Chapter 37
Despite the band playing at the other end of the pub garden, Alex couldn’t help but suppress a yawn from Aimee as they watched them from one of the many full tables in the Black Swan Inn that evening.
It had been an unexpectedly busy week. At the last minute, he had found a lifeguard course which was specific to open-water swimming which was ideal for the lake.
So he had suddenly had three days away from Maple Tree Lodge and that meant that he was behind in his preparation for the grand opening of the water sports centre the following weekend.
He also hadn’t considered the knock-on effect that being away would have on Tiny.
Having been warned early on when he was a puppy that Newfoundlands suffer with separation anxiety, the family had told him that the dog had sulked for three days and no amount of cajoling would bring him out of his sad mood.
Then, after his initial delight when Alex returned home each evening, Tiny had become been very clingy and wouldn’t leave him alone for a second.
All in all, it had been somewhat stressful and Alex would have actually preferred a quiet night at home. And yet here he was out on a date.
He had been aware of Aimee flirting with him over the past few weeks but hadn’t really thought about it until she asked him out. She seemed a nice enough lady, he thought, looking across the table.
Of course, she wasn’t Hannah but so much had changed after she had kissed him. That kiss had changed everything. He knew what it felt like to have her in his arms. He knew how her lips felt. His dream had come true and yet it had almost instantly dissolved after coming to fruition.
Out of respect for her wishes, when Hannah had made it plainly clear that she wanted nothing more than to be friends, he had made a determined effort to back off.
And it had worked. Almost.
Except he still saw her every day. Still found himself catching his breath sometimes when she smiled at him.
But the crush that he had harboured for over a decade now felt like the chase of a gold medal. Something perhaps to be kept in the past. It was over and he was going to have to force himself to move on.
After all, this summer was supposed to be about moving on in every aspect of his life. So when Aimee had asked him out, he had found himself saying yes.
And yet, despite them having fitness and well-being in common, there was an awkwardness to their conversation, he was finding.
He wasn’t as relaxed as he normally felt.
It felt pressured and unnatural and he couldn’t work out why.
He had almost been grateful when the music had been so loud that it had precluded any more talking between them.
The setting, though, couldn’t be more perfect for a date.
He and Aimee were sitting on comfortable chairs in the garden which was mainly laid to lawn with a white picket fence running along one side.
On the other side of the fence, he could see the river through the gaps, the evening sun dappled on the crystal-clear water.
The garden was filled with many beautiful hanging baskets and pots of overflowing colourful flowers.
Fairy lights twinkled in the warm evening air and the garden was almost full of people watching the popular band.
As the band finished their set, Alex joined in with the applause and then looked at Aimee.
‘They were great, you were right,’ he told her.
She nodded. ‘Told you so,’ she replied.
An awkward silence stretched out between them as Alex tried to think of something else to say.
Eventually though, Aimee beat him to it.
‘Listen, Alex, this has been really nice,’ she said.
‘It has,’ he lied, nodding his head in fake agreement.
‘But perhaps we’ll just forget about any more dates,’ she added briskly. ‘Because to be honest, I’ve realised that you’re not my type and I’m pretty certain now that I’m not yours.’
Alex looked at her for a second and gave a shocked laugh.
‘Sorry,’ she told him, with a grin. ‘I’m always brutally honest when things don’t work out.’
‘Yes, you are,’ he replied.
In a way it was quite a revelation, he thought, finding himself smiling at her.
‘But I’m still interested in running a couple of sunrise yoga sessions by the lake,’ she carried on.
Alex was surprised. ‘Won’t it be awkward?’ he asked. ‘I mean, between us.’
Aimee raised her eyebrows at him. ‘Alex, we’ve had one drink together. We’re grown-ups. I think you’re safe from me making a pass at you in the future.’
He laughed. ‘Sorry. I’ve had awkward break-ups in the past.’
In fact, Claire hadn’t let go when he had tried to break up with her even though she had been the one to cheat on him. So Aimee’s honesty was refreshing in many ways.
Free from the feeling that any romance between them had felt forced, Alex finally began to relax and they spent the remainder of the evening discussing timing and the right position to hold the yoga sessions. It was a positive outcome for a somewhat disastrous date, he thought as he drove home.
Aimee was pretty and fun to be around. And so he knew the problem with their date was all him and not her at all. The problem was that he still felt the same way about Hannah and, if anything, the date that evening had confirmed it.
He knew that before the summer was over, he was going to have to tell her how he felt. Because the ache in his heart was just too strong for him to be getting over.
He just hoped he didn’t ruin their friendship because of it.