Chapter 26
In a previous life, Nick would still have been in bed.
In a previous life, he wouldn’t be creaking like an old man after his first full week of work in years.
In a previous life, he would definitely not be dragging his aching carcass out for a run to avoid spending time with the mother of his child, who hated his guts for reasons he didn’t understand and was currently a guest in his house.
Nick let out something like a growl as he inched his way down the staircase leading to the beach.
His body screamed at him to rest. The trouble was, the only excuse he could think of to get out of the house was a run.
The atmosphere since Carla had arrived the evening before was one of extremes.
There had been tears and a lengthy embrace when Carla and Emily reunited, whereas for Nick, the most Carla had managed was a curt nod of the head.
She’d barely spoken two words to him, whereas she and Emily hadn’t stopped for breath.
He’d heard them chattering away long past Emily’s bedtime.
Nick had at least expected a hint of gratitude, both for the accommodation on offer, and for putting his whole life on hold to care for Carla’s daughter. His daughter. He groaned again.
His feet met sand, and Nick forced his body forward. The beach was quiet other than a few dog walkers. He waved to Sam, out for her usual walk with Milo the golden retriever, but didn’t stop to chat.
The longer he ran with music blasting in his ears, the more he warmed up, and by the time he reached the far side of the bay, his muscles were loose. Rather than turning around, Nick made his way to the coast path. The steep ascent burnt his lungs, for which he was rewarded with spectacular views.
A mile along the path, a stitch formed, and he was forced to stop and catch his breath.
Another runner was making their way along the path, and Nick pressed himself into the hedgerow, ready to let them past. The figure drew closer, and with a start, Nick realised it was Kitty.
She spotted him, and he saw the indecision in the way her gait faltered as she weighed up whether to stop and say hello.
Nick removed his earbuds and waved a greeting, and Kitty slowed to a stop in front of him.
‘Are you alright?’ she asked, pointing to where his hand was massaging his stomach.
He wanted to ask if she was alright, as her face was so red she looked about to combust. Perhaps not, he decided. She might not take the joke as it was meant. ‘Yeah, just a stitch.’
‘Nasty.’
‘Yeah.’
An awkward silence stretched between them, and Kitty began replacing the earbuds she’d removed.
‘Carla’s visiting,’ blurted Nick. ‘That’s why I’ve come for a run, to give her and Emily some space. I don’t want you thinking I’ve left Emily in the house by herself.’
Kitty smiled. ‘It hadn’t crossed my mind. How’s it going with Carla?’
‘It’s a bit awkward.’
‘It’s bound to be.’ She fiddled with the earbuds in her hand. ‘I’m meeting Alice and Sam for a drink this afternoon. Why don’t you ask Carla if she’d like to come along?’
Nick hesitated. Was this a friendship he wanted to encourage? ‘OK, though I doubt she’ll want to. She’d probably rather stay with Emily.’
‘Maybe, but this situation will be weird for her, too. She might need a breather. And it’s just one drink. I’ve got a meeting this evening, which is why we’re getting together in the afternoon. She won’t need to be out long.’
‘Your meeting wouldn’t have anything to do with Margot, would it?’
Kitty frowned. ‘How did you know?’
‘Because she’s roped me in too.’
‘She’s asked you to get involved in the play? Why?’
Nick bristled. Was Kitty implying he had nothing to offer? ‘I used to be into drama. Even went to drama school for a while.’ His cheeks grew hot, and he guessed he’d revealed too much by the way her eyes widened.
‘You went to drama school?’
‘For a bit, yes. In another life.’ He stared at the ground, and when he looked up, her full lips were curled in a half-smile.
‘You are a dark horse.’
The way Kitty’s turquoise eyes fixed their gaze on him made Nick’s pulse race more than any running had. In her running gear, he could see every curve of Kitty’s body, and although they were both fully clothed, that, along with their proximity, suddenly felt somehow too intimate.
A new silence opened between them. Unlike the last, this one was heavy with unspoken words and possibilities. Nick took a tentative step closer as Kitty’s pupils darkened. Her breath caught, and he stepped forward again. They were almost touching. Nick wished he’d worn looser running shorts.
The buzz of a phone broke the spell, and Nick stepped away. A nettle brushed against his leg, and he tried not to wince, squinting instead at his phone. ‘Sorry, that’s Carla. She says Emily wants to go to the beach. I’d better get back.’
‘Sure.’
Nick turned, realising they would be running the same way, and feeling a sudden need to be alone.
Kitty must have felt the same way because she smiled at him and said, ‘You go ahead. I could do with a quick breather.’
‘OK, see you later.’
‘And don’t forget to tell Carla about that drink. We’re meeting outside The Ship at three.’
‘I’ll tell her,’ he said, waving as he sprinted off towards the village.
As his feet pounded the path and music blared in his ears, Nick wondered if he was running to Emily, or from Kitty.
He was sure he hadn’t imagined the moment between them.
But developing a schoolboy crush on his daughter’s teacher was not a good idea, even for him.
Life was complicated enough already without throwing that particular spanner into the works.