Читать книгу Stuck with You: the perfect feel-good romantic comedy! - Carla Burgess - Страница 11

Chapter Three

I took a deep breath as I started my car and pulled out of the parking space. I could see Daniel across the car park, walking towards a white pick-up truck. He turned as he reached his door, gave a wave, then disappeared inside. My heart thumped and my skin tingled. I felt more alive than I had in months. Exultant. I’d seen Daniel Moore again, and he hadn’t ruined my memories of him. In fact, he’d made them better, because he was so nice and he’d remembered our kiss. I couldn’t believe it. Surely I had been one of many.

I probably wasn’t in the best frame of mind to be driving. My head was up in the clouds somewhere and my hands were shaking. Rachel’s house was closer than my flat, so I drove to hers instead of going home. I could phone Alex from there and tell him where I was.

Rachel had to undo three bolts and unlock the door with a key before she finally opened it. She peered out into the darkness suspiciously before realising it was me. ‘Oh! Hello! What’s up?’

‘I just got stuck in a lift!’ I said, rocking forward on my tiptoes.

‘Really? Oh no! Are you all right? That sounds horrific. Come in, come in.’

‘I’m okay,’ I said, stepping into her brightly lit hall as she rebolted the front door. ‘I’m not interrupting anything, am I?’ I said, taking in her pink silk pyjamas and heeled feather mules. ‘You’re not expecting Patrick?’

‘Oh no. You know I always dress like this. Are you hurt? You’re bleeding!’ Rachel peered at my leg before herding me towards her sitting room.

‘It’s just a graze,’ I said, sitting down on her pink sofa. Everything about Rachel was bright, from her red hair and vintage clothes, to her flamboyant taste in home decor. Going back to my flat after being in her house was like stepping into a black and white movie. Alex thought she was crazy, but I loved her. ‘You’ll never guess who I got stuck in the lift with,’ I said.

‘Who?’

‘You’re meant to have a guess.’

‘I’m rubbish at stuff like that. Just tell me!’

‘Daniel Moore!’

‘What? The Daniel Moore?’ Rachel’s eyes popped and she gasped. Sitting back down with a bump, she stared at me in disbelief. ‘The one you stalked in sixth form?’

I nodded, feeling mildly offended. These days I preferred to think of him as the boy I kissed at the prom, not the boy I stalked for two years. ‘Yes.’

‘Just the two of you? How did you cope with that?’ Rachel was looking at me askance, as though she suspected I might have taken all my clothes off and begged him to ravish me.

‘It was a bit of a shock at first, but he was so nice. I was really worried he was going to be vile and arrogant and completely spoil my memories of him, but he was just lovely.’

‘Oh God, please tell me you haven’t resurrected your crush on him. I don’t want you to get arrested. Stalking someone when you’re a teenager is different to stalking someone when you’re an adult.’

‘What? I had a crush on him, yes, but to say I stalked him is a bit much.’

‘Finding out his address from school documents? Check. Riding past his house on your bike? Check. Stealing items of clothing so you could sniff them in bed? Check—’

‘Oh, come on! It was just his scarf and I didn’t steal it, he left it behind. I just looked after it for him overnight. I left it on his chair the next day.’

‘I made you do that.’

‘Yeah, meanie.’ I pouted. ‘Anyway, I’m not seventeen any more. I’m a sophisticated young woman and I’m already in a relationship.’

‘An unhappy relationship.’

‘Geez! What’s with you tonight?’ I snapped. ‘Are you trying to piss on my parade or what?’

‘I’m just worried about you, Elena. I’m the one who mopped up your tears and listened to you go on and on about him for months after we finished sixth form.’

‘I did not. He kissed me and I was happy.’

Rachel blew out through her lips. ‘You were devastated, more like. You were on a high for about three days and then you crashed back down to earth big time. You moped all summer. I’d be like “You coming out” and you’d be like “No, I’m going through my Daniel box”.’

I gasped. Somehow, I’d forgotten about the Daniel box. Possibly because I didn’t want to admit to being that sad and pathetic. It was just a shoebox that contained bits and pieces I’d collected from him over the two years at sixth from. A piece of paper that had fallen out of his bag, pencil shavings, a pen lid indented with his teeth marks. A leaf from his drive. I’d written poems about him and drawn pictures too. What had happened to that box? Was it still in my old wardrobe at my parents’ house?

