Chapter Fifteen #3
“It’s just…a spider,” I manage through clenched teeth, and jerk my head at my leg.
A big black spider is slowly crawling up my ankle. I feel almost sick, just looking at it.
With one brisk swipe, Jack brushes the spider off onto the grass, and I subside back on the bench, trying to regain my composure.
“Planes and spiders, huh?” says Jack.
“Yeah, kind of. I suppose you’re not afraid of anything,” I add, trying to laugh it off.
“Real men don’t get afraid,” he says lightly.
He seems to have forgotten all about kissing me. Misery sinks over me like a cold cloud. Why do I have to be scared of bloody spiders? As soon as I get home tonight, I’m booking myself on a hypnosis course. Spiders, flying, and screechy nails on blackboards. I’m going to zap them all.
In the distance I can hear a group of people leaving Antonio’s, shouting to one another in Italian.
“So, how did you get that scar?” I say, to make conversation. I gesture to his wrist, where a faint line snakes underneath his cuff.
“It’s a long, boring story. You don’t want to hear it.”
Yes, I do! an inner voice protests. Jack’s not exactly the best at talking about himself.
“You have tomato sauce on your chin,” he says, and reaches up with a napkin. His fingers brush gently against my face, and I feel a huge bound of hope. Maybe I didn’t ruin things. He’s bending toward me again. This is it. This is really it. This is—
“Jack.”
We both leap in shock, and I spill my cocktail on the ground. I turn around, and there’s Sven, standing at the gate of the tiny garden.
What the bloody fuck is Sven doing here?
“Great timing,” murmurs Jack. “Hi, Sven.”
“But…but what’s he doing here?” I stare at Jack. “How did he know where we were?”
“He called while you were getting the pizza.” Jack sighs and rubs his face. “I didn’t know he’d get here this quickly. Emma…something’s come up. I need to have a quick word with him. I promise it won’t take long. OK?”
“OK,” I reply, trying to sound cheerful. After all, what else can I say? I reach for the cocktail shaker, pour the remains of the pink cocktail into my cup, and take a deep swig.
Jack and Sven are standing by the gate, having an animated conversation in low voices. I take a sip of cocktail and casually shift along the bench so I can hear better.
“…what to do from here…”
“…plan B…back up to Glasgow…”
“…urgent…”
I look up and find myself meeting Sven’s eye. Quickly I look away again, pretending to be studying the ground. Their voices get even lower, and I can’t hear a word. Then suddenly Jack breaks off and comes toward me.
“Emma…I’m really sorry about this. But I’m going to have to go.”
“Go?”
“I’m going to have to go away for a few days. I’m sorry.” He sits down beside me on the bench. “But…it’s pretty important.”
“Oh. Oh, right.”
“Sven’s ordered a car to take you home.”
Great, I think savagely. Thanks a lot, Sven. “That was really…thoughtful of him,” I say, and trace a pattern in the dirt with my shoe.
“Emma, I really have to go,” says Jack. “But I’ll see you when I get back, OK? At the company family day. And we’ll…take it from there.”
“OK.” I try to smile. “That would be great.”
“I had a good time tonight.”
“So did I.” My eyes are lowered. “I know it wasn’t exactly clockwork…but I had a really good time.”
“We’ll have a good time again.” He gently lifts my chin until I’m looking straight at him. “I promise, Emma.”
He leans forward, and this time there’s no hesitation. His mouth lands on mine, sweet and firm. He’s kissing me. Jack Harper is kissing me on a park bench.
His mouth is opening mine; his stubble is rough against my face. His arm creeps around me and pulls me toward him, and my breath catches in my throat. I find myself reaching under his jacket, feeling the ridges of muscle beneath his shirt. Oh, God, I want this. I want more.
Suddenly he pulls away, and I feel like I’ve been wrenched out of a dream.
“Emma, I have to go.”
My mouth is prickly wet. I can still feel his skin on mine. My entire body is throbbing. This can’t be the end. It can’t.
“Don’t go,” I hear myself saying thickly. “Half an hour.”
What am I suggesting? That we do it under a bush?
Frankly, yes. Anywhere would do.
“I don’t want to go.” His dark eyes are almost opaque. “But I have to.”
“So…I’ll…I’ll see you.” I can barely talk properly.
“I can’t wait.”
“Neither can I.”
“Jack.” We both look up to see Sven at the gate.
“OK,” calls Jack. We both stand up, and I discreetly look away from Jack’s rather strange posture.
I could ride along in the car and—
No. No. Rewind. I did not think that.
As we reach the road, there are two silver cars waiting by the pavement. Sven is standing by one, and the other is obviously for me. Bloody hell. I feel like I’ve suddenly become part of the royal family or something.
As the driver opens the door for me, Jack touches my hand briefly. I want to grab him for a final snog, but somehow I manage to control myself.
“ ‘Bye,” he murmurs.
“ ‘Bye,” I murmur back.
Then I get into the car, the door closes with an expensive clunk, and we purr away.