Chapter 2

He had not yet arrived when she entered the bar and joined the party. George, his wife, a few colleagues with whom George had kept in touch with since university in Edinburgh, and the usual gang: Angela, Nathalie, Ronnie, and Matt. How many times had they settled here around a beer? Not once during the last month, though. Alesha was not comfortable enough to invite Jacob along yet, but she did not want him to feel left out if she went with the others. So she abstained. She hoped that one of these days, the boys would invite him along, and the ice would be broken.

Alesha was sitting on the bench along the wall, beside Angela. On her right, an empty table. She was laughing at something Ronnie said when she looked up and saw him enter the pub. The same and yet a bit different. Still so clean shaven and preppy in his long black trench coat, his blue muffler around his neck. But she could see that he was wearing a jumper and trousers instead of a suit underneath. A slightly more casual James, then. One who taught law at university and had just accepted a consulting position for a large human rights organisation.

He came over to their table and greeted everyone, starting with George and Janet, who were seated at the other end of the table. He nodded at George's friends, shook hands with Ronnie and Matty, blew a kiss to Angela and Nathalie as they were out of reach, and finally settled beside Alesha on the bench. Looking sideways at her, not quite smiling but his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. God, she had missed him so. She hid her hands under the table, as they were a bit clammy now. Her heart rate had accelerated steadily as he made his way along the table. She felt so stupid, sitting there, a huge smile threatening and heat climbing up her cheeks. Let's hope he had not noticed.

"Hey."

"Hey to you too."

"Missed me much?"

"Are you kidding? I am finally catching up on work. For the first time in years!"

Alesha made a smiling moue as she said it, letting him know she was joking. But James had always been able to read her and enjoyed their banter. He bent his head a little towards her, pressed his hand on her forearm, as he had done so many times before when wanting to let her she had done good in court.

"I am glad to see you. I think the most difficult thing at university is not hearing you bitching about the Tube when I come in".

They smiled at each other, the old familiarity coming back just like that. It was but a moment, as conversations resumed and their attention was needed. Over the next three hours, as drinks were replenished, snacks ordered and places exchanged in order to better share a story, James stayed by her side. She could feel him there. Literally, of course, as the next table was now occupied and everyone had to squish in a bit closer. When he leaned on the table to talk to Angela, she could feel his leg brushing against hers. She also "felt" him. A kind of humming inside her. Nothing precisely sexual, as she sometimes felt it at the hairdresser while getting her hair done, or at the spa while getting a massage. But sensual and pleasant nonetheless, if a bit unnerving. She was very aware of him, and for some reason, she thought he was also aware of her.

At 9, one of George's friends stood up and announced he had to go. His solicitor wife was working late and he had promised to meet her after his drinks. Alesha was tired. She wanted to keep on sitting there beside James but, to be honest, she wanted him all to herself. To tell him about the new situation at work. To hear about his new life. She would send him an e-mail at the beginning of the week, suggesting lunch. Being very casual. Now that they had seen each other again, things could go back to normal.

When James went to the bathroom, Alesha announced she would be leaving too. She was knackered and should go before nodding off. Everyone teased her, telling her that as the youngest, she was a disgrace to her generation. When James came back, she was standing, going around the table and making her salutations. She turned as he arrived.

"I was waiting for you to come back before taking my leave. It was really great to see you again. We should have lunch soon, James. And you'll tell me all about your new jobs, without Ronnie and Mattie crowding the floor", she told him, smiling.

"I should really be going too. Ethan is coming in the morning. Wait for me and I'll give you a lift home".

"You don't have to do that, really. I'll just take a cab."

James touched her arm again. "Alesha, it will be my pleasure. Just wait until I say goodbye to everyone".

As he turned to get his coat and do the rounds as she had a few minutes earlier, she stood there. Smiling slightly at everyone who glanced her way. And then he was by her side.

"Let's go then. Let's take you home."