Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Gavin
As I studied Karen from across the table, I noticed just how tired she looked.
It couldn’t have been from the late night we had, surely.
But of course, there was the early morning sex I thought to myself, smiling as I sipped on my coffee.
She nibbled at her pancakes, lost in thought, it had me wondering what could be on her mind.
I leaned back from the table and stretched my stomach for my breakfast to go down, I was stuffed.
After a filling buffet breakfast and coffee, I was ready to start the day.
I watched her for a while longer, this wasn’t like her.
In fact, the quiet Karen I thought she was when we first met, didn’t exist anymore.
It seemed I brought the more wicked side out of her.
I’d brought the minx out, and that was okay with me.
Every now and then she’d look down at her phone and typed away. “Is everything okay?”
Her head lifted and met my gaze, “Yeah, I’m great.” She answered briefly with a tight smile, but I wasn’t so sure. She picked up her cup and drank her coffee taking her attention from her screen and back to breakfast. “What did you want to do today?” She asked with an enthusiastic grin.
“I don’t intend on doing much. There’s only really a day or so before I have to go back to reality.”
“We have to go back to reality. This has been a break for me too, so thank you for asking me to come with you.”
“Hm, I guess I was a little selfish. I wanted to get you naked with no disturbances.” I admitted as I lifted a shoulder. I didn’t know what she’d done to me, but she definitely made me want to be more open. I haven’t been open with a person, more so a woman, since school.
She was still nibbling slowly on her pancakes, usually, she loved her food. She smiled weakly, “In that case, I don’t mind you being selfish. It’s been amazing.”
“What’s wrong with your food?” My eyebrows settled over my eyes.
“Nothing, it’s great, I just feel a bit sick that’s all.” I looked around for a waiter and found one by the doors. I lifted my hand and grabbed his attention, then he came right on over.
“Sir?”
“Can I get some water please?” He nodded and went on his way.
“You didn’t have to do that. I’m fine.” Now I looked at her properly, she was a bit pale and dark eyed.
“It’s just a glass of water.” I smirked.
Something took over her features and I couldn’t work it out. Her mouth opened and closed but no words came out so I waited, she sucked in a breath and she blew it out as the words formed. “So, I was wondering,” she breathed again, “what’s going to happen when we go back?”
“How do you mean?” My eyes squinted at her question, only because I wasn’t quite sure what she was asking.
“With…with us.” She stuttered.
“What do you want to happen?” I folded my forearms onto the table and leaned forward, my gaze still concentrated on hers. The waiter brought a jug of iced water and two glasses. I poured some for her and with a quiet thanks, she lifted it to her lips and sipped.
“I know what I want, but I can’t read you.
That’s why I’m asking. Before this week you didn’t want us to be seen in public.
I just need to know if I’m allowed to kiss you or touch you in public, or rather, in front of your friends.
” I thought about her words for a second.
Why did I want it a secret in the first place? It was Nikki. She was the reason.
“Do you want us to be public?”
“Yes.” Her answer was instant and firm. “I don’t like sneaking around.
I want to be able show you off, and be able to tell people we’re together.
” She sucked in another breath, “I know you’ve never done relationships, and I’m not asking for some grand gesture.
I just want to be able to say we’re together, that’s all. ”
Nodding slowly, I smiled. I had to show her that I was at least a little committed to her, otherwise I’d lose her completely, and that realisation concerned me more than anything. I could feel something, something that was real.
“Really?” her tone was soft as she asked. Her question broke me out of my own whirling thoughts.
“Yeah. If you want me to be really honest, I kind of like having you around.”
Her face lit up but it was clouded by the sickness she was still feeling. Her hand went to her stomach as she let out a long breath. “I’m just popping to the restroom.” I nodded in acknowledgement and drained my cup.
The waitress that was walking around the diner came past and glanced at my cup, she held up her coffee pot silently asking if I wanted more, and I quickly nodded.
I thanked her as she refilled it. It wasn’t steaming hot, but it was hot enough to enjoy and drink while I waited for Karen to come back.
A message flashing up on the screen of her phone caught my attention and I peered over at it.
I moved the cup back to the table and saw the words ‘happy birthday’.
I swiftly looked to see if she was around and when I was certain she wasn’t going to sneak up on me from anywhere, I reached over and tapped the screen. The message lit up again.
Holly: Happy birthday beautiful xxx
It’s her birthday? Today?
Why wouldn’t she tell me?
But then, that was Karen. I’d come to realise in the short time we’d been spending time together, that she didn’t like to be the centre of attention.
She hated it in fact. If she could sink into the background…
into the shadows, then she would. I think it was what got my attention in the first place.
Then she wowed me with that massive heart of hers.
I leaned my arms on the table again when I saw her coming back, weaving her way through the tables until she sat back down. “Feeling better?” I asked as she sat.
“Not really.” Her gaze met mine, “If you weren’t planning anything for today, then I think I’m going to have a lie down when we’re back.”
I watched her as she tapped the screen of her phone, she tried to hide the smile that formed on her lips and disguised it with a bright smile as she looked at me.
“So, is there something you want to tell me?” I fished.
Her head shook slowly, “Nope, don’t think so. I told you I didn’t feel too well…”
“Not that. Is there something happening today that you think I should know about?”
