Chapter 31
31
AGE 20
M y fingers fly across the page, the lyrics coming to me easily as the melody plays out in my head.
“Damn, that’s good,” Jay says, hovering over me as he reads the words I’ve written down.
I look up at him, wondering when and how he snuck into my bedroom without me noticing. “It’s not finished.” I snap my notebook closed, feeling territorial over these lyrics.
My best mate flops down on my bed beside me. “She’s your Yoko Ono.”
I swat him with a pillow. “Fuck off with that crap.”
“You can’t deny the truth. You had writer’s block for months, and from the second Vivien showed up, you’ve been writing up a storm. It’s your best work, Dillon.”
I lean back against my headboard, reaching for my smokes on autopilot. “I won’t deny she’s inspiring me, but don’t call her that. Yoko Ono was the bomb that detonated The Beatles. Vivien could never be that.”
Jay smirks. “Defensive much?”
“Fuck off.”
“It’s cool, mate. I like her for you.” He props up on one elbow. “I never thought you’d have a girlfriend before me. You were always destined to be the eternal bachelor.”
My fingers wrap around my lighter, stalling just as I’m about to light up. “Vivien is mine for now, but it won’t last.” I toss the lighter and smokes back on my locker. I want to quit, and I’ve got to start breaking the habit.
“Wow, does she know you’ve already written off your relationship?”
“I’m being pragmatic.” I glance at my watch as I swing my legs onto the floor. “She’s returning to L.A. at the end of the summer.”
“Maybe.”
I stand and stretch my back out. I’ve been holed up on my bed all day writing lyrics, and I’m a little stiff now. “There’s no maybe about it.”
“She might change her mind.”
“I don’t want her to change her mind.” I level him with a sharp look. “I’m not long-term relationship material, and we both know it. This will be fun while it lasts. Then she’ll go home, and I’ll go back to how things were.”
“Sounds so easy.” He climbs to his feet and claps me on the back. “Hope it all works out for you, lad.”
“Sorry, how much?” I’m sure my incredulity is evident in my tone as much as the disbelief is written all over my face.
“Eighty-five euro,” the woman behind the counter in the florist’s says.
“For twelve fucking roses? Are you shitting me?”
I have lots of plans for things to show Vivien this week, and I can’t afford to do all of them if I blow this kind of money on a bunch of flowers, at least not without making a considerable dent in my savings.
“That’s what they cost.” She folds her arms and purses her lips. “Are you taking them or what?”
I grind my teeth to the molars, beyond pissed off. “I’ll leave them.”
“Cheapskate,” she murmurs under her breath, and I glare at her as I stomp out of the shop.
I’m fit to kill someone as I storm down Grafton Street, trying to push the images of those roses Reeve sent her from my mind. There were at least thirty in that bouquet, and it enrages me he can buy stuff for her on a whim and I can’t.
I recall the shite Aoife said that first night Viv showed up, and her words actually help. Aoife got it all wrong. Vivien isn’t the kind of girl who demands expensive things. Far from it. She’s generous with her money, but it’s never extravagant, she never brags, and she usually doesn’t want to draw attention to it.
Vivien seems to appreciate the little things I do for her, like washing her shirt, making sandwiches for our picnic, and showing up yesterday with ice cream and wine and cooking her dinner when she was feeling low.
We fed one another ice cream, in between kisses, and it was so fucking hot. I’m addicted to her lips and the way she feels under my hands. I didn’t even mind enduring The Notebook again because she kept me distracted. Just holding her and spending time with her soothed my soul. She fell asleep before me on the sofa, and I snapped a few sneaky pics because she looked so fucking beautiful. I might have stared at those pics one or a thousand times today.
It took huge effort to remove myself from her gaff last night after Ash woke us up because I could barely tear myself away from her. I didn’t want to go home to my empty bedroom, and I’ve been dying to see her all day. Which is why I’m planning to show up outside the gates of Trinity tonight to take her to dinner. I’ve been suffering withdrawal symptoms all day, and I refuse to go any longer without seeing her.
There’s a nice Italian place just off Dame Street that is good quality food and reasonably priced. I walk into Spar, trying not to feel like a worthless sack of shit when I buy a bunch of cheap lilies. Hopefully, Vivien will appreciate the gesture more than the expense.
“What are you doing here?” Vivien asks when she finally appears thirty minutes later. I’ve been freezing my bollocks off waiting for her. Ash said her last class ended twenty minutes ago, but she was obviously held up. Although she’s all bundled up in a coat and scarf and I can’t see much of her, she’s still a sight for sore eyes. The tip of her nose is red, and her cheeks are flushed, and though her hair is pulled back in a ponytail and she has no makeup on, she’s still the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.
“Waiting for you, Hollywood,” I confirm. “I’m taking you to dinner.” Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Cat frowning, but I ignore her, keeping my focus on my girl. Gulping over the lump in my throat, I hand the flowers to Vivien. “These are for you.” I shove my hands in my pockets to stop myself from grabbing her like I want to.
