Hooked on You

by Jenn Matthews

  “What a coincidence.” I don’t think anyone’s ever called me pretty.

  “Goodnight, Ollie.”

  Ollie’s eyes were already closed and her thumb was still rubbing the throw by her neck. “Goodnight, comrade.”

  They texted one another after the initial day-long silence. General things, how their days were going.

  Anna had so much she wanted to tell Ollie, but it just didn’t seem right, texting it all. And they didn’t phone one another again but left it until Thursday. I can’t wait to see her in the flesh again. So much has happened, so much that I wanted to happen. She continually found herself smirking. My plan worked, well, for the most part. While it hadn’t been perfect, their dinner had, eventually, gone the way she had wanted.

  Leaning in to kiss Ollie had been a huge leap. Anna had wondered how Ollie would react, whether she would pull away, for whatever reason, including not actually being attracted to her. But she is. She kissed me back. And we kissed goodnight. That had been her favourite kiss, all gentle and tender and… Anna shivered in delight at the memory.

  And they had actually talked about it afterwards. The phone call had settled her worried brain. Even after their kisses, she had been anxious about what Ollie would say, whether Ollie would want to see her again. Whether she’d want to see her again in the way Anna wanted to see her.

  On Thursday, Anna got home from work at four and was able to cook something from scratch for the kids and herself.

  Bethany eyed her as she flitted around the kitchen. “Mum?” she asked after a few minutes.

  “Yes, love?” Anna replied, laying Timothy’s plate in front of him and touching his shoulder before he tucked into his dinner.

  “You never told us how your dinner with Ollie went.” Bethany’s gaze on her was assertive.

  Anna carried her own plate to the table and sat. She carefully picked up her knife and fork, cut up a piece of breaded fish, and popped into her mouth. She chewed as she thought about her answer. Communication was the key with teenagers, she knew. And honesty should be at the heart of every family. The ideals she had instilled in Bethany had proven, so far, helpful when the young woman was going through emotional upheaval with boyfriends or friends. They were a team, and they always tried to be honest with one another.

  Anna stared at her plate. She looked up at the both of them, grimacing a little. It’s hard, but this thing is too huge for me to keep from them. “We had a lovely evening,” she began, easing herself in slowly.

  “I want to meet Ollie,” Timothy stated, entering into the conversation with his usual confidence.

  “We um…” God, how do I explain this? She let out a huff, and Timothy frowned at her.

  “You look tense,” he observed, and she smiled at him.

  “I feel a little tense, Timothy. But it’s just because I have something to tell you and I’m a little anxious about how you’ll react.”

  “You kissed, didn’t you?” Bethany sipped from her glass of wine, watching her with curiosity.

  Anna blinked. What is she, a mind reader? “What?”

  “You and Ollie?” Bethany replied.

  Is it common knowledge all of a sudden? “Well I…” Anna looked between them.

  Timothy looked interested but not shocked or surprised.

  Bethany just looked as though the food in front of her was more interesting than the conversation about her mother’s sexuality.

  “Yes,” Anna said in the end, suddenly rather relieved she didn’t have to say the actual words.

  “Does that mean you’re gay now?” Timothy asked, still apparently unfazed by the concept.

  “I’m not sure,” Anna replied. “I think I’m still attracted to men. So…”

  “Bisexual, then.”

  Anna nodded. “Bisexual. I suppose.”

  “You mean you haven’t talked about it? With Ollie?” Bethany asked, huffing in frustration.

  “We have.” Anna frowned to herself. How much did we actually discuss? “It’s early days.”

  “You like her, though?” Bethany asked.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “And she likes you?”

  “I would hope so.” The memory of the look in Ollie’s eyes after she had kissed her sent a small thrill through Anna.

  “Are you dating, then?” Timothy asked.

  “I think we might be.” Anna sucked on her bottom lip. “We talked about having more dinners out and… Well, like I said, it’s early days.”

  “Keep us updated,” Bethany said, her attention returning to her fish.

