‘We should pick something that we love. Something we’d go that extra mile to achieve, because that’ll show through in our presentation.’
‘Yes, that’s good.’ Hannah thought hard. ‘I wish my head weren’t so full of all the different options. I can’t stop thinking for long enough to know...’
‘Me too.’ Matt stared at the ceiling. ‘I suppose we could always get drunk.’
Hannah chuckled. ‘Yeah. If I’m drunk enough to unclutter my head, then I’ll have a twenty-four-hour hangover. That’s not going to help much.’
‘Exercise?’
Sex.
Happily she hadn’t voiced the first thing that flew to mind. But the general principle was a good one, they couldn’t plan their way through this. They had to find something that took them out of the mire of pros and cons.
‘Exercise sounds good. I’d say running, but my knee’s still a bit shaky.’
‘What about swimming?’ He grinned suddenly. ‘Although you might not be able to keep up...’
They’d effortlessly leap-frogged their way to a conclusion, each relying on the other’s ideas. This was a good way forward. Hannah got to her feet, making for her bedroom.
‘Don’t bank on it Matt, if I have to cheat to get ahead of you then I’ll have no hesitation in doing so. I’ll see you down there.’
* * *
Matt was already in the pool when she entered the large, tranquil space. They were alone here, and the empty corridors had attested to the fact that the other contestants were probably in their rooms, busy hammering out ideas. Maybe they should be too, but they’d always relied on each other rather than follow the crowd.
Hannah slipped off her fluffy hotel robe, and got into the pool. Maybe he was watching her, but she felt no self-consciousness. She wanted him to.
‘Ready?’ He was treading water, ripples splashing over his shoulders. He really did have great shoulders. His skin seemed almost golden under the overhead lights. Maybe exercise would quench the urgent need to touch him, although Hannah doubted it.
‘Yes. Ten laps?’
He shook his head, motioning towards the clock above the door to the changing rooms. ‘What about ten minutes? No competing, just push at our own personal best.’
Because he knew he’d win. Hannah decided to see his suggestion as generous, rather than patronising, because that was certainly the way he meant it.
‘Okay, ten minutes.’
It was ten minutes of hard work. Hannah swam regularly, and it was obvious that Matt did too. When their time was up, he waited for her, bobbing up and down in the water.
‘Any ideas yet?’
‘Nope. You?’
‘Nothing. Another five minutes?’
She nodded pushing off from the side of the pool.
This time she waited for him, because Matt had not only passed her but managed to squeeze extra laps in as well. ‘Anything?’
He grinned at her. ‘Another five?’
‘You’re on.’
They were both slowing now. After five more minutes of concentrated swimming, Hannah was tiring and her knee was beginning to throb a little.
‘That’s enough, Matt. I can’t do another five...’
‘Me neither.’ He swam to the side of the pool, boosting himself up out of the water. It was an exercise in perfection, and Hannah watched as he grabbed the towelling robe from the seat where he’d left it. Then he sat down, waiting for her to collect her robe and join him.