Free Fix You by Carrie Elks Page A

about
that snowy night in New York City, when for one electrifying moment she thought
he might be about to kiss her.  
    She wouldn’t be doing a lot of things.
    Telling Josh about this coffee date was one of them.
     
     
    THEY WERE RESTING near the statue of
Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, blanketed by the warm summer air. Richard lay
back, his head propped on his rolled-up jacket. Hanna lay curled up beside him,
her cheek resting on his chest. An empty bottle of expensive wine lay on its side
next to them. They were both feeling a little drunk.
    “Ruby will be home soon,” he murmured, his hand tangling in
her hair, playing with her loose tendrils.
    “Mmm.” Hanna’s eyes remained closed. He could feel a slight
moistening of his t-shirt where her mouth was.
    “Are you dribbling on me?” He lifted his head to get a
better look.
    “I don’t dribble.” She was suddenly awake, whipping her head
around to catch his eye, surreptitiously wiping her lips with the back of her
hand. Richard laughed at her telltale gesture.
    “Come on, admit it, I make you salivate.”
    “Your modesty is scaring me.” Staring up at him, she bit her
lip to restrain a smile before poking her tongue out and licking his t-shirt. “But
if you’re going to accuse me of something I haven’t done, then I’m going to do
it, anyway.”
    Clocking the expression on his face, she jumped up and
grabbed her bag, running over the open grass. She passed the statue in the
middle of the lawn, heading toward the wooded area surrounding them. Grabbing
his coat, Richard ran after her, his long, fast strides allowing him to catch
her before she even reached the first oak.
    “You’ve got no chance,” he laughed. Hooking his arms around
her waist, he pulled her body back to his. He could feel the softness of her
stomach rising and falling in line with her short, sharp breaths.
    Hanna tried to wriggle against him, tugging at his arms,
trying to escape. He held firm, keeping her body contained within his embrace,
fighting off her attempts to get free. Her breathing slowed. He could feel his
own heartbeat starting to calm after the unexpected burst of activity.
    They went back to pick up their trash, disposing of it in a
nearby bin, and began their long walk back through the park. It was nearly 3:00
p.m., and though Nathan was picking Ruby up from school, Richard had promised
to be waiting for her at home as soon as they arrived.
    “So, how are things with Josh?” he asked. They reached the
Long Pond, following the path around until it became the Serpentine.
    Watching as a smile crossed Hanna’s face, his stomach
clenched in response to her happiness. He tried to work out why her obvious
attachment to her boyfriend caused such a reaction in him. They were just friends.
So why was he feeling jealous?
    “He’s good. We’re good. It’s going to be strange not having
him with me at university this year.”
    The pain in his stomach lessened. “Why won’t he be there?”
    “He graduated in July. He has a trainee journalist position
here at The Guardian. He’s moved into a little flat in Earl’s Court.”
    “Are you guys going to stay together?”
    “Yeah, of course. We’re only a couple of hundred miles
apart. We can see each other at weekends and holidays.”
    The large oak trees shaded the wide, paved walkway that ran
alongside the Serpentine. They found themselves stepping to one side to avoid a
roller-blader who was hammering down the middle of the concrete, intent on
picking up as much speed as possible. On the edge of the water, dappled-brown
ducks and elegantly pale swans lay waiting for the legions of London children
who came to feed them daily.
    Richard pulled Hanna toward him, putting his arm around her
shoulders in a friendly gesture. She curled her arm around his waist.
    “I’m going to miss you when you move to California. Will you
be coming over here for Christmas?” Her voice was soft.
    “I don’t know when I’ll be back in