  “I will.” She turned to Timothy, who gave her his biggest grin. She squeezed his wrist.

  They went back to their meals.

  It wasn’t the cold evening that made Anna shudder as she arrived at the side door of the shop. Her hands trembled as she knocked. One hand dropped to lie over her cloth bag, over the pattern she had found on the Internet. The pattern is fine. Stop getting yourself into such a state.

  Ollie answered the door, and they exchanged a soft smile. Lowering her head, Ollie hid behind her hair. Stepping near to the doorway, Anna lifted a hand to brush it back.

  “Nice to see you,” Ollie said, her eyes shining.

  Anna beamed and stepped into the dark hallway. They stood close together, and Anna was not really sure what to do, but she wanted to do something that would show a little of the affection she felt for Ollie.

  Before she could decide what move to make, Matthew burst into the corridor from the classroom and went over to give Anna a hug. He seemed oblivious to the looks between them and ushered Anna into the classroom, eager to show her the brooch he had made for his mum.

  Footsteps followed them in, and Ollie and Anna caught one another’s gaze before Ollie gestured to Anna to continue with Matthew.

  Anna nodded and sat with Matthew as he chatted away.

  The room was packed that evening. Anna relaxed. The tension between them would have been far plainer to see if only been a few people had been there.

  A couple of new people were introduced and a few more who hadn’t been to the class for a while were welcomed back. Ollie held up a pattern for a shopping bag, covered in little crocheted flowers. Around half the room took one, but Anna shook her head. Ollie nodded and moved around the room.

  After opening her trusty cloth bag, Anna pulled out a freshly printed pattern with small, brightly coloured pictures.

  Matthew looked over. “Stars,” he said. “They’re nice. I was going to make my mum another brooch, the same as the one here.” He indicated the bird-shaped brooch he had already fastened to a safety pin. “But I like that.” He tapped the pictures. “May I?”

  “Of course you may,” Anna said. “It’s good to share—so my mother always said.”

  “Mine says that too. Let’s go and choose some yarn.”

  The pale blue yarn Anna had chosen had just a hint of sparkle. I hope she likes it.

  Matthew had chosen a bright red and was making several stars to lay over one another in a sort of flower-petal arrangement.

  Deciding to make several too, Anna fastened two of each of the points to one another so that they looked a little like paper dolls.

  “So,” Matthew began, hesitation in his voice, “we went to the cinema.”

  “I’m assuming you mean you and Harry?”

  “And for a drink.” A flush crept up Matthew’s neck. “We nearly held hands.”

  “Nearly?”

  “Very nearly. I sort of had my hand next to his and…” Matthew shrugged.

  Anna reckoned the young man usually did more than hold hands with his dates. She was pleased he had found someone he felt comfortable going slowly with. I’ve already done more than that with Ollie. Her cheeks heated at the thought.

  The lady with the huge throw came over to see what they
were doing. “Harry told me you’re a schoolteacher?”

  Anna looked up from her stars, startled. “That’s right. I teach English.”

  “Fantastic subject. My favourite at school, apart from music.” She had long dark hair with streaks of white in it, tied up in a plat. She wore a long purple cardigan and large, dangly earrings.

  Matthew sat back at the arrival of someone new. “This is Fiona. She used to play in a band.”

  “An orchestra, Matthew, love. Get it right.”

  He blushed. “Sorry.”

  “What did you play?” Anna asked, stilling her hands to give Fiona her full attention.

  “French horn. All the brassy dramatic parts, you know. Good fun.”

  “Do you still play?”

  “Not so much. Lungs gave out after a while. But my fingers are still as dexterous as they ever were.”

  “Perhaps someone could blow for you and you could do the fingering,” Matthew said.

  “Now there’s an idea.” She looked over to Ollie, and her whole body seemed to soften.

  She can’t do the thing she loves, either, just like Ollie.

  Anna suddenly wanted to make a friend in the older lady. “I’ve been watching you make that enormous blanket for weeks,” she said, amazement washing through her. “I’ve never seen anything so huge.”

