Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
VANESSA
Vanessa was sleep deprived, there was no doubt about it.
She had spent much of the last hour at Sergio’s apartment yawning, and eventually had to make her apologies.
She bit the bullet and got into her bed.
But as sleepy as she was, she couldn’t fight the smile that had been ever present since Joey had seduced her.
Or perhaps, since she’d seduced Joey?
She kept replaying the feeling of Joey’s mouth on her. But even more, she replayed the feeling of Joey beneath her. She hummed happily as she closed her eyes.
By the time Vanessa woke up, it was dark outside. She’d slept for far longer than she’d intended. She got up and stretched, happily bumbling around, making herself a cup of tea and finding a biscuit to stave off hunger.
As she crossed the apartment she spotted a piece of paper that looked as though it had been pushed under the door. She furrowed her brow. Who would be leaving her a letter? She picked up the folded piece of paper.
Dear Vanessa,
Thank you so much for last night. It was good to spend time with you. And thanks for helping with Sergio’s flat. I know Dani appreciates it. I’m hoping Pedro will make an appearance later in the week.
I didn’t get a chance to tell you earlier, and I didn’t want to wake you from your much needed nap today. I’m off to Seville to see some suppliers. It’s been in the diary for ages and I promised Carmen. I’ll be back in a few days.
Take care,
Joey x
Vanessa took the note to the small kitchen table and sat down to read it again. She frowned. It didn’t feel quite right. There was none of the familiarity or intimacy of the last twenty-four hours. It was good to spend time with you,” said Vanessa under her breath. That seemed a bit lukewarm.
Maybe she was overthinking it, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that Joey was running away. She hadn’t said anything about having to go to Seville for Carmen. Vanessa didn’t think Joey was lying to her, but she did wonder about the timing of the trip and the fact it had come up so suddenly.
Vanessa swallowed a lump that had suddenly formed in her throat and willed herself not to cry. She tried to remind herself that Joey had promised to return, and had left a kiss. She was a woman of few words. Perhaps that was even more the case when it came to writing?
Picking up her mobile, Vanessa decided to text Joey, wishing her happy travels.
She signed off with two kisses and a wink, in the hope Joey’s response might be slightly more enthusiastic than the tone of her note.
She put the phone face down on the table.
It wouldn’t do to watch for a response. Joey was probably driving or on a train, or otherwise engaged.
She sighed and took some eggs out of the fridge. She could make an omelette to fill her empty stomach. Just as she threw the beaten eggs into a pan there was a knock at her door.
Joey?
She turned off the gas and skipped to the door. She opened it and found herself face to face with someone she knew very well.
But it wasn’t Joey.
“Carl!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
Carl gave an apologetic smile. He clasped a small suitcase. “Hey, sis. Sorry to surprise you like this.”
“No need to apologise.” Vanessa pulled her brother into a bear hug. It was good to see him. “Come and sit down.”
He took the other seat at the table and Vanessa couldn’t help but notice bags under his eyes.
“Are you ok, Carly?” Vanessa could sense that things weren’t right. “You’re perhaps the least impulsive person I know, and yet you’ve arrived unannounced on my doorstep. Just last week you were worried about me running away.”
“It’s a fair cop,” said Carl, with a half-smile. “Gem dumped me.” Vanessa could see tears forming in her brother’s eyes.
“No!” She gasped. “Oh that cow, I never liked her.”
Carl raised an eyebrow. “You said you loved her!”
“Yeah, well that’s before she dumped my favourite brother.” Vanessa glared.
“Your only brother, but I’ll take it. I knew I was right to come.” Carl gave a quick smile. “I know I questioned you coming here, but honestly I think you’re super brave. And I thought to myself, what would Vanessa do?”
Vanessa rested her hand on Carl’s. “Well, you’re more than welcome here. That said, there’s only one bedroom, so you’re going to have to sleep on the sofa.”
“I figured.” He looked around the room and then back at his sister. “Anyway, what’s going on with you? You look like you slept in that dress. It’s all creased.”
Vanessa blushed and looked down at the outfit she had now been wearing for twenty-four hours. “I had an afternoon nap.” Well, it was true, if not the entire truth.
“By the fact that you’ve just gone bright red, I’m assuming it was a nap with a friend?” Carl waggled his eyebrows.
“No, actually,” said Vanessa in her haughtiest voice. But she couldn’t keep secrets from Carl. “But I will confess I did not sleep alone last night.”
“I knew it! You dirty stop-out! Good for you, Nessa.” Carl clapped his hands and gave the first genuine smile since he’d arrived.
“What happened with Gem?” Asked Vanessa.
“It was the whole ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ thing. She says she needs to find herself and can only do that while she’s single. Ugh. So clichéd.” He ran a hand through his tidy, short dark hair.
Vanessa sighed. “I’m sorry, that is pants.” She patted his hands again. “You’ll find someone, Carly. Promise.”
“Hmm,” said Carl. “It seems like you’ve found someone already. I need all the details. It’s the least you can do for me in my heartbroken state.”
Vanessa laughed. “You never could resist gossip. Ok, I’ll tell you. But I really need a shower. There’s a bottle of wine in the fridge. Pour yourself a glass, and I’ll tell you the whole story when I’m out of this wretched dress and into my pyjamas.”