Hooked on You

by Jenn Matthews

  “Okay.” Anna peered at her working with her head close to Ollie’s.

  “So, then when you start the next row, it’s: yarn over hook, then you go round the back…” She turned her hand back on itself, twisting the yarn around. “Pop your hook in from left to right, like this.” She did so. “Yarn over while it’s in the post, draw it through the two loops, yarn over again, draw it through.” She looked up from her hands.

  Anna inhaled quickly at how close they were. An inch or so more and she’d be close enough to kiss her. Well, no time like the present. Anna parted her lips ever so slightly. Swallowing, she dropped her gaze to Ollie’s lips. Subtle. She flicked her gaze back up to Ollie’s. “I think I understand.” She licked her lips. “Maybe…just show me one more time?”

  Ollie blinked at her for a moment and then did so, explaining each step slowly. As her careful, long fingers made the stitches, a shiver ran through Anna at the false memory of those fingers touching her a few nights before.

  That was just a fantasy. Stop getting distracted.

  “How’s that?” Ollie asked, then cleared her throat. Her voice had gone hoarse.

  Anna held her gaze in silence, uncertain of her own voice at the moment. “And the…the front post stitch?” she finally asked. Her own words were breathy. She could swear Ollie’s eyes had lowered to look at her lips.

  Quit stalling. Kiss her already.

  “The same.” Ollie sat back in her chair. “Just round the front.”

  “Okay.” That’s all you can come up with to say? Brilliant, Anna.

  “And…and when you get to decrease, you don’t do it as usual, I think…” Ollie lowered her head towards the pattern, a slight stutter in her delivery. “Yes, you just skip the stitches.”

  “Okay,” Anna said again. She probably wasn’t going to remember a single thing she was being told right now, damn it.

  Ollie smiled at her and tilted her head to one side as if asking a question. “She’ll like it, I think,” she said. “Your daughter.”

  “Bethany.” Anna said her daughter’s name slowly, as if learning it for the first time. Her face was starting to hurt with the amount of smiling she was doing. And then came the inevitable awkward pause.

  Might as well have another go. She tried again, touching Ollie’s shoulder blade gingerly. “How’s the back?”

  “Better.” Her lips pursed for just a moment. “Thank you.”

  Harry had sat beside Anna while Ollie had been showing her the new stitches, and now he looked at the pattern in front of her. “I made one a bit like this a few years ago. I love the bobble.”

  She found herself irrationally annoyed at his sudden presence but then told herself she was being ridiculous. This was a crochet class, not a pickup bar.

  Already Ollie was at the kettle, the familiar clinking of mugs ringing across the room. She leant against the counter, hands against its edge, and cast her gaze downwards.

  Anna took the high road and smiled at him. It wasn’t his fault Anna couldn’t find the nerve to make her move.

  “I’m Harry,” he said, and Anna realised they hadn’t ever been properly introduced.

  “Anna. Nice to meet you.”

  She settled lazily into Harry’s company and worked on the rim of the hat while they chatted about their projects. “So, your granny squares are amazing,” she said.

  He picked up one of the three he’d brought with him, an almost 3-D shape with a huge bobbled flower in the centre and little flecks of green around it. “Thank you,” he said. “They are for the wall hanging.”

  “I gathered.” Anna squished the flower shape. It had a pleasing texture. “I suppose I need to start making some as well.” She pushed up her shoulders. “Ought to do my bit.”

  “They take me a long time, but they’re really worth it. I like making things for a good cause.”

  Harry’s gaze drifted over to Matthew, who was in deep conversation with Christian. She took a deep breath and added a deliberate element of innocence into her voice. “Matthew said you have a horse.”

  He turned back to her and pulled his mobile from his pocket. “Yep. She was a performing horse, in films and stuff, you know? Very sweet natured, but getting old now, and the company that owned her was going to put her in an animal shelter. I heard about it and went to see her and immediately fell in love.”

  Anna looked down at the photos Harry was showing her on his mobile. “Oh, she’s beautiful. What’s her name?”

  “Florence.” He grinned at her. “It really suits her.”