  “Ollie inspired me. With all her talk of throws and things for the church hall. I decided to see how big a blanket I could make.” She gestured over to her table, where the thick blanket sat bunched up. “So far, it touches the floor on each side of my king-sized bed, and then some. I reckon I’m doing all right.”

  “You going to make it any bigger, or is it done?”

  Fiona shrugged and sighed happily. “I just enjoy the company, being able to do something with my hands, and the free tea on tap.” She grinned over at Ollie. “That blonde doesn’t half make a good brew.”

  “She does.” Anna had to look away after a moment of catching Ollie’s gaze. She felt like fondness was dripping from her own eyes. “And it’s great you’ve found something you enjoy.”

  “Not just me. This group is full of people who’ve had broken hearts. But, hey, you just have to pick yourself up and pop your heart somewhere else. Find something different for it to focus on.”

  Anna hadn’t thought of that, but she supposed Fiona was right.

  “Hearts can be tricky things,” Matthew murmured.

  One of Fiona’s large hands landed on his shoulder. “You, love, need to decide where your heart is supposed to be.” Her gaze flicked towards Harry.

  Matthew’s cheeks reddened. “Already sorted.” He smiled at Fiona. “We had a date.”

  After throwing her hands into the air, Fiona patted Matthew’s shoulder. “Well, thank the Lord.”

  The laugh that bubbled up Anna’s throat was affectionate, and so was the way she bumped Matthew’s shoulder with her own.

  Affectionate wrinkles appeared around Fiona’s nose. “Matthew, it’s been a pleasure. Anna, lovely to have finally met you.” She winked. “I’ve been meaning to come over.”

  “Likewise.”

  Leaving them to their stars, Fiona went back to her table.

  Ollie moved around the group, and Anna caught her gaze a few times when she glanced over at her and Matthew. She seemed far too busy with everyone else to allow her gaze to linger much, however.

  It’s all making sense now, the way I feel when she’s close by.

  Anna sipped her tea between working delicately on her stars. After making five, she looped them back around, attaching the first star to the last to make a ring. She put it on her own wrist and held it out to Matthew for inspection.

  “That for Bethany?” he asked.

  “No,” Anna said. She didn’t elaborate but did glance up at Ollie.

  He must have noticed, because he smirked at her. “Well, whoever you give it to,” he said, “I’m sure they’ll like it.”

  “That would be my intention.” She shook herself, took the bracelet off her own wrist, and tucked it into her pocket.

  She wasn’t sure what to do next. I’ve still got almost three-quarters of a ball of wool left to use. She made some normal granny squares, figuring she ought to spend the rest of the time in the class to full advantage. She’d been meaning to make some for the church hall anyway. There were seven in a pile on the table by the end of the class, and she slipped three of them into her cloth bag with the rest of her unused yarn and hooks. The remaining four she laid gently into the wicker basket, which was almost full to overflowing. She then caressed her pocket where the bracelet was hidden.

  Matthew, who was dashing off to meet friends at the pub, threw her a wave.

  As was not unusual, Anna was the last to stand from her chair, the last to bring her mug to the front and to remain after the final person had left.

  Ollie leant against the counter, looking through the door into the corridor. Then she swung her smile to Anna. “You made me some squares.”

  “I did. I’m going to make myself something as well. But I’ve been thinking about contributing to the project for ages.”

  “And now you have.” Ollie peered at the squares and nodded her approval. “They’re great. Thank you, comrade.”

  Anna smiled back at her. “How are your hands?” Her gaze trailed down Ollie’s long arm.

  Both palms appeared obediently for inspection.

  After taking each one in her own, Anna checked the front and back and ran a fingertip over Ollie’s wrist. She looked up, found Ollie’s eyes on hers, and blinked a little at the tenderness she saw within them.

  Anna quickly slipped the bracelet over Ollie’s fingers and pressed it as it hung on her wrist.

  Ollie looked down and furrowed her eyebrows. “What’s this?”

