Page 19 of Something Beyond Fame

I could see the surprise in her expression. The calculation that ran through her head. Finally she nodded.

“Okay, I can do that. For a price.”

I laughed. “Oh, really. What’s your price?”

“Hmmm. Four kisses.”

“Kiss one.” I took her hand, our fingers threading as I guided it upward. Looking at her shimmering blue eyes, I offered the softest, lightest kiss against her pulse on the sweet, sensitive skin of her inner wrist.

“Kiss two,” I murmured as I pulled her into my space. My fingers took her shirt with a firm tug. Pouting my lips, I headed toward her lips, but my mouth moved at the last second. I left a perfect outline of my lipstick pressed onto her neck as I left my mark on her skin.

“Kiss three,” I whispered, my voice now laced with want. This time my breath tickled against her neck, softly dragging my teeth upward, my body pressed firmly against hers as I kissed just to the side of her lips. So close, and yet so far.

“Where would you like number four?” I asked and waited for her response, except she didn't answer. Instead, she placed her hand on the top of my head and pushed firmly down, guiding my lips to exactly where she wanted me to place kiss number four, five, six, seven?—

The next day I woke up with an excited energy. Liverpool. Not a city I know very well other than that it was home to the Beatles. It wasn't Liverpool that excited me, though. It was the thought of spending a full day with Claudia, doing something she wanted to do with me. Something she had planned, thought of, and arranged. To me, that made the city sparkle before I had even set one foot away from the ship.

I went smart casual. I wanted to be comfy, but I also wanted Claudia to find me attractive, sexily so. The weather was pretty good for the UK. Warm with a little cloud but no rain, so I went for my new fucking beautiful boots, tight denim jeans, and a gray sweater I knew clung to my breasts nicely and matched my eyes.

She met me at the boarding ramp. She was perfectly on time, not a minute early or a minute late, and I was pleased to see she had also gone with a similar outfit. Just classier. Everything she wore somehow came off as classy.

“Hey you.” I smiled as she came over to me, and I hesitated, unsure if she would give me a public display of affection, but there was no hesitation on her part. She leaned in and kissed me full on the lips. The show of intimacy startled me but also made my heart swell in my chest. It just felt so right to be around her. Every second was like magic.

“Come on, we have a cab to catch,” she said with a smile and guided me down the ramp.

I was like a teenager, holding hands, bounding after her, led blindly to whatever adventure she had her sights set on for us. But the truth was we could be going anywhere, and I would be in it one-hundred percent. I thought about the definition of love I’d given to Claudia just days before. How she hadn't exactly agreed. I realized she didn't have to agree with my definition, and to be honest, sometimes I didn’t agree with my own, either. Love is tricky like that, easier to say what it isn’t rather than what it is. And even then I could have debated with myself about it.

But I couldn't deny the truth. If I hadn't already, I was on the path of falling head over heels in love with Claudia.

We slipped into the cab, our fingers laced together. Wherever we were going, the driver was already well aware and there was no acknowledgement from Claudia. I guessed this was how fancy people travelled—in silence.

“Where are we going?” I whispered, and Claudia laughed.

“You don't need to whisper. You can talk normally.” She grinned, leaning in a little closer, closing the gap between us to plant a soft, sweet kiss on my lips. “And I’m not telling you.” She grinned and then continued to kiss me.

It was the quickest hour cab ride I’d ever taken.

When we pulled up outside what I would call the projects but in reality was some urban concrete jungle that lacked a lot of love, I was surprised.

“Don’t worry, we aren’t staying,” she said softly as she wound her window down. She counted the windows across her finger and then pointed up. “That was where I grew up. That was my little space in the world for eighteen long years.” She paused, lost in thought, I watched the memories flicker through her eyes. She was looking at the window, but that isn't what she was seeing. I knew she was seeing all the times and moments that had passed. I slid my hand into hers and said nothing, but I let her know I was right beside her as a tear rolled down her cheek.

My free hand reached up, my thumb smearing softly against her skin to wipe away the lucid drop that glistened on her smooth cheek. She sniffled.

“Wow.” She laughed. “I can’t remember the last time I cried. Well, I guess it’s been thirty years or so since I’ve been back here. I am allowed one tear.”

I smiled softly at her.

“You’re allowed as many as you need. Anytime, Claudia. Showing your emotions doesn't make you weak, it’s what shows your strength.”

She took a deep breath, her finger reaching for the window, and the black tint slowly rose, protecting her from the outside once more.

“Okay, let’s get some food.”

Our trip was to her favorite cafe. To the outside world looking in, it was a small town version of a greasy spoon. I could almost hear my wardrobe crying in shock at the calorific content on the menu, and the smell of oil frying and cooking hung in the air.

But that was the outside. On the inside, we sat in worn leather seats at the window. She ordered two of her favorites, and the elderly waitress looked at Claudia with a keen eye, a hint of someone she used to know but couldn't quite catch the name of.

“You never talk about your family,” she probed as she sipped her coffee, and I looked at her in surprise.

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