Next day it was Monday morning. Will had a ten o’clock meeting. He woke up at nine-thirty.
‘Shit. Shit. Jane, I’m late.’
She rolled over. ‘It’s early, don’t worry.’
‘It’s not early, it’s half past nine. Shit. OK, I’ve gotta go and I’ve somehow gotta get my phone and some clothes.’
Jane propped herself up on her elbow and watched him as he searched around for his boxers.
‘Morning to you, too, Will,’ she said with a half-smile.
‘This isn’t funny. Seriously, I’ve gotta get to this meeting. Shit, shit, shit.’
‘Look, it’s fine.’ Jane got out of bed, wrapped the towel round her and went to rummage through her stuff to see if there was anything Will might be able to put on. ‘You could borrow something from Matt when you go and pick up your stuff,’ she said, trying really hard not to laugh when he looked at her, horrified.
The best she could find was a big green Babour jacket. ‘This might fit.’
‘No way.’ Will shook his head. ‘I can’t walk through the island in that.’
‘The only other thing I can suggest is that you swim back. Matt will let you have a shower.’
‘I can’t do that either.’
Jane shrugged. ‘Or you could phone in sick and have breakfast with me?’ she said, biting down on a smile.
‘No, I can’t do that. I’ve really gotta go.’
She felt her smile fade. ‘OK, well take the jacket and there’s a bike leaning up outside that’ll get you there quicker and less people’ll see.’
‘OK. Fine. Right.’ He walked over and took the coat. ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this.’
Jane nodded. She wanted him to say something else. To acknowledge the beautiful night they’d had together. To forget about work for a second and think about her, but he didn’t. He put the coat on, shook his head at his reflection, bent to kiss the top of her head and said, ‘I’ll call you later, OK?’
‘Whatever,’ she said, standing in just the sheet, watching as he went.