Page 48 of Handle with Care
“I don’t feel bad. I… I might be liking this a bit more than I want to admit. Getting to know you.”
Whatever I thought he might say, it wasn’t that. And I’m thrilled, even if I’m scared to admit that to myself, what that might mean especially for a one-off thing. We’re saved by the arrival of our meal, and then we linger over a couple of pints and banter.
“Would you like to go punting?” Will asks once we’re outside in the sun.
“I don’t know how to do that.”
“You can hire someone to do the punting for you. Or I can. I’d be happy to. I’ve punted along the Cam plenty of times.”
My eyebrows lift, looking from him to a nearby punt, where someone stands on one end, pushing the small boat along with a pole in the shallow river. It looks precarious, even though the water’s calm and the river narrow.
“Don’t tell me you’re scared of water.” His teasing grin is to die for. His eyes dance.
“Only if there’re sharks in it.”
“The Cam’s blissfully shark-free. Let’s go, it’ll be fun.”
Which is how I soon find myself in the punt, with Will standing at the back with perfect balance, taking us along the Cambridge Backs and its expanse of endless green lawn by Kings College and Trinity and St. John’s. Plus others. And I gaze at the scenery, most of all Will, and the expanse of blue sky above him dotted with clouds. He stands with confidence at the back of the punt, maneuvering us with skill along the river. There’s no way to guess which is his prosthetic leg from looking at him in motion. From what I saw from our night together, he has an enviable six-pack, which doubtless contributes to excellent core strength.
It kind of feels like I’m in a dream, something so far away from my life in Canada and this dizzying reality with him. The wind teases his wavy hair, his eyes hidden by his aviators. He smiles warmly at me, and it’s everything I can do to either keep from spontaneously combusting or making my usual smart-ass comments when I’m feeling vulnerable.
“What are you thinking over there?” Will asks after a while.
“That I could get used to this, keeping you as my personal ferryman,” I quip. “As long as this isn’t the River Styx.” And frankly, I wouldn’t complain even if it is, as long as Will’s there. What a ridiculous thought. I sigh with contentment.
Will laughs, his forearm muscles shown to great effect with his rolled-up sleeves, tugging along his biceps. He continues to push us along the river. “I promise I’m not Charon.”
“Lucky. Otherwise, you sure have a lot of explaining to do.”
Before I know it, we’ve disembarked at Bridge Street.
“You must be tired by now.”
“I’ll rest when I’m dead, as they say,” Will says cheerfully. “But I suppose I wouldn’t say no to taking a taxi back to the Rover.”
Which we do, and drive to London once more. As we approach the city, we both get a bit nervous around each other.
“You’re sure you’re not tired?” I ask again.
“No.”
“Will. C’mon. I saw you hide a yawn a few minutes ago. I should probably let you go home to rest.” It’s gone on into the early evening, the summer skies shifting to golds and long shadows.
Will’s quiet for a moment, still wearing the aviators, but he turns his head slightly to me before focusing on the road again. “Is our pact still in effect?”
“Till midnight.”
“I kind of don’t want this evening to end,” Will admits at last. And it’s incredible how he doesn’t hear my heart batter my rib cage as it goes into overtime. “Yes, I’m tired, but then it’ll be tomorrow before I know it… and I don’t want to think about that yet. But I’m thinking about it, admittedly.”
“Well… we could hang out a bit longer if you’re not sick of me yet. I know I can be a lot all at once.”
“You’re… lovely.” To his credit, his lips twitch only a little before spreading into a smile, which melts me.
I laugh with glee, basking in the compliment. “I’ve been called lots of things, but lovely isn’t among them.”
Then he laughs, too, and looks more serious again, his cheeks pink. And it’s not only from the sun.
“We could go to my place?” I offer into the quiet. “I don’t know if my flatmate’s in, but we’re not obligated to hang out with him. Though he’s great. Or we can go to another pub or something.”
