Never Greener by Ruth Jones

Author:Ruth Jones [Jones, Ruth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780593078068
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2018-04-04T18:30:00+00:00

38

‘If I go now, I’ll just about get away with it.’

‘You don’t have to get away with it.’

Callum ignored her. He didn’t want to start another discussion about where they would go from here. They were lying on the king-sized bed, his head on her shoulder, and she was stroking his arm.

‘I’ve put my number into your phone.’

‘When d’you do that?’ He sat up, shocked.

‘When you were in the shower … It’ll be easier to stay in touch via mobiles. No more embarrassing phone calls to the school – sorry about that. Just for God’s sake make sure you delete any messages from me as soon as you’ve read them. When do you think you could next get away? I’m filming until—’

He cut her off. ‘Hang on, are you insane?’

She looked surprised more than hurt. ‘What?’

‘I don’t know what you think is going on here, but I can’t see you again, Kate.’ He paused, noticing the pain registering on her face and softening a little. ‘It’s impossible!’

‘It’s not.’

Sensing this was heading somewhere very dangerous, Callum got off the bed and started getting dressed, clocking his Dennis the Menace socks lying on the floor and remembering Belinda had given them to him as a stocking filler last Christmas. ‘I’ve got to go.’

She lay there, silently watching him dress. His body had aged well in seventeen years, and he’d lost none of the stamina he’d had at thirty-nine. She wondered if it was down to fitness, and having played rugby for all those years. Or, God forbid, whether he and Belinda still had such an active sex life that he was living proof of the saying ‘use it or lose it’. Kate remained remarkably calm as Callum put on his coat and picked up his car keys.

He’d expected a fight, or protests at least, but she said nothing, just smiled.

‘Right, well …’ he said.

‘Thanks for the shag?’ She teasingly finished his sentence.

‘Look, if things had been different, y’know …’

This time she watched as he squirmed, awkward, not knowing where to put himself. ‘Take care, yeah?’ And he headed for the door.

Kate didn’t move.

‘I’m under K for Kettley’s Garage in your contacts list. It does exist. In Portobello. In case Belinda should check your phone.’

‘I’m not gonna call you, Kate.’

‘Fair enough. Just delete my number then.’

He sighed and opened the door to leave.

Just as it closed behind him, she shouted, ‘I’ve still got yours though.’

And she pulled the duvet over her, beaming.

It was gone midnight when Callum let himself into the house. As he approached the front door, he saw through the window the chop-change blue and amber TV rays as they bounced against the living-room walls. Callum steeled himself. Belinda was obviously still awake.

He had his story ready – he’d been to the club but then went for a drink with Gary, who was having women troubles. Gary could always be depended on to lie for him. Not that he’d needed him to in the last seventeen years because, true to his

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