‘So what’s he like now anyway? Does he still have that long hair? Was he wearing a black leather jacket?’

‘No, he was wearing a jumper and jeans. He’s still recognisable, but older, obviously. He’s got short hair, bit of a beard, and he’s filled out. He’s taller, I think. Broader. More manly.’

She gave me a look. ‘Did you recognise him immediately?’

‘Well, I didn’t take much notice of him at first. But as soon as we got stuck, I realised.’

‘Did he recognise you?’

I nodded.

‘So, what did he say?’

‘He just said “Hey, aren’t you Elena from college?” and I said “Yeah”.’

‘Did you mention the kiss?’

‘He did. I said I’d forgotten.’

‘Good for you!’ Rachel clapped her hands in delight and laughed. ‘He always had a girl on the go, didn’t he? That’ll bring him down a peg or two.’

‘Oh, Rachel, he was lovely.’

‘Maybe so, but he shouldn’t have kissed you like that and just left.’

I shrugged. ‘I wanted him to kiss me. I was glad he kissed me.’ I collapsed sideways onto her sofa, clutching a cushion to my chest. ‘It was the best kiss ever.’

‘I know you were glad. But I wanted to kill him. You got really sad after.’

‘But that was my fault for being so pathetic.’ I sighed and lay for a while, staring at Rachel’s television. She’d paused whatever she was watching so that the actors’ faces were frozen mid conversation. Everyone looked like they were screaming. ‘I’d better give Alex a ring, actually. Let him know where I am.’

‘I’ll put the kettle on.’

Rachel got up and went into the kitchen while I dialled Alex’s mobile. He picked up on the fourth ring. ‘Elena? I was going to call but I lost track of time.’

I could hear voices and laughter in the background. The sound of glasses clinking. I frowned.

‘Where are you?’

‘Just having a catch-up with the boys. I’ll be home in ten minutes.’ His voice was slightly slurred.

‘You’re not driving, are you?’

‘What are you, my mother? No, I’m getting a taxi.’

‘Good. Well, I was just phoning to say I’m at Rachel’s.’

‘Oh! Aren’t you at home either?’

‘Not yet. If you’re still out, I’ll stay here with Rachel.’

‘Okay.’

‘See you tomorrow.’

‘Yeah, see you.’

I rang off, feeling annoyed.

‘Did I just hear you say you’re staying here tonight?’ Rachel asked, coming back into the lounge.

‘If that’s all right with you?’

‘Of course. It’ll be like old times.’ She beamed at me before going back into the kitchen for the tea.

I thought about Alex. He hadn’t told me he was going to the pub tonight.

‘Did you tell him about the lift?’ she asked after a moment.

‘No.’

Rachel shot me a curious glance but I ignored her and stared at the TV instead. I didn’t want to talk about Alex. I didn’t want to even think about him right now. My insides felt heavy and I was suddenly exhausted.

‘Do you want a bath?’ Rachel said. ‘You look sort of dusty.’

‘Ooh, yes, please.’

‘I’ll run it for you. And I’ll find you some pyjamas.’

‘Great. Thanks.’ I got up and followed her through to the bathroom. ‘You know at sixth form?’ I said, leaning against the doorframe while water gushed into the bath.

‘Yeah?’

‘Was I a complete freak?’

‘Not a complete freak, no,’ Rachel said, as she poured bath oil into the bath. ‘Well, only when Daniel was around anyway.’ She laughed merrily.

That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. ‘Did I make it really obvious?’

‘Noooo.’

‘Because he said he remembered me fancying him.’

‘He did? Big-headed bugger!’

‘I just can’t remember really. I’ve blocked it all out. Other than the kiss, that is. I still remember the kiss very well.’ I sighed happily and Rachel rolled her eyes.

‘Well, the kiss might have been a giveaway that you fancied him, you know? You were all over him like a rash.’

‘I was not!’ I protested. ‘It was a sweet, innocent kiss.’

‘Girl, you were stuck to his face like a limpet!’

‘Oh, get lost!’

Rachel laughed as she pushed past me to go into her bedroom. ‘All the girls fancied Daniel Moore anyway. He was in the school band, for goodness’ sake. He had a different girl every week.’

