‘George!’ Kester smiles a surprised hello as he opens the door, stepping back for George to come in.

‘Ow do lad’ George smiles back but remains on the doorstep. ‘Thought yer might like a bit of a run…take yer mind off things’ he says gruffly.

Kester glances down. ‘Mmm…and I’d say those shorts would take most people’s minds off anything’

‘Yer like em? ‘ George asks, holding the hems of the legs out at the sides. ‘My Jess run em up out a pair’n ole pillow cases’

‘YOUR Jessie?’ Kester queries with a chuckle.

‘Gawd…dunt you let on I said, she’ll ave me guts fer garters but I allus think on er as my Jess. I thought they was a bit of alright meself’ George looks down and does a twirl to show them off.

‘Very nice, George. You look like Stanley Matthews on a bad day…or else you’ve forgotten to put your trousers on’

‘That’d ave the ole gals goin wouldn’t it?’ George chortles ‘You up fer a bit on a trot then?’ He crosses his feet at the ankle and leans against the edge of the narrow porch.

‘I’m busy today, George. Good of you though. You should’ve rung first’ Kester looks down at his feet and looks around the hallway for his trainers. ‘Hang on a few minutes and I’ll drop you home. Save you having to run back’

‘Oh…I ain’t run, boy…I come in me car!’

Tawny House, Manor Road

The Annexe

Chapter Seventeen

Woodbury Town Centre

‘Ohhhh Nathan…nooo…I can’t go in there’ Charlene turns tail and almost runs through the small arcade of shops.

‘Why on earth not?’ Nathan asks, catching up with her as they reach the main shopping precinct.

‘Der…‘ she says, rolling her eyes ‘It’s for posh people!’ The upward inflection of her words illustrating how stupid she thinks the idea is.

‘And we’ he says, chucking her under the chin and grinning ‘Are going somewhere posh’

Charlene chews at a thumbnail, eyeing him uncertainly. ‘You say what they hire stuff out?’

‘They do…although why you won’t let me buy something for you, I don’t know’

‘Because…well…I explained all that…just because, okay?’ She makes her way to one of a number of benches set in a square around what was the central market place.

‘You could always call it another bonus’ Nathan teases, smiling as he sits next to her.

Charlene starts on another nail. ‘My Mum says there int no such thing as a free lunch’ she mutters ‘You buy me summat…and I’d have to…’

‘Charlene!’ Nathan interrupts crossly. ‘There’s nothing further from my mind’

She narrows her eyes and peers at him. ‘You telling me the truth?’

‘Yes, I am! What do you take me for?’

‘I don’t want to be one a your women…you know…what gets took back to your room nor nothing’

‘You think that’s what I’m after?’ he asks incredulously. ‘That that’s why I asked you to come?’

‘It’s what me Mum says’ Charlene replies, folding her arms and glaring at him.

‘Well, your Mum’s wrong!’ he scowls ‘You can tell her that from me!’

‘Don’t you fancy me then?’ she huffs.

Nathan shakes his head sharply, trying to fathom which way the conversation should be going. ‘Charlene…it’s not that’

‘Cos some a them girls what you go with is real dogs. I int much but I’s better’n them’ Her arms fold more tightly and she looks away in disgust.

‘How would you know?’ he laughs.

‘Cos I’ve seen ‘em’ She fixes him with a stare.

‘When?’

‘When I’ve been in the same club as you’

‘You’ve seen me…but you haven’t come over to say hello or anything?’

‘Nooo’ Charlene rolls her eyes at him and turns her head away again.

‘Why not?’ Nathan smiles as Charlene blushes uncomfortably.

‘Cos I dint want to show you up nor nothing’

‘Don’t be daft’ he says, putting an arm around her shoulder and giving her a playful hug.

Charlene shifts further along the bench. ‘You’s with your mates…and there’s always girls hanging round, fancyin their chances…I dint want nobody thinking I were one a them’

Nathan  removes his arm from the back of the seat. ‘I had to be on my own at some point during the night…why didn’t you come over then?’ he asks, leaning forward with his arms on his thighs.

‘P’raps I weren’t on me own!’ Charlene retorts.

‘Ah…right. You come over next time, though, okay?’ He smiles.

‘Maybe’ Charlene relents.

‘Right….We going back to that shop?’

‘Nathan…I can’t’

‘Yes you can, come on’  Nathan stands up and holds out his hand.