Page 35 of Kissing Games
‘There’s a shop over the road that sells suitcases and bags if you want to start there?’
An ancient and familiar knot formed in her stomach. ‘Can we try the thrift stores first?’ She looked at his face. There was barely a whisper of a change of expression. He hid his thoughts well.
‘Sure. There’s a big one coming up in a bit. It sells the usual second-hand stuff but also work by local artists. It’s really cool.’ He led her to a double shop front. The windows were filled with rugs, scatter cushions, teddy bears, glass, china, books and toys.
She raised her eyebrows. ‘Wow. There’s a lot going on here.’
‘Go in, knock yourself out.’
‘You’re not coming?’
‘I’ll be back in a bit. I just need to pick up a couple of other things. I won’t be long. You okay for five minutes?’
Valentina nodded. She’d quickly become used to having him next to her. The thought of him being absent, even for a moment or two, was strange, as if she’d lost her anchor.
She gave herself an internal slap.
‘Yes, of course.’
Inside wasan Aladdin’s cave of treasures set over two floors. Rather than a big open space, there were a myriad of small rooms, some only big enough to fit one person, with bookcases from floor to ceiling and stools provided for smaller people to stand on. Valentina found a suitcase and left it by the till to pay for later. She then took her time, first looking at the clothes, then moving on to the crafts.
A pile of sheepskin rugs on a table in rich browns and pale creams drew her attention. They were so beautiful. She ran her fingers over the soft fleece. Inside her raged the usual war. The war she always won but with no pleasure. She could hear her family telling her to buy them. Telling her she could afford them, how she needed to treat herself. But this wasn’t a suitcase. It was a luxury. A want, not a need. And every cent mattered forthe plan. She looked at the price tag, then dropped it and turned away. Straight into a wall of heat and muscle.
‘You should get one,’ Charlie said. ‘The cream would work well in your living room.’
‘What?’
He stepped back, holding up his hands. ‘I didn’t know who you were at the airport, so I googled you. And read an interview, and there were photos in your Malibu mansion, er… house, and your living room is all cream and… I’m sorry.’
‘So, you know everything about me now?’
He shook his head. ‘No, no, of course not. I stopped looking after that. It wasn’t right. I’m sorry.’
‘That wasn’t my house,’ she whispered fiercely. ‘It was borrowed for the shoot. I rent an apartment smaller than this shop. Happy now?’ She saw the confusion on his face and the hurt.Fuck.She sighed. ‘I’m sorry. That was unnecessary and rude.’ The green of his eyes seemed muted, darker. ‘There are some things I am not comfortable talking about.’ A wave of suppressed emotion moved through her. She gritted her teeth. She would not let it out.
He smiled as if to put her at ease. ‘No worries. I now know the subject of your living room is completely off limits.’ He put his hands behind the back of his neck and puffed out his chest. ‘However, where do you stand on discussing your bedroom?’ he asked innocently.
Valentina’s stress dissolved and she giggled, pushing on his chest. ‘Have I told you lately how insufferable you are?’ His chest was hot and she could feel the fast thudding of his heart. She didn’t want to stop touching him.
‘I think you need to remind me at least once every hour,’ he replied softly.
Heat rushed down Valentina’s arms into her body. The noises from the shop faded away, replaced by a roaring in her ears. She was lost in space, spiralling around a nebula of green and gold, being pulled faster and faster towards the centre. Wrenching her hands away, she went to a display by the window, breathing heavily, trying to centre herself. In front of her was a child’s mobile. Fluffy clouds and sheep made from wool hung in the air. She didn’t look at the price. This would be for Isabella’s baby. It was a gift for her family, not for her, so it didn’t count. She took one that was already boxed up and went to pay.
Charlie hung back and met her at the door. ‘You hungry?’
‘Um, I don’t know. What time is it?’
‘Lunchtime. I thought you might like to cross something off your list.’
Her cheeks burned. ‘What?’
Charlie grinned. ‘Not one of the ones involving,’ he looked around furtively, ‘nakedness,’ he whispered.
Her face was on fire. ‘Huevón!’ she whispered back.
He burst out laughing as she strode out into the cold street. He caught up to her and took the suitcase out of her hands.
‘Have you ever had fish and chips?’