She shrugged. Her tongue rolled over her lips and wet them before sipping her water again. Just then my own screen lit up with a message:
Roman: Have you seen Karen? I haven’t heard from her for a few days.
I snorted as I read.
“What’s so funny?” Karen looked up.
“Roman’s just messaged and asked if I’ve heard from you.”
“Are you going to tell him?”
“Yeah, once I’m back. I’m on holiday.” I ignored his message for now, and turned my attention back to the beautiful birthday girl that I had the pleasure of sharing breakfast with. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yep.” She drank more of her water as I lifted my hand for the bill.
A waitress came over, “Can I get the bill please, darlin’?”
“Sure thing.” As she scuttled off, I drank the rest of my coffee.
“You sweet talker.” Karen stated.
I chuckled, “It comes naturally, sweetheart.” I winked at her with a smirk.
“I’m sure.” She answered, a little twinkle shone in her eye.
After the waitress left the bill on a saucer, I turned the receipt over and pulled my wallet from my pocket and took some notes out.
I left enough to cover the bill and a tip then pushed back my chair and stood.
I moved to Karen’s side and offered her my hand.
She pulled herself up to her feet, wrapped her fingers around mine, and gripped them loosely.
I led her out of the diner and tugged her closer as we reached the exit, pulling her into my side.
If we were going to come out, so to speak, I guessed now was as good as time as any. She lifted her chin and smiled up at me. A bright smile that held so many possibilities.
“So, is there really nothing you need to tell me today.”
“Absolutely nothing.” She was quick off the mark to reply, and I frowned. Why wouldn’t she tell me.
“It’s not your birthday then?” Her footsteps halted abruptly, stopping me too. “What’s wrong?” I lifted my chin knowingly.
“How the hell do you know?” she untangled her arm from around me and stepped back. Her narrowed gaze searched my more than amused one.
Fuck. Is she going to think I was snooping now?
Oh well, in for a penny and all that… “Okay. When you went to the ladies’ room, the message lit up your screen.
” My hands went up in front of me, “I promise I wasn’t snooping, but when the words happy birthday flashed up in capital letters, it’s hard to not notice. ”
Her eyes closed tightly as her head shook, “Fucking Holly.”
I nodded. “Yeah, Holly. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because…” she shrugged and exhaled harshly. “I didn’t want you to think I was making it about me. This break, it was all about you.”
Turning to her, I took her face in my hands and kissed her. It was so soft that I didn’t even recognise myself. Her eyes widened as I released her, “What was that for?”
“Because you’re always so damn selfless,” her breathing picked up pace as I went on, “and I have no idea what I did to deserve you?”
Her gaze held mine firmly, “I think you’re way too hard on yourself.” She answered, her voice just above a whisper. I couldn’t help the smile that twitched at my lips.
“I doubt you’d have said that if you knew me twelve months ago.”
“I can only take your word for that; I’d rather go with what I know now.”
“You’re a special person, Karen Duncan.”
“You think so?” Her voice was small, timid even, as she asked. A shy smile graced her lips.
“I know so.” I bent and kissed her again.
“Well as much as you don’t think it, I think you’re special too.” I was in unfamiliar territory right now. She settled a kiss on my lips and smiled softly as she pulled away.
She took my hand in hers, joined our fingers and began the stroll back along the sand and even though it was in silence, it was strangely comfortable.
The walk back hadn’t taken long, but as soon as we stepped through the door, Karen announced that she was going to lie down. I knew that she wasn’t feeling well so it was probably for the best.
She pushed to her toes and kissed my cheek, “Thanks for breakfast.” She gave me the sweetest smile before she disappeared into the bedroom. I’d never known sweet. I’d never wanted it. Sweet meant wanting love or some shit. I never thought that was for me. Maybe it was? Who fucking knew these days.
My phone rang from my pocket and as I took it out, I saw Roman’s name. My shoulders sagged with a sigh. I had to answer, otherwise he wouldn’t stop.
“Yo, dickhead.” I greeted as I made my way outside onto the patio.
“You sound chirpy, don’t tell me you’ve got laid while you’re there and got some of that tension out of ya?”
“Hey. It’s Malibu beach. Have you seen the pussy that hangs around here?
And they wear next to fucking nothing.” His laugh boomed down the receiver, it was good to hear him laugh though after all the stress I’d caused him, and of course with Paisley not being well.
I really should be a better friend. I stepped back inside and looked towards the closed door of the bedroom and thought about Karen.
Talking about being a better friend, I should tell him the truth.
“So, you know when you texted this morning and asked about Karen?”
“Yeah, have you heard from her?”
“I have.” I admitted rather sheepishly. “She’s here, with me.”
“At my beach house?” Roman asked with a surprised tone. I guessed he would be surprised; all he knew was that we looked cosy at the casino, before everything went tits up anyway.
“Yeah,” I answered quickly.
“Why the fuck would my photographer be there?”
I had to either think of a plausible excuse or come clean... a pause on the line hung between us. “Well, that’s a story for another day…”
“Never mind another day, you dirty fucker. Tell me now!”
“I have to go. I can’t hear you, mate.” I chuckled, “I’ll be back tomorrow.” I ended the call before he could say anything else, I snorted as I pocketed my phone again.
Today would be about her.