The Cafe in Fir Tree Park by Katey Lovell

Author:Katey Lovell
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008240875
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2017-03-15T04:00:00+00:00

Lacey

“That was your best session yet.”

I flop back on the bench, exhausted but exhilarated. Maybe I’m getting the hang of this running thing after all. It’s still difficult and I can feel myself wobbling around when I get tired – Warren says my head starts lolling like a bobble-head on the back ledge of a car when I’m on the final lap – but my legs are aching less and my heart doesn’t pound quite so much. My body still turns scarlet though, that’s not changed.

“You say that every time,” I pant.

Warren hands me my water bottle and I gladly swig it back. He bought me a new one, a proper sports bottle with a phallic pink cooler section that you pop in the freezer. It looks so rude that it gives me the giggles every time, but I have to admit it makes the water taste a million times better. Lukewarm water was losing appeal.

“Because you’re improving every time.”

“Thanks. Having you here with the stopwatch is an incentive for me to push myself.”

He’d taken it upon himself to become my personal trainer, cheering me on with words of encouragement and timing each lap so I can see the splits. The last one is horrifically slow, but my pace has picked up since he’s been encouraging me. I’m less inclined to slack off knowing I’m being watched.

“Nice to know I’m good for something.” He pats his hands down on his knees. “I’ll get going then if you’re done. Stretch yourself out though, yeah?”

“Can’t you stay a bit longer?”

I look up, my eyes connecting with his. He’s been here for over two hours already, watching me move around the park from a distance like the blue dot on Google Maps, but we’ve barely spoken. I’m not ready for him to go.

“I’ll treat you to brunch at the café?” I raise my eyebrows hopefully, but silently pray that I’m not looking desperate.

The truth is, I like him. Really like him. And now the run is just a fortnight away I’m petrified that once it’s over and I stop running past his Nana Olwen’s bench I won’t see him again.

He smiles, seemingly happy at the thought. More likely the thought of food than the thought of me, but I’ll take whatever I can get if it means a bit more time in his company.

“Sure, brunch sounds good. But you’re not paying a penny towards it – this one’s my treat.”

“No!” My voice comes out too loud, totally unladylike. “It was my idea so I’m paying.”

He shakes his head from side to side. “It’s on me this time. I insist. You worked so hard, you deserve spoiling, and I bet you’re ravenous.”

“I am a bit,” I say sheepishly. My stomach is churning with hunger, especially as I’d not even had my usual pre-run cereal bar. “And thank you. That’s really generous. I wasn’t dropping hints to try and get you to pay,” I add.

“I know,” he says. “But I was when I said ‘this time’.

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