Chapter 14
GEORGE
G eorge knocked on the door of the guest bedroom. He couldn’t help but wonder if this was a spectacularly bad idea. What if it brought back bad memories for her?
He glanced at the wooden box in his hands and then knocked again. He’d come this far… there was no point chickening out now.
‘Claudia?’ he listened intently, but there was complete silence from inside. He inched the door open and peeped around the room. Empty! She must have gone downstairs.
Taking the steps two at a time, George thundered along the hallway and into the living room, only to meet Claudia’s wide-eyed gaze as he skidded to a halt.
Was it his imagination, or did she look guilty?
Nah, it was probably just the fact that he’d appeared like an overexcited puppy dog, wanting to show her what he’d brought her.
‘What have you got there?’ she said, hastily clicking off her phone and dropping it into her lap.
‘Was that your mum again?’ he said.
‘Yeah, but she’s going to have to wait,’ said Claudia. ‘I’ll call her later after we’ve been up to Seabury House… or I might even leave it until tomorrow.’
‘Okay, cool,’ said George. ‘So, remember I said I had something I wanted to give you?’
‘Erm… how could I forget?’ said Claudia.
George grinned as a faint hint of colour spread across her cheeks. ‘Well… this is it.’
Claudia frowned at the box as he held it out to her, and then took it gently. He watched as she traced a light finger over the dark ink stain on one corner, and then over the multi-coloured paint splatters along the top.
‘Is this…?’
‘Yours,’ said George with a little nod. ‘You left it in my room back when we… just before you went travelling.’ He decided now was not the time to bring up the fact that she’d dumped him!
‘You’ve kept it all this time?’ gasped Claudia, sliding back the inset lid and staring at the contents.
George just nodded, watching as she brought the box to her face and breathed in the scent. He knew it well—old pencils, linseed, paint… and a faint hint of the fruity body spray she used to wear.
‘I did try to get it back to you,’ he said quietly, as she took out a pencil and turned it over in her fingers, staring at the grubby little red and black stump with something like wonder. ‘I got the bus to your parents’ house, but your mum lost it at the sight of me.’
Claudia winced. ‘Sorry about that.’
‘I’ve had a decade to get over it,’ he laughed. ‘I’m just sorry I didn’t manage to return it to you sooner.’
‘But… you kept it,’ she said again, her eyes wide with wonder. ‘All these years?’
George shrugged, suddenly feeling a bit daft. ‘Of course I kept it. It’s yours. A little piece of you.’
Claudia set the box down carefully onto the coffee table and then clambered to her feet.
George backed away instinctively, trying to get out of the way so that she could get past him and leave the room. He couldn’t tell if she was upset or just uncomfortable at his display of pure mush. All he knew was that he needed to give her some space.
‘Hey!’ she chuckled. ‘You’re not making this easy, you know!’
‘Making what easy?’ he said, running his fingers through his hair in confusion.
‘This.’
George went wide-eyed as Claudia wrapped her fingers in the front of his clean hoodie and gently tugged him towards her.
‘Mind if I kiss you?’ she breathed, staring up at him, her beautiful eyes wide, and a smile still playing around the corner of her mouth.
‘I reckon I can handle it,’ said George, cursing his stupid voice for going all croaky just when it mattered.
But… it didn’t matter. Because Claudia was wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her warm body against his.
George froze for the briefest moment, then he gathered her into his arms as the pair of them became eighteen again.
‘Hey! Hey, wake up!’
George opened his eyes blearily, only to find Claudia’s beautiful face mere inches away. Her eyes were full of laughter, and he could feel it rumbling through the length of her body as she tried to drag him from the most delicious nap of his life.
‘Wha—?’ he murmured groggily.
‘We’re going to be late for dinner if we don’t get a wiggle on!’ she chuckled. ‘We fell asleep… and… well, we kinda need to get dressed!’
George was suddenly wide awake. He stared around, trying to get his bearings.
They were still in the living room… on the sofa… tangled around each other. They were covered with the old blanket he kept folded for the nights it got chilly while he was reading in front of the fire. It had definitely never been used for this purpose before!
‘Oh no!’ he laughed, extricating one arm from around Claudia’s silky-smooth waist to glance at his watch. ‘We’re not going to have time for your apology tour.’
Claudia shrugged. Reaching up, she ran her fingers lazily through his hair. He wished she wouldn’t. Not because it didn’t feel amazing… but because it was going to make getting off this sofa with his pride intact a whole lot harder if she kept at it.
‘I’m not worried,’ she said. ‘We found something… better to do with our afternoon!’
‘Hey, you’ve got no arguments from me,’ chuckled George.
‘Good to hear.’ She leaned in and kissed him again.
Sod dinner with the Peppers… maybe they could get a takeaway delivered from the hotel... and ask them to leave it on the doorstep?
‘We’ll just have to do the tour tomorrow instead,’ said Claudia, beaming at him.
‘I’ve got work in the morning,’ he sighed, pulling a face. Urgh, stupid work! He didn’t want to miss a single second with Claudia while she was in town! ‘I’m afraid I’ll have to head out early.’
‘That’s okay,’ said Claudia. ‘Maybe we can go when you’re finished? I’d like to meet Jess properly, and I definitely want to say a proper sorry to Charlie.’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ said George, snuggling back into the cushions and wrapping his arm back around her as he went.
She was here… in Seabury… and it didn’t sound like she was in any hurry to leave!
‘Oi,’ chuckled Claudia, wiggling away from his grip. ‘We’ve got to get ready!’
‘Aw, five more minutes?!’ murmured George, pulling her back to him playfully.
‘Oh no you don’t George Slatter!’ she laughed, hopping off the sofa and neatly swiping the blanket while she was at it.
‘Hey!’ laughed George, scrambling to cover his modesty as Claudia wrapped the blanket around her like a toga. ‘Where are you going?’
‘To get dressed,’ she giggled, making a beeline for the door. ‘You’re welcome to come to dinner like that, though… I definitely wouldn’t mind… though I’m not so sure about our hosts!’