  “A lot of work, though, having a horse.”

  “Oh, I know. I read up on it all before I… I’d actually been thinking about getting a horse for a while but…it was just a bit too scary. Frivolous, perhaps. You know?”

  Anna nodded.

  He put his phone away. “But when I heard about Florence…I just couldn’t let her go to a shelter.” He shook his head, and his eyes shone with emotion. “I took the plunge.”

  “You ride her?”

  He nodded. “Yep, every weekend. She’s in stables, of course. I found a really good one, with fields, and they take the horses out every day. She even gets to work with kids sometimes.”

  “That’s fantastic. It sounds like you’ve provided her with a wonderful life.”

  A mug of tea appeared in front of her, and another joined it as Matthew crouched in front of her. Anna cocked an eyebrow.

  Matthew looked up at Harry, however, and smiled at him. “Nice to see you again,” he said.

  Anna tried not to show her amusement, contenting herself with a knowing look at Ollie, who shot one back, her hand in front of her mouth.

  “Hello,” Harry replied, smiling too. “Anna was just telling me she’s making a hat for her daughter.”

  Matthew politely smiled at Anna, and swept his thumb over the yarn she was using, but his eyes were firmly locked with Harry’s. It was obvious his behaviour was all for Harry’s benefit. “You’re accommodating, Anna,” he said. “She already stole your scarf.”

  “Well, this is to match,” Anna said.

  “I think it’s a lovely gesture,” Harry said, smiling genuinely.

  Matthew nodded. “Oh. ‘Course. Me too.”

  If she looked at Ollie right now, Anna knew she’d see Ollie’s amusement and they’d both laugh. She didn’t want to be cruel. Matthew was obviously changing his mind about Harry, and one never knew; maybe they would end up together.

  Matthew turned his attention to the fluffy granny squares Harry had brought for the throw project. “And these are just, well, they really are something.”

  A wide grin crossed Harry’s face in a way that Anna found promising. “Thank you.”

  “They must take you ages.”

  “They do. But I love making them.”

  Matthew looked through the three squares Harry had made. “I just…get one done in like…twenty minutes.” He seemed forlorn. Anna wanted to hug him.

  “I could lend you some…some patterns if you like?” Harry suggested, pulling out a couple of papers from his bag. “Um…these are pretty quick, but they look nice too, if you’re not into really detailed things.”

  Their gazes locked, and Matthew relaxed a bit.

  “That’d be nice. Suppose it’s quality rather than quantity, right?”

  Harry didn’t nod or shake his head, and Anna wondered if he was trying not to upset Matthew. “We probably need a load of plain ones anyway,” he explained. “Otherwise the whole thing will look a bit…”

  “Busy?” Matthew’s face brightened.

  “That’s it,” Harry agreed, also relieved.

  By the end of the class, it appeared as if Harry and Matthew were finally getting to know one another properly. They dropped their fivers into the envelope and left together. Sarah and Christian left, too, hand in h
and, already wearing their matching hats. Anna hadn’t been close enough to Ollie to flirt again. She was beginning to wonder if it would ever happen.

  She lifted her finished hat into the air for inspection. The ends were sewn neatly in and the pompom was a perfect sphere attached securely.

  Ollie came over, already smiling as she fingered the edge of the hat. “Fantastic,” she said, and then went back to wash up the mugs in the sink.

  Drifting over to stand next to her, Anna took a tea towel from where it hung on a hook. She made a conscious effort to trail her gaze down to Ollie’s lips. Surely she’s noticed by now?

  “Now they both have a present each,” she said, taking each mug from Ollie to dry it and set it on the side.

  “That’ll stop them bickering.”

  “It will.” As they handed a mug between them, their fingers brushed and Anna didn’t move away. Neither did Ollie. They looked down at their hands.

  Anna let out a slow breath, before moving the mug away to place on the counter. “Thanks for the pattern.” Her voice felt thin, like her smallest crochet hook.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Once the last mug was dried, Anna hung the soggy tea towel back on the hook. She pulled her coat around herself snugly, ready to make her way out into the winter air. An involuntary shiver passed through her as she imagined how it would feel when she stepped out. “I gave Bethany the caterpillar,” she said, suddenly remembering

  Ollie raised her eyebrows. “And?”

