Coffee, tea? Or me?

Part II

II

It was ten past five in the morning when Lucy's flight finally landed back at London Heathrow. She got up from her crew seat and put the doors in manual, as instructed by the captain then changed into her heels shoes and put her hat on, ready to say goodbye to the passengers.

As the sea of people started to move towards the front of the plane, leaving the last ten rows free, Lucy excused herself and hurried back to her handbag and turned her phone on.

She waited for it to connect to the internet and found herself holding her breath.

Once again, all the things she had imagined could happen just didn't.

She shook her head and chuckled.

Drama queen, she thought.

Just landed. In desperate need of a nap. Can't wait to see you this evening.Sorry for not replying yesterday, it got busy!

A little white lie never hurt anyone.

The Piccadilly line train was almost empty and Lucy took a seat near the door, where she could be next to her suitcases. She loved landing so early and then taking the train home while everybody else was rushing to work and she was instead about to put her pyjamas on and go for a well deserved long nap.

She put her headphones on and played some music to keep her awake on the journey. Not like everybody else, by The Kinks greeted her with its drums and guitar intro.

Hey baby. Finally, you're back in London, I've missed you so much! My bed is already warmed up if you fancy a nap at mine. There could be takeaway and wine when you wake up...

Lucy smiled at her phone and considered the offer for a moment, then typed

Really tempting indeed but I'm still in my uniform and I'd like to keep it low profile for a little longer...will come around as soon as I wake up, I promise! :)

Then her phone rang.

"Good morning," said a sleepy voice on the other end.

"Good morning" replied Lucy softly, muffling her voice from the other few people in the compartment.

"How was your flight?" James asked with a yawn.

"It was good, thanks! Why are you up so early?"

"I set an alarm, just wanted to make sure you were ok...after the picture and all".

Lucy smiled again at how attentive James always was towards her.

"That's sweet. I'm ok. Again, I'll get used to it. Plus I look quite good in that picture," she joked.

James chuckled and his low, hoarse voice resonated through her brain and sent shivers down her spine. He had that effect on her.

"Listen," she added, "why don't you come to mine? I really need to go home because you know, laundry etcetera. But we can have some more sleep and then order food like you promised".

James was silent for a moment and Lucy could hear him stir between the sheets.

"That would be nice. Let me know when you're home and I'll hop on a cab".

***

Lucy put on her flannel robe and sat on the sofa with a cup of steaming tea; her eyes were heavy and her mind fogged from the lack of sleep, but she had decided to stay awake until James arrived and thought of calling her parents, who, she knew, would be awake.