Chapter 17 #2
Another long beat passed as she scoured his face. He could almost see her mind working. “I’m supposed to be spending time with my aunt.”
“And you’ll do that, too. We’ll make it work.”
He saw her waver, feared she might come to her senses before he closed the deal.
“Don’t overthink it, Gaby. We’re just two people remembering what used to be.”
“That’s what scares me.”
Another look traded between them. Peter wondered if they should both back away from this, blame their intensity on the wine and call it a night before things went any further.
But that was impossible.
“There’s nothing to be scared of, I promise,” he said. “We’ll have fun. And the honest truth is that I want to spend more time with you before you go, Gaby. I’ll regret it forever otherwise.”
He worried he’d overplayed his hand with the guilt trip. When she smiled, he breathed a sigh a relief.
“I’d regret it too,” she said. “But let’s not commit to the entire weekend together, in case you get bored and realise you made a mistake.”
“That won’t happen, believe me.”
“So, a walk up Blackberry Hill? That really will be a trip down memory lane.”
“We’ll save that until the evening. Maybe we’ll get lucky and see the stars.”
“And perhaps by then my feet will have recovered from these boots.”
Peter laughed. “Does that mean another dance tonight really is out of the question?”
Her smile widened and her eyes lit up and just about blew a hole through his heart. “I think I can manage one more dance before you take me home.”
In the background, the DJ set shifted again to another slow song.
“Perfect timing,” Peter said, rising from the table and holding out his hand to lead her back to the dance floor.
Nothing in the world could feel better than taking her in his arms and moving together to the slow beat of the love song.
The lights were low, the spangles from the spinning disco ball scattering silvery shards around them as they danced.
With one hand on Gaby’s hip and the other holding her hand close to his chest, Peter dipped his head to savour the sweet scent of her hair and her perfume.
They timed every move perfectly, every step synchronised.
Feeling her pressed against his body as they danced to the slow music, Peter understood why he’d never been in love again since that summer when he was eighteen.
Nothing could compare to this. No one else could ever make him feel the way he felt right now.
She’s leaving. This won’t last. And you’ll be sorry when it’s over.
Peter pushed those thoughts away. None of that mattered. He knew what the score was, he knew Gaby would leave, and he knew there’d be a price to pay for feeling this way.
But he shut it all out.
For now, holding her in his arms on the dance floor was all he needed.
And while that love song was still playing, he’d live in this moment and only this moment, and it would be enough.
* * *
Once their slow dance to the love song was over, Peter knew it was time for them to go. He didn’t want that sweet moment of holding her in his arms to be diluted by staying any longer as the music tempo increased and the rush for last orders took hold.
Saying goodbye to his teacher colleagues took longer than expected because Gaby was such a huge hit with them all.
She accepted their hugs and goodnights with warmth and enthusiasm and exchanged contact details with a few of the women who wanted to stay in touch and swap travel and holiday conversation with her.
He ignored the meaningful looks his colleagues gave him as he said goodbye.
Their hopeful expressions and raised eyebrows made it clear they were intrigued by his obvious affection for the woman he’d brought along tonight, but as they’d also learned she was only here for a few more days before returning to a career spent travelling the world, it was inevitable they’d have questions.
However, if they thought he had an explanation about what any of it meant, they’d be disappointed.
He was focusing on the blissful present, not the gut-wrenching future.
The taxi Peter had booked was waiting when they left the busy pub.
They climbed inside and Peter gave the driver Gaby’s aunt’s address on Foxglove Street.
Seated in the darkness of the back of the car as they sped along Hamblehurst high street, Peter kept his gaze on Gaby, watching how the glow of the passing streetlights caught in her eyes as she made small talk with the driver in that easy way she had with people and which he’d started to get used to over the last few days.
When she laughed at something the driver said and glanced Peter’s way, her eyes dancing, he couldn’t help but join in with the humour.
Even though funny was the last thing on his mind.
The taxi arrived on Foxglove Street and Peter asked the driver to wait while he walked Gaby to her aunt’s front door.
“Thanks for a fun night, Peter,” she said when they reached the doorstep. “And thanks for the dancing. It was wonderful.”
She reached out and took his hand and squeezed it.
“This was the best night I’ve had in ages,” he said. “Because of you.” He knew he sounded soppy but couldn’t help it. He meant what he said. “So, can we still get together again tomorrow? I’m worried the cold night air might’ve brought you to your senses.”
Gaby laughed and tugged him closer. “We can still get together again tomorrow. Let me check in with Aunt Jill first before we settle on a time to meet up. I want to make sure she’s okay with me taking off again and if she has anything she needs me to do for her, I’d want to take care of it.”
“Of course. Text me when you know.”
Brushing his fingers along the curve of her jaw, he tilted her chin up and kissed her.
He might’ve kept kissing her, oblivious to the rest of the world, if it hadn’t been for the sound of voices and footsteps on the other side of the front door.
Releasing her, Peter stepped away just as the door opened, revealing Gaby’s Aunt Jill and a small group of other women.
“Oh, hello you two,” Jill said, balancing on her crutches as she smiled in surprise at them both. “I didn’t hear you out here.”
“We just got back,” Gaby said. “How was your card night?”
“Oh, it was fun,” Jill said. “My ladies are just leaving.”
“Hang on, I think I’ve left my phone in your living room, Jill,” said one of the women standing at the door. She turned and scurried off as the other women pulled on coats and scarves and chattered amongst themselves as they prepared to leave.
“I better not keep my taxi waiting,” Peter said and turned back to Gaby. “See you soon?”
“Yes, see you soon,” she replied and moved closer again to brush a soft kiss across his cheek.
Peter floated all the way back to the taxi. He waved as the driver pulled away from the kerb, and Gaby waved back before stepping into the house to clear the way for her aunt’s friends who were now filing out through the door.
Just before she vanished from view, Peter caught the warm hugs she embraced with the older women and the fond look on Gaby’s aunt’s face as she welcomed her niece inside.
Gaby was well-liked and much loved, a natural people person brimming with charm and grace, the sort of woman anyone would want to be around.
Peter knew she’d come to Hamblehurst to be helpful to her aunt, but as the taxi sped through the dark residential streets towards his flat, he hoped Jill wouldn’t need her too much tomorrow and that she’d be free to spend as much of the day with him as possible.
Because he already couldn’t wait to see her again.