Chapter Thirty-Eight
A few minutes later, Milo and I arrived at Starlight Arms’ carpark. The place was almost deserted. Together, we walked over to Octavia.
I opened the passenger door for Cindy. Before hopping inside, she briefly touched noses with Rambo. I wondered, somewhat fancifully, if she and the little dog had just given each other a kiss goodnight. As I shut the door behind her, I wondered if Milo might kiss me goodnight.
‘Thanks again,’ I said, lingering by the passenger door. ‘You’ve been a knight in shining armour.’
‘It was my pleasure to rescue a damsel in distress,’ he said gallantly. ‘As I mentioned before, you’re doing me a favour keeping the accommodation aired.’
I hovered by Octavia’s passenger door. Cindy was sitting ramrod straight on the front seat. She peered through the window at Milo and me.
Are we going or what?
‘I’m hoping for–’
I instantly clammed up. Dear Lord. That had been a close call.
‘Hoping for what?’ said Milo, puzzled.
‘Hoping for Lisa and Juan to be asleep when I get back,’ I improvised. Holy moly. I’d nearly said hoping for a kiss . I really should stop having imaginary conversations with my dog. One of these days it was going to land me in trouble.
‘Right,’ I said brightly. There was nothing more to say. ‘I’ll be off.’
‘Bye,’ said Milo.
Okay, he wasn’t narrowing the space between us. There was no movement on his part to take a step forward. He wasn’t even doing any of that previous eye-meet thing. Just standing there benignly. With Rambo. One man and his dog. Bugger. Right, move, Tilly.
I walked to the driver’s door. Opened it. Gave a fluttery wave. A final cheery smile. Apparently, he thought it beautiful, so from now on I’d be beaming at him like a floodlight at a football stadium.
‘See you tomorrow,’ I chirped, giving him one last chance to do something. Anything.
‘You will indeed,’ he answered.
And still he stood there. No quick dart round to the driver’s side. No last-minute plaintive cry:
Wait! Don’t go, Tilly. My life is meaningless without you.
Cindy shot me a look.
Can I just point out, Mum, that as from tomorrow you will be living at the bottom of this guy’s garden. Therefore, you will feature in his life on a daily basis.
‘Yes, thank you for pointing that out,’ I muttered testily.
Octavia’s engine turned over. Milo took a step backwards. Mental note to self. Do not run him over . I reversed slowly, then pushed the gearstick into first. As Octavia changed direction and her wheels crunched over the carpark’s shingle, Milo suddenly appeared on my right. He then surprised me by knocking on the driver’s window.
Omigod! Was this it? Was this the moment he would beg me not to leave until he’d kissed my luscious lips?
I hastily buzzed down the window.
‘Yes?’ I said breathlessly.
He stooped down so that he was on eye – and lip – level with me.
‘I just wanted to say…’
‘Yes?’
‘Before you go…’
‘Yes?’
I stared at him, slightly wild about the eyes. What did he want to say before I went?
Your eyes shine like a thousand stars in the sky…
Your skin glows like early morning dew on grass…
Your hair is silkier than Rambo’s fur…
No, that wasn’t very romantic. What about…
Your smile lights up my life…
No, that was boring. Maybe…
You’re so hot, you’re the reason for global warming…
Yes, better.
You’re like a camera. I want to take you to a dark room and see what develops…
Now we’re talking.
You’re like a light switch – you turn me on…
Omigod, yes, yes, yes!
But wait. Something else was happening.
Milo raised one hand. Reached through Octavia’s window. Tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. As his fingers brushed against my cheek, it was as if hot pokers were touching my skin. I had a horrible urge to grab his fingers, stick them in my mouth and suck the living daylights out of them. I was now gripping Octavia’s steering wheel so hard, my knuckles had turned white.
‘Just to say…’
For God’s sake man, drawled Cindy. Spit it out.
‘I’m very glad we’re now friends.’
And with that, Milo straightened up. Turned around. And, without a backward glance, sauntered out of the carpark, Rambo at his heels.
It took a full sixty seconds for the zingers to subside and several more minutes before I was in any fit state to head down Starlight Street.