I look down at him, at his earnest expression, and I already know that I’m going to want more than friendship. “I can do that.” It’s as honest as I dare be.
I turnoff the engine as I pull up outside Vic’s lodge. I’d have happily kept him at my house all day, but he has work to do now and Hailey to help this evening. A little space is probably for the best, considering how intense the morning was.
Even from my car, we can see fairy lights around the front window and a wreath on the door. Reminds me I still need to sort my own decorations out. “I’ll see you tomorrow evening?”
He smiles and leans in for a quick kiss like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “Yeah. I’ll get my work done early so I can help Hailey in the afternoon. I should hopefully be done by five or six.”
“I’ll drop by the pub after work.” I’ve already invited Jerry round for dinner tomorrow night, but I want to see Vic first. Maybe it’s because I’m aware his time here has an expiration date and I want to make the most of it. Whatever it is, he seems to be of the same opinion, so I don’t care.
I trust him to tell me if it’s too much.
He gives me another quick kiss, but it stretches into something longer, deeper, and probably not appropriate for a public place, but so fucking hot my toes curl in my boots. “Go,” I say as we separate, and I give his chest a gentle shove. “I thought you had work to do.”
I love that he doesn’t want to go either.
But he has to, and with a small smile that I want to capture and keep safe, he climbs out of my car and shuts the door.
I watch him till he’s safely inside, then start my car. As I turn in my seat to check behind before reversing, I catch sight of Liz standing outside the park reception.
Arse.
I groan into my empty car.
Even from here I can spot the huge grin she’s sporting, and I’m well aware that the whole town will know about this by tomorrow.
Wonderful.
It’s not the first time my love life’s been the subject of town gossip. I don’t like it, but I’m resigned to the fact it’s out of my hands. With a sigh, I finish reversing and head home.
The restof Monday and Tuesday seem to last for weeks. Even work can’t keep my mind off Vic. I’ve walked into puddles and almost ended up on my arse because I’m too preoccupied either thinking about him or reading his texts. Because while I might not have seen him, we’ve still been in contact.
It’s... nice.
I’m trying not to get ahead of myself, to not read too much into the random stuff he sends me. But it’s hard. Every time my phone pings and I see his name on the screen, my heart stutters and a little zing of excitement fires in my belly.
I can’t stop smiling. People at work haven’t noticed yet because I’ve been on my own most of the day, but Jerry takes one look at me as I walk into the pub and laughs.
“So the gossip mill is correct for once.” He slides my pint over to me as I reach the table he’s snagged. I’ve got Lucky with me this evening, so I settle him next to me on his mat before facing Jerry. I’m also buying some time while I decide what to say.
In the end it doesn’t matter because when I look up, he’s got a huge smile that I can’t help matching. “Might be.”
“So...” he says, eyes full of amusement. “Was it funjustcatching up?”
I laugh, can’t help it. Of course he’d remember what I said. “Yep.” I take a sip of my pint, ignoring his glare.
“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to give me?”
It’s not like we tell each other every little detail about who we sleep with, but it tends to be more than one word. I don’t want to share anything about me and Vic, though. It’s new and fragile, and I want to hoard it for myself.
“It’s different,” I offer, and he seems to get what I’m saying because he sits back in his chair.
“Fair enough.” He eyes his drink like it holds the answer to everything, avoiding eye contact, and I know what that means.
“Just say it.”
He chuckles but meets my eyes. “We’ve known each other way too long if you can read me that easily.”
I flick a bar mat at him. “Pfft. You’re an open book.”