All my anxiety disappears the instant her face lights up. Viv buries her nose in the petals. “I love them. Thank you.” She leans up, pressing her mouth to my ear. “You’re always so thoughtful. It means a lot,” she adds before brushing her lips against mine.
That’s all the invitation I need. My arms band around her automatically, and I yank her against my body, clasping her cold cheeks in my cold palms and kissing her passionately. Something settles inside me the instant our lips collide, and I take my sweet time exploring her mouth.
We’re both panting when we break apart.
“Wow.” A happy smile spreads across her swollen lips. “Can’t say I mind your history with women when you kiss me like that.” She loops her arm in mine. “I’m happy to reap the benefits of your experience.”
“I haven’t enjoyed kissing any other woman as much as I enjoy kissing you,” I truthfully reply, snaking my arm around her shoulders.
“Spoken like a true player.” She rolls her eyes playfully.
“It’s the truth.” I gently squeeze her hip. “You’re one of a kind, Hollywood.”
She beams up at me, and warmth floods my body. We stare at one another, and that potent chemistry kicks into gear, charging the small gap between us. My eyes land hungrily on her mouth, and I want to spend the evening kissing her.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, Viv,” Cat says in a pissy tone, folding her arms and wearing a grumpy look. How is she still here? Any normal person would have slunk off the second we started kissing. I’ve always thought there’s something not quite right about Ash’s friend. Cat was actually in my year in school, and Ash only got friendly with her during sixth year. She’s come on to me a few times, but I’ve always turned her down. She’s pretty enough, but she does nothing for me, and I’m wary of her intentions. Ash says I’m being paranoid, and she seems to like her, so I guess that’s all that matters.
Still, this right here is not normal behavior.
Cat’s intervention breaks the spell, and Vivien drags her gaze from mine. I’m getting sick of other women coming between us.
“Yes, of course.” Viv leans over and hugs Cat. “Have a nice night.”
“Bye, Dillon.”
“See ya, Cat.” Good riddance.
“So, where are we off to?” Viv asks, securing the flowers in the crook of her arm after I take her bag and sling it over my shoulder. “A nice Italian place I know. The food is good, and it’s only a ten-minute walk.”
“Sounds good. I’m starving.”
Her face is fucking glowing as she looks up at me, and I can’t resist kissing her again. She tastes like heaven on my tongue, and I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of her. I meant what I said. I’ve never experienced kissing like this before. It’s as if her lips were made to slot perfectly against mine. It takes all my willpower to pull back after a couple of minutes, but if we keep going, it’ll escalate, and we’re likely to be arrested for public indecency.
“If you keep this up, I’m going to melt into a puddle on the sidewalk.”
I chuckle as I tuck her in close and steer her forward. “You’re in Ireland now. It’s a path , Hollywood.”
“Okay. I’m going to melt into a puddle on the path if you keep that up,” she says in the worst Irish accent.
I snort out a laugh. “I see your mother’s talent wasn’t passed down,” I tease as we maneuver around people, making our way towards Dame Street.
She slaps my chest. “That was mean, but I concede. I’ll leave the foreign accents to my mom.” A shroud of sadness ghosts over her.
“You miss her.” I hold her closer, the need to comfort her instinctual.
“I do. I miss Mom and Dad. Audrey too.”
“You’re very brave, Viv.” I brush my knuckles across one cheek as we stand at the pedestrian crossing, waiting for the lights to turn green. I pull her flush against my front. “It took guts to fly halfway round the world on your own. To start over in a new place, a new college. They must be so proud of you.”
“They’re always proud of me.” She links her fingers through mine as the lights change, and we break our embrace. I keep a firm hold of her hand as we cross the road. “I’m so lucky they’re my parents. They always have my back, and they support me one hundred percent. I talk to them several times a week, but it’s not the same.”
“They must miss you too.”
“They do, but they’re coming over in July, and we’re going to travel around a bit.” She bites on the corner of her lip, looking sheepishly at me.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Hollywood.” I drill her with a stern look as we turn the corner and head towards the restaurant. “Out with it.”
“This is probably premature, but I was thinking maybe you could come with us? Ash is coming too.”
A knot forms in my stomach. “We’ll be busy with the band in the summer, so I’m not sure I could get time off.”
“Oh, of course.” Her cheeks stain red, and she averts her eyes.
I pull her to a standstill just outside the restaurant. “Hey.” I tip her chin up with one finger. “I’d come if I could.” If I wasn’t afraid her parents know Reeve is a twin and they might spot a resemblance. But what I said about the band is no lie, and it would probably be impossible anyway. “And I promise I’ll take you to places on days when we don’t have gigs. I already have a list of things I plan to do with you.”
“Oh, you do now, do you?”
I’m glad to see the smile back on her face. “You have a one-track mind, Hollywood.” Yanking her into my body, I grind my hips against hers. “Not that I have any issue with it,” I add before my lips descend.