Page 5 of Fast Track to Forever
He doesn't want to talk about himself. I file that piece of info for later. He's changed so much over the last five years. He's taller. Quieter. Somehow darker. More mysterious. Nothing like the old, carefree Will.
I stretch. “Not a lot to tell about me. Definitely not as interesting as you. I went to university in York to study fashion and textiles. Just graduated. Now I'm helping out my aunt with her shop. Do you remember Auntie Gem, the one with the passion for vintage and colourful clothes?”
He squints and nods. “I remember your mum or your dad having a falling out with her.”
I shrug. “She's been kind to me. I’m staying with her. She took me in so I didn't have to pay any accommodation fees.”
Another silence stretches ahead of us. I can't help but notice he's driving very slowly, barely doing the speed limit or just on it. I chuckle.
“What?” he asks, brow furrowed.
“Nothing… but you're driving like a grandma down these roads. I thought a racing driver champion would be gliding around all these corners at 100.”
He smiles for the first time since he picked me up. “I've got precious cargo. I promised your dad I'd bring you home safely and I'm sticking to my word.”
He expertly pulls into our street and slides to a halt outside my parents’ house. The car trunk opens and closes by itself, and he removes my travel bag from it.
“Wow, that's flash,” I say. “Useful for when you have lots of hands full of groceries at the supermarket.”
He laughs. “I hadn't thought of it that way.”
I ask cheekily, “Anyway what do I owe you for this ride, driver?”
He slaps his forehead and while still holding my travel bag, he jogs to the other side and picks up something from the back passenger footwell.
“I meant to give you these.” He extends a huge bouquet of colourful flowers wrapped in waxy paper. Peonies and garden roses and other summer flowers form a symphony of colour and scents.
Well, I’ll be damned. I don’t know what I was expecting this Christmas. My childhood friend Will, who I haven’t seen for five years, handing me a flower bouquet wasn’t it.
I open my mouth to thank him, but Will interjects. “And to invite you for dinner tomorrow at my mom and dad's place. Mum was saying they haven’t seen you for a long time and Daryl said something about you helping him out with his wedding toJohn. And I….” He sighs and his voice trails off. “I'm glad to see you too.”
“Sure,” I squeak and squeeze the bouquet tighter.
“Shall we say seven? I'll come pick you up.”
“Thank you, sure. See you tomorrow.”
He rushes off towards the driver's side.
I jump. “Hey, aren't you forgetting something?”
Confusion narrows his eyes. He turns back at a snail's pace and gives me a hug, his frame dwarfing me.
I laugh. “That too, but I meant you still have my travel bag.”
He turns beet red, his freckles out in force. “I'm so sorry, please forgive me. I didn't mean to.” He sighs again and places my bag on the doorstep beside me. “I’ll see you tomorrow evening if you're still up for it.”
“Definitely see you tomorrow evening.” I reply with a smile and a shake of my head. “Missed you,” I add.
He nods, gets back in his car and drives off.
I turn the key in the door and walk in. “I'm home!”
My mum steps out of the hallway, hugs me and I hand her the bouquet.
“So how was it? We were surprised when Will turned up earlier to see you. Have you been keeping in touch at all?”
“Not at all.” My brow furrows. “He asked me for dinner at his mum and dad's place tomorrow night.”