  “Weirdly, she really liked it. Said it was cute.”

  They smiled at one another for a minute, gazes locked. Anna was unsure of what to do or say next, but unwilling to end the evening just yet. Is something going to happen?

  “Oh!” Ollie said, making Anna jump. She limped out into the shop. Anna followed her, curious.

  After rounding the till, Ollie bent on one knee and seized something from behind her chair. “Here,” she said, producing a small dark red rabbit with tiny beady eyes and cream inner ears and tummy. “I finished him.”

  Anna’s heart stuttered. “Oh, Ollie. He’s gorgeous.” She took the rabbit and held him carefully, turning him one way, and then the other. “He’ll be sitting by my bed,” she said, her lashes lowered.

  They were standing close together again.

  Smiling broadly, Ollie stepped away and put some distance between them.

  Anna followed her, however, wrapping her arms around Ollie’s shoulders, the rabbit in her hand against Ollie’s neck. “Thank you.”

  “No problem,” Ollie said. She sank her face into the side of Anna’s neck.

  Anna shivered as Ollie’s cold nose touched her warm skin. She tried not to inhale deeply, but Ollie’s scent filled her lungs again. Anna squeezed her hard, closed her eyes for a moment, then pulled away and kissed her on the cheek.

  Ollie’s face flushed, which made Anna smile. It’s not quite a full-on snog, but things are looking positive. Ollie chewed her lip and looked away.

  Tonight’s mission accomplished, Anna gave her a moment. “Well.” She dropped her gaze to the floor as well, her whole body tingling. “It’s late. I’ve got a programme to watch. And you should go rest your back.”

  “I’ll take some ibuprofen before I go to bed,” Ollie promised before Anna could even suggest it.

  “Sensible,” she said with a warmth in her stomach she knew she would cherish the whole way home. “Take care.” She left Ollie standing stock-still for a moment, but then footsteps followed Anna, and a hand on her shoulder stopped her before she reached the door.

  “Oh,” Ollie croaked. Her gaze flicked to the ground.

  Anna squinted at her. You’re like a complicated crochet pattern, aren’t you?

  “We should… I mean, if you like.” Ollie cleared her throat. “We could go for a drink?”

  Anna smiled. “Okay, that would be nice. When are you free?”

  “Saturday night? Evening, I mean.” Ollie was fiddling with her fingers.

  “Perfect. How about dinner?”

  Ollie’s smile grew. “All right.”

  “Say…six thirty?”

  “I’ll pick you up,” Ollie said. “Text me your address.”

  “I will.” Anna pulled her scarf more securely round her neck. “And…feel free to text me whenever you’re bored.” She stroked the soft ears of the rabbit before slipping it into her cloth bag. “Bye, Ollie.”

  “Bye. See you Saturday.”

  Anna disappeared into the night, the wind blowing her coat around her knees. She got halfway down the street before she turned and deliberately looked back, right at Ollie.

  She was still there, hanging out of her door.

  Anna just wiggled her fingers at her before she turned the corner towards the car park, a huge smile plastered on her face.

  Chapter 8

  Tiny Stars

  Anna looked at herself in the full-length mirror stuck on the inside of the wardrobe door. She only used it when she really wasn’t sure about an outfit. Her hair was neat—nothing new there—and her make-up light but enough. Usually by the time six thirty rolled around, she’d rubbed off any lipstick she’d applied at the beginning of the day. So the bright red colour currently neat across her lips would be a change at least.

  Next, she considered her clothes: a purple wrap-around top that hugged her curves and highlighted the dip of her waist, and a pair of grey trousers. Flat shoes but pretty, she hoped. She really didn’t have the patience for heels these days, and it wasn’t like she was terribly short. She wasn’t sure if Ollie would wear heels. She didn’t want to be taller than Ollie, because she knew there was an inch between them and she sort of liked it.

