“I’m getting feelings, Sam. Like big ones.”
She smiled. “It’s terrifying. I know that. I’m in the same place. Barry keeps going on about medical shit when he’s with his friends. I sit there like a lemon.”
He glanced on her desk. She had a medical dictionary.
“You aren’t training to be a doctor, are you?”
“Don’t be stupid. I thought I might try and learn a few phrases.”
A realisation dawned on him. Love makes idiots of everyone. Samantha always came across as self-assured and ballsy. Yet, here she was reading a book she’d never understand to find a level to communicate with her man.
“You’re right,” he said. “But there’s something else.”
“Oh what now? Honestly, if the boss finds out you’re making me slack off, he’ll throw a hissy fit.”
Carmine scowled. “I do not throw hissy fits.”
“Sure,” she replied drily. “Spit it out then.”
“He’s so romantic.”
Samantha slammed her hand on the desk, making him jump. “What an arsehole. Dump him immediately.”
“Shut up,” he said. “I’m crap at romance. When people know I’m Italian, they think I’ll be amazing at it. He’s made dates our thing. Bowling. Night away. God knows what next. He’s got so much cash. I can’t impress him with a grand gesture.”
Samantha seemed lost in thought for a second.
“The most romantic thing a guy ever did for me was a picnic. By a stream in the sunshine. Absolutely perfect. Until a great big bull showed up.”
“We did a duvet picnic at the shepherd’s hut. Anyway, it’s just turned February. Hardly a blanket in a meadow weather.”
Then it struck him.
“Shit. I know exactly what I’m going to do.”
Carmine had hired a black Jeep Wrangler. It had been ages since he’d driven. Especially on what had become the wrong side of the road to him.
After a couple of near misses making his way out of Manchester, Carmine soon got the hang of it. Poor Noah had been totally confused when Carmine had told him that he’d pick him up from his house.
There was a degree of relief on Noah’s face as he walked across the car park at his apartment. Carmine beamed and laid his arm on the steering wheel in a manner he hoped said that he was totally in control of this beast.
“What’s going on here?” Noah asked as he hopped into the passenger side.
“Just a little surprise,” Carmine replied.
He kissed Noah. He’d never get sick of that. Noah’s lips were perfection.
Carmine fired the Jeep up and thanked his lucky stars he didn’t stall it as they drove out of the car park.
“You could’ve borrowed my car,” Noah said.
“That wouldn’t have had the same effect.”
Soon they had left the small Lancashire town and were in the surrounding countryside. Carmine had grown up running through the fields and playing in the woods. He never imagined he would be driving his footballer boyfriend around them.
“Hey. I know where you’re going,” Noah said.
Carmine didn’t reply. He was having too much fun.
