‘What are we like?’ I sniff through a smile. ‘Look, it’s still light out, I think I’ll go for a quick run. Clear my head a bit. Will you be all right on your own?’
‘Of course I will be. I don’t think I’ll go back to the hospital tonight. I could do with a decent night’s sleep,’ says Mum. ‘Off you go now.’
I take my usual route out onto the High Street, past The Smugglers and turn left to take the outermost road of the village which leads to the church and then, looping back onto the High Street, I head for Beach Road.
It feels good to be out in the fresh air, stretching my legs and breathing in the sea air. I try not to think of anything other than my feet rhythmically pounding the tarmac and keeping my breathing steady as I listen to my iPod and shut away my troubles. I’ll think about them later.
I sense him a nanosecond before he appears at my shoulder, but it still makes me jump. I stop running and pull out my earphones.
‘Sorry, didn’t mean to frighten you,’ says Kerry smiling. Skip follows closely behind, excited at the unexpected chase.
‘Where did you spring from?’ I say to Kerry. I bend down to give Skip a stroke. ‘Hello, boy. Your owner making you run, is he?’ I stand up and begin to jog on the spot to keep my muscles warm.
‘Saw you running past The Smugglers. Guessed you’d probably loop back round, so I thought I’d see if you wanted to come in for a drink.’
‘What, dressed like this? All hot and sweaty?’
‘Nothing wrong with that.’ His grey eyes glitter with mischief.
I shake my head. He’s a terrible flirt at times. ‘Right, don’t let me keep you from your pint,’ I say. ‘I need to get on. It will be dark soon. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
I begin to jog away, fiddling to get my earphone in, and am surprised to see Kerry appear at my shoulder once more. I carry on jogging, slightly amused by the thought of seeing how long he can keep up for.
‘I actually wanted to speak to you,’ he says, falling into step beside me.
I give up with the earphones and tuck it into my bra strap ‘Uh-ha. Go on, then.’
‘I’ve been meaning to call in for the last couple of days, but I’ve been tied up with a private paint spraying job. Whenever I’ve called in to the café, you’ve been really busy.’
‘Or you’ve had Joe in tow.’
‘Exactly,’ Kerry says as we jog side by side. ‘So, what are you up to at the weekend? Got anything planned?’
I fight to stop myself smiling. Kerry is trying to sound casual, but doing a very poor job of it. ‘Nothing. Why?’ I say.
‘Ed not coming over?’
‘No. That’s why I’m doing nothing.’
‘Great. I mean, that’s a shame.’ Kerry takes a few deep breaths, his pace slows slightly. ‘Shit. I’m such liar. I don’t mean that’s a shame at all.’
I raise my eyebrows. ‘You don’t?’
‘Fancy spending the day with me on Sunday? We could have a ride out on the bike.’
‘Your motorbike?’ I say. Kerry doesn’t answer me immediately. His breathing becomes deeper. ‘Do you want me to stop?’ I ask.
‘No. Not at all,’ he says. He gives a whistle to attract Skip’s attention as the little dog dives into some bushes, hot on the scent of a rabbit, no doubt. ‘And in answer to your question, I don’t have a pushbike, if that’s what you’re thinking. This running lark is enough exercise for me. I’ve…no intention…of extending it to include a pushbike. Skip! Come on. Good boy.’
‘I’ve never been on the back of a bike before,’ I say.
‘What, never?’
‘Never.’
‘We will have to remedy that, won’t we?’ he says. ‘Unless you tell me Ed is a black belt in martial arts, or something like that? SAS-trained and can kill me with his little finger.’
I laugh at the thought. ‘No. I think you’re safe there.’
I can hear Kerry’s breathing getting heavier as we continue the run. ‘Are you sure you don’t want me to stop?’ I ask. ‘I’m not saying you’re a wimp or anything…’
‘I told you before,’ he puffs. ‘I’m no wimp…but there are other ways to…prove it.’
I laugh again. He has a habit of making me laugh. I remember back to the other week when I had jogged by and he had called out of the window to me. I lengthen my stride and begin to pull away from him.
‘Hey…that’s not…fair.’ Kerry catches up with me, again matching his step to mine. ‘You’re dressed…for running…I’m not.’