  Was she reading too much into it? She didn’t mind looking nice, but it wouldn’t do to arrive with too much cleavage on display or too much leg on show. She had a feeling she’d probably just make Ollie run a mile. As far as Ollie knew, Anna was straight as an arrow. But she was going to rectify that tonight.

  How on earth am I going to do that? I can’t just blurt it out. Anna was so engrossed in her own self-critique that she jumped at the knock to her bedroom door.

  “Mum?”

  “Yep,” she called out before her daughter slowly pushed it open a crack.

  “Tell me you have clothes on,” Bethany said. “Because you naked is not a sight I want to see.”

  “No bits and pieces on show tonight, darling.”

  The door opened some more and Bethany stepped in. She blinked at the sight of her mother facing her, a smile threatening to push past her post-adolescent derision. “You look okay,” she said.

  Amusement and relief flooded through Anna.

  Bethany relented and smiled back. “Yeah, okay, Mum. You look great.”

  “Reckon?” Anna brushed her palms against her waist, conscious of how fitted the top was. “I don’t look pudgy or…”

  “Are you kidding?” She rested her chin on her mother’s shoulder and crushed her in a hug. “If I didn’t know better I’d say you were on a date.”

  Shrugging out of the embrace, Anna regarded Bethany with narrowed eyes.

  Bethany pursed her lips. “Are you on a date?” Her head dropped towards her shoulder. “Timothy says you are.”

  “How would Timothy know?” Anna tried to keep her tone light.

  “He’s very perceptive. And quite a bit more direct, or haven’t you noticed by now? He says you smile every time you come back from crochet, more than when you used to go out with Liam, even, and that you seem more energetic on the whole.” Bethany smirked. “He has a spreadsheet to prove it.”

  “Oh Lord.” Anna’s face burned. She looked at her shoes for a moment.

  “It’s okay if you are. I’m not going to go all weird on you. You totally didn’t bring me up to be a homophobe, Mum.”

  “I woul
d think not.” It encouraged her to lift her gaze back up.

  Bethany sighed. “It’s fine. As long as we get to actually meet her at some point. I’m not having you dating someone like…you know, Liam.”

  “We’re not dating.” Anna sat on the end of her bed and clasped her hands. Her foot bounced up and down.

  “Your outfit screams ‘date’.” Bethany’s hand was positioned firmly on her hip.

  Anna hid her face in her fingers. “Does it?”

  “She’s clueless, isn’t she?”

  When Anna took her hand away, she found Bethany had a glint in her eye. “We’ve not…” Anna searched for words to explain. Bloody English teacher and I can’t speak the language. “…exactly had the conversation about…preferences and, well, we have, but…anyway…” Anna hid her face again and let out an almighty sigh. And now I’m waffling.

  Bethany touched her shoulder.

  “Yes, she’s clueless.” Anna stood and paced a little back and forth.

  Turning her head one way, then the other, Bethany watched her.

  “Hell, so was I until a few days ago.”

  “Mum.” Bethany caught her arm, stopping her from wearing the carpet raw. “Mum. It’s all right.”

  Their gazes locked.

  Shaking the tension out of her shoulders, Anna placed her palm carefully atop her daughter’s.

  Bethany’s hand squeezed her. “It’s perfect, actually. Your outfit.”

  “Do you…do you really think so?”

  “Yeah. It’s lovely.” She fingered the neat bow at Anna’s hip that held the wrap-around top securely in place. “The colour suits you. Makes your eyes look super green.”

  Bethany squeezed her arm again before she left the room. Anna turned back to the mirror, tucked a little wisp of her hair behind her ear, and grabbed her handbag.

  Ollie pulled on her boots and tied the laces with fumbling fingers. “Dammit.” She jumped up, felt her knee creak, and rubbed it. “Dammit.” She hopped past the mirror in her tiny hallway, then stepped back in front of it. She looked in horror at her reflection. “Dammit.”

  A tissue. She needed a tissue. Ollie scrubbed at the smear of eyeliner she definitely had not intentionally graced her cheek with. She looked at her watch, grabbed her keys, and swung out the door.