sensitive, as my sister and brother-in-law are trying for a baby themselves.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, by the time the baby arrives, I won’t be living there. Their nanny is returning next month, and then I’ll be moving out.”
“Have you found anywhere to live yet?”