My shoulders slumped. He had always been surrounded by girls at college. I’d been amazed when he’d turned up at the prom without a girl on his arm. I wondered if he still had women flocking around him, or if that was just a college thing.

‘Look at you! Moping over him already. You have a boyfriend, remember? He’s a crap boyfriend, granted, but you have a boyfriend nonetheless.’ She was rummaging in her chest of drawers now, red hair tumbling around her face. The oil she’d poured into the bath smelt heavenly as it mingled with the steam swirling through the bathroom.

‘I know, I’m not moping. It’s just that I have this really lovely memory of Daniel at the prom and I don’t want it ruined by memories of me being a complete dork or of him being a male slag.’

‘You did look very cute together at the prom. But he’s just one guy, and it was just one kiss a long time ago. There’s no point putting him on a pedestal and making yourself miserable over him. I never saw the appeal myself.’

‘Well, you had a crush on a different boy every week!’

‘Yes, and when I left sixth form I didn’t cry and mope for ages because I was missing one guy.’

I sighed. ‘You’ve cried and moped about other guys since though.’

‘Well, yeah. But I try not to. They’re just men, after all. Go on in there.’ She pointed to the bathroom door. ‘Your bath’s nearly ready. I want to finish watching my programme.’

‘You’re so bossy!’

‘That’s right. I am.’ She smiled and pushed a pair of pyjamas into my arms.

Rachel’s bathroom was as pretty as the rest of her house. A small mirrored alcove in the wall contained three pillar candles. I lit them with some matches I found on the windowsill and switched off the light. Slipping into the bath, I let the warm water lap around my aching limbs. The scrape on my leg stung for a moment, but then the pain went away and I relaxed. I closed my eyes, thinking about Daniel. I couldn’t believe that, out of all the people in this city, I had managed to get stuck in a lift with him. It already felt like a dream.

I thought back to my college days. Rachel was right; I’d been obsessed with him and it had been painful watching him with other girls. I had loved him with every inch of my seventeen-year-old heart and soul. Loved him in that unconditional, unrequited way most girls afforded to pop stars and actors. While my friends had pictures of Take That taped to their walls, I had drawings of Daniel. I’d even photocopied the sixth-form photograph and enlarged it so I could see his face better. He’d been in my English class and I could barely utter a word in front of him.

Thinking back now, I wasn’t sure why I’d felt like he was so unattainable. I had been quiet, shy and a bit clumsy (I was still clumsy, according to Alex), but looking at things through adult eyes, there was no real reason why he’d seemed so distant. I suppose it was all the hormones mixed in with my mental image of myself. I’d hero-worshipped him and turned him into an icon.

It had been painful, loving him so fiercely and knowing he could never be mine. I suppose that was why the kiss had been so special. It had eclipsed everything; the painful longing and the crushing sadness afterwards.

Maybe Rachel was right. I really didn’t need to reawaken my crush on Daniel. I’d been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Or rather, a box full of bad poetry and weird souvenirs.

I closed my eyes and tried to think of something else, but I ended up thinking not of teenage Daniel, but of grown-up Daniel. He’d been nice. Really nice, in fact. And then, out of nowhere, a memory surfaced of his hand on my bum, pushing me up through the gap while the firemen pulled me out. I sat up, sloshing water. Oh, how mortifying. Let’s not go there.

***

Rachel was already in bed when I got out of the bath. I climbed in beside her, settling down against her smooth black and pink sheets. Her walls were covered in big flowery wallpaper, of the kind that would have made Alex run for the hills.

‘I love your house,’ I said. ‘It’s all so girly. Our flat’s so miserable and grey compared to your house.’

‘Hmm. Well, you could either redecorate, or leave the boring bastard to his own miserable décor.’

I giggled. ‘Rachel!’

‘Well, you already said it’s not going well.’

Thinking about Alex made me feel miserable. I changed the subject.

‘So, I know you’ve got Patrick’s daughter this weekend, and you’re going away next weekend, but when am I going to meet him?’

‘I don’t know. He’s always working away so it’s a bit difficult to arrange something. Besides, we’re at the stage where I just want to keep him to myself when I do see him.’

‘Oh yeah? Saucy wench.’