  “A gift.” Anna stepped back and dropped her trembling hands from Ollie’s. “I don’t know if you’re a bracelet wearer usually or… You could put it around a mug in your flat or…a vase perhaps, or…”

  A grin shone from Ollie’s features and she gazed at the small sparkly stars, touching each with a gentle fingertip. “It’s lovely. Thank you.”

  Anna breathed out a laugh.

  After stepping up to her, Ollie wrapped the arm that wore the bracelet around her shoulder and pressed her cheek to Anna’s in a small, one-armed hug.

  A sigh rumbled through Anna at the contact, and she slipped her arms around Ollie to hold her close. She breathed in the feeling of Ollie’s arms around her, of her face pressed close to her own. The familiar smell of Ollie’s shampoo was heavenly.

  When Ollie relaxed and made to let Anna go, Anna held on more tightly. She turned her head to press her lips against Ollie’s cheek. “Just a minute longer,” Anna said.

  Ollie’s hands dropped from her shoulders and lay flat against the small of her back, her fingers curling into the wool of her coat.

  “Roger that,” Ollie said, turning her head, too, snuggling her nose into Anna’s neck.

  Anna giggled as goose pimples rose across her skin. Her Anna’s cloth bag, previously hanging from her shoulder, dropped down her arm and fell with a soft thud onto the floor.

  Neither of them moved at the noise.

  Anna trailed her fingertips up Ollie’s spine in a slow caress.

  As she burrowed further into her, Ollie’s hands wandered, too, one smoothing over Anna’s shoulder blade, the other around her waist.

  Shivers flashed across Anna’s skin at the way Ollie’s touch made her feel suddenly too warm and rather swamped with emotion. She pulled away but caught Ollie’s gaze as her hands fell to her sides.

  Ollie pushed her eyebrows down as though she was afraid she’d done something wrong.

  Quickly, Anna reached to brush the backs of her knuckles down Ollie’s neck. When Ollie leant in, Anna took the hint,
closing the distance between them.

  There was a millimetre of space between them.

  Ollie cupped Anna’s jaw with her fingertips gently.

  Closing her eyes, Anna shivered again. Their lips touched softly, barely brushing.

  “Fancy a coffee?” Ollie asked breathily after they had broken the kiss.

  Anna leant her head to one side, her pursed lips tingling. “That sounds wonderful. But…”

  “But?”

  Unable to make eye contact, Anna perused a small mark on the wallpaper. “I just feel a little… I’m still a tad overwhelmed by…” She spread her hands wide, attempting to indicate their situation.

  Ollie nodded and took her hands in her own, squeezing them. “That’s okay.”

  “Are you…are you sure?” Anna asked, her voice a little wobbly. “I feel like a proper prat.”

  “I don’t mind waiting.” Ollie rubbed her thumbs over the backs of Anna’s hands. “And I’m aware it’s only been… But perhaps we could do dinner again? Another night.”

  “And just take it from there.”

  Ollie smiled and nodded. “Spanish?”

  “So long as they have a good wine list,” Anna said, the wobbliness fading and her chin lifting.

  “Goes without saying.”

  They grinned at one another again, their hands still joined between them.

  After waiting a moment, Ollie pulled on Anna’s hands gently.

  Anna stepped forward and lifted her hands to Ollie’s face, before resting her fingers by her ears and then pulling her in.

  Another kiss so gentle that Anna hummed against Ollie’s lips. Ollie’s lips curled upwards too. When the kiss broke, they stayed close.

  The hum turned into a girlish giggle. Anna laid her forehead against Ollie’s as Ollie slid her arms around her waist. “I should go.” She hoped the tickle of her fingertips against Ollie’s neck expressed just how much she wanted to stay.

  Ollie rubbed the dips of Anna’s waist with her thumbs and nodded. “I wish you wouldn’t.”

  “I know,” Anna said but stepped away and bent down to pick up her bag where it had fallen to the floor. “But dinner. Definitely.”