Chapter 20
TWENTY
Gracie was only half a mile into her first run and already felt like she was going to die. Her cheeks had gone bright red and her heart was beating way too hard under her new Nike T-shirt.
‘Keep up now, stragglers,’ Keen Kate, the posh organiser of the running club, shouted from the front.
Maya raised her eyes to Gracie, who managed to splutter between wheezes, ‘Jeez, if I’d realised it was going to be this hard, I might have thought twice.’
‘Keep going, Gracie, we will feel better for doing it, I’m sure. Mind you, I might have to stop and have a fag in a minute.’
Gracie laughed. ‘Quick, over here.’ She ushered Maya off the path and onto the carved bench she had found herself on last week. ‘You have your cigarette, I need a bloody sit down.’
Maya laughed. ‘Yes, sod this for a game of shoulders, that is what you say, isn’t it?’
‘That’s funny. No, it’s soldiers.’
‘Ah, mind you, this is like being on an army training camp. I think I may stick to sex, it must burn as many calories and at least it’s enjoyable.’ Maya retrieved her fags and a lighter from a pocket in her leggings.
Gracie’s face dropped. ‘Chance would be a fine thing.’
‘It’s not so bad being single, you know, Gracie. I am. And you can still have sex without all the messiness of a relationship. That’s what I do, anyway.’
‘I don’t think I could do that non-connected sex thing. I’m just out of a very long-term relationship.’
‘All the more reason, then. Get out there, Gracie, have some fun.’
‘But you’re young, Maya.’
‘And what’s age got to do with anything? Life’s all about fun and it looks like you could do with some right now.’
‘I need to adopt your attitude.’
‘You do. You’re a sexy woman, Gracie. And you need to grab life by the balls.’
Gracie leant back on the bench, her breath having returned. ‘You speak very good English, by the way.’
‘Thanks. I started learning it at school when I was five and have been over here for four years now. I’ve picked it up as I’ve gone along, really. But still not quite up on all the English slang, as I just proved.’
Maya lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. Just as Gracie leant forward to tighten her laces, a quad bike came speeding round the corner at full pelt and screeched to a sudden halt right in front of them. She didn’t know whether to be pleased or mortified. Pleased that it was handsome Ed or mortified that she must look a red sweaty mess.
The handsome one jumped off the bike. ‘Afternoon, ladies.’ He caught Gracie’s eye and she could feel herself going even redder. Maya stubbed her cigarette out on the ground. ‘Not sure if that’s part of the workout, and I trust that butt is going in the bin?’ He winked at Maya. ‘So you followed my advice then, Gracie?’
She nodded, trying discreetly to wipe away the sweat that was now dripping down her nose. ‘Well, sort of. I mean, we didn’t even do half a mile and had to stop.’ She was flattered that he had remembered her name.
‘Well, it’s a start, eh? You’re looking good on it already.’
Gracie was mortified to realise that wet, sweaty marks had formed under her boobs.
‘Yeah, right.’
‘No borrowed dog today, then?’
‘No, I thought I’d be too fast for him.’ Gracie smiled.
Ed smiled back. ‘Humour as well as beauty, I like that.’
‘I do my best.’ Oh God, she was flirting as much as he was.
‘Well, good to see you both.’ He smirked. ‘See you again soon, I hope.’ Before she had a chance to answer he hopped back on his quad and sped off.
‘Whoa! Talk about him not taking his eyes off you, Gracie.’
‘Shut up. With someone as young and fit as you next to me, I don’t think so.’
‘No, he fancies you. I can tell.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, really.’ Maya smiled. ‘See, you’ve still got it going on, girl. Be confident in who you are.’
Suddenly the shrill tones of Keen Kate and the stomping feet of ten yummy mummies could be heard approaching.
‘Quick!’ Maya took Gracie’s hand and dragged her behind the bench. Gracie thought she was going to wet herself for laughing. ‘Come on now.’
They joined the rear of the pack, still both laughing, and jogged back to the café.
‘Well done for keeping up on your first go, ladies.’ Kate beamed as she appeared from the café with a steaming skinny latte. ‘I trust I will see you again?’
‘Oh yes,’ Maya and Gracie lied in unison.
‘Drink?’ Maya pushed open the door to the café.
‘Yes, a Diet Coke would be good, thanks.’
‘So are you going to come again?’ Gracie enquired as they sat drinking their Cokes on the wooden benches outside.
‘Not sure they are really my kind of people, to be honest.’ Maya took a drink.
‘Nor mine. But if you’re up for exercising together, I’d like that.’
‘I’d like that too. Ooh, watch out, your young man is approaching.’
Ed appeared in football kit from inside the café. Gracie noticed how firm his thighs were. He squeezed up next to her on the bench.
‘Twice in one day, now there’s a treat.’
‘You’re such a charmer.’ Gracie felt herself reddening again.
‘Always! Glad I’ve seen you, though. Nice trainers, I know my sister would love a pair like that. Why don’t you text me the details? Got a mind like a butterfly. Gotta dash.’ He placed a business card into her hand. ‘See you soon, I hope.’
‘See.’ Maya lit a cigarette and was promptly asked to put it out by a snooty-looking woman on the table next to them. There were no ‘no smoking’ signs and they were outside anyway, so she feigned deafness and carried on. ‘Told you. I’ve never heard of such a roundabout way of getting your number, though. You have to text him.’
‘Really?’
‘Oh, stop it, Gracie, you know you do. You have what is known as… just pulled.’
‘He must be at least ten years my junior.’
‘Who cares, age is just a number. We’re all the same age lying down.’
Gracie grinned. ‘That’s hilarious. Shouldn’t that be height?’
‘Whatever. If you don’t, I will.’
‘I’ve literally just said goodbye to my ex.’
‘Like I said before, all the more reason.’ Maya smirked.
Gracie screwed up her face. ‘What do I say if I do text him, then?’
‘Gracie, you are out of practice, aren’t you?’ The pretty Czech took the card from her hand.
She read aloud. ‘Edward Duke. Landscaper – so you say, Hi, Ed, it’s Gracie from the common. My trainers are from wherever. How big is your cock? ’
‘Maya!’
‘Or you could say, Hi Ed, blah blah re trainers and yes, I’d love to, thanks. Tomorrow, outside the café at six? ’
‘I couldn’t be so forward.’
‘Oh, you so could. He’s cute. If he does nothing more than fuck your ex of your system, then he is so worth a hook-up.’