‘Well, he is very sexy.’ She pulled the covers up to her chin and sighed. ‘You should see him in his work suit. He’s gorgeous. Anyway, have you set your alarm for morning? I take it you’ll be going home to get ready for work?’

‘Yeah.’ I took out my phone and set my alarm. ‘Thanks for letting me stay.’

She smiled sleepily. ‘You’re welcome. I like having you stay; it reminds me of when we were younger and you used to sleep over. You’d talk about Daniel bloody Moore all night.’

***

I’d expected to find it difficult to sleep or at least have nightmares about being stuck in the lift. But I slept soundly and deeply without dreaming at all. I drove to my flat as the sun came up. It was a beautiful morning; blue sky and birds singing in blossom-laden trees. Everything felt new and fresh. I let myself into the flat quietly, not wanting to disturb Alex so early in the morning.

All of the window blinds were open and the flat was flooded with early morning sunshine. It felt unusually bright and empty. My footsteps sounded too loud on the laminate floor, and I slipped off my shoes before crossing the room to switch on the kettle. It was then that I noticed the bedroom door was open, the duvet undisturbed. Alex had obviously not been home last night.

That was strange. Where was he? Perhaps he’d had too much to drink and stayed at a friend’s house? I’d told him to leave his car, after all. But on a week night? He never usually drank that much when he had work the next day. Not so much he couldn’t even get a taxi home.

I checked my phone for messages but there were none from Alex. Quickly, I sent him a text asking if he was all right, then went to shower. I heard the front door open just as I was finishing.

‘Is that you, Alex?’

I heard the footsteps pause and the clatter of keys landing on the kitchen table. Switching off the shower, I wrapped a towel around my head and put on my bathrobe.

‘Hello! Are you all right?’ Opening the door, I padded out into the lounge. Alex was standing with his back to me, looking out of the window at the road below.

‘Well,’ he said, turning slowly to face me. ‘It looks like I’ve been found out then, doesn’t it?’

‘I’m sorry?’ I blinked at him, rubbing a droplet of water from my cheek.

‘You’ve caught me out.’ He looked tired and dishevelled: blue rings beneath his grey eyes and his usually perfect hair sticking up in peaks. ‘I thought I’d be home before you, but now you know and I can’t hide it. I’m sorry. I’ve been with someone else.’

Frowning, I removed the towel from my head in case I’d misheard. ‘Pardon?’

‘I’ve been with someone else. I’m seeing someone else.’

‘Who? Another girl?’

‘Yes, another girl!’ he said, impatiently, like I was the stupidest woman in the world. Which, at that moment, I probably was. ‘Not just a girl. A woman. A beautiful, sophisticated, amazing woman.’

I flinched as though he’d physically slapped me. Taking a step back, I stared at him, incredulous. What? What had he said? Had I heard him correctly? I couldn’t believe it. Alex was an attractive man and took a real pride in his appearance, but he never flirted with other women. He barely even looked at them. I’d never had reason to distrust him, and yet here he was, telling me he’d fallen in love with someone else. My chest felt hollow and I sucked in a couple of deep breaths, trying to fill it, trying to chase the feeling away. Why was I feeling like this when I had been thinking about ending it myself? Why did I feel so shocked?

Alex stood and watched me, gnawing at his bottom lip. He’d never been good at dealing with emotions and was obviously finding this an uncomfortable experience.

‘Where did you meet?’ I said at last. My voice sounded strangulated and I sucked in another deep breath. My legs were shaking and my skin prickled from the cold chills that sliced through my body.

‘At work.’

I blinked at him. ‘Who is she?’

He shook his head. ‘You don’t know her.’ He turned away from me and stared out of the window instead. A pigeon had perched on the handrail of our balcony, its grey feathers ruffling in the morning breeze. It looked so normal and benign.

‘How long has it been going on?’

‘We’ve been… talking for a few months. Nothing physical. Well, not until last night anyway. I swear.’

My stomach turned over. Months? So that’s why he’d been emotionally absent for a while. I cast around for something to say, but could think of nothing. My mind was blank. So, this was it then: the end. I waited for the anger and the tears, but I just felt numb.

‘Are you okay?’ he said, still staring out of the window. When I didn’t answer, he looked over his shoulder at me and frowned. ‘Elena? Say something, please.’

He took a step towards me, but I spun away from him, and headed towards the bedroom.

‘I’ll move out.’