Page 39 of Kissing Games
She smiled and sniffed. ‘I’m sorry, Charlie. I was so looking forward to tonight, but I think I should just go to bed. I’ve got filming in the morning anyway.’
He released her hands and dug in his pocket for a handkerchief. She took it and dabbed at her eyes. ‘If you stay in, he’ll have won. You can’t let that malparido ruin your evening. Your call time isn’t until ten tomorrow. What would your abuelas say?’
She sighed. ‘You’re right.’ She smiled shyly at him, the handkerchief twisting in her hands. ‘As long as you don’t mind me looking a bit…’
‘A bit what?’
She shrugged and looked away, allowing her hair to fall in front of her face.
‘Valentina.’ Charlie brushed the hair away and tucked it behind her ear. ‘Look at me.’ She shook her head. ‘You’re beautiful. Inside and out. You couldn’t look bad if you tried.’ He stood up and clapped. ‘Now, unless you want to skip pub crawls, sunrises and poetry, and head straight for wild monkey sex with Charlie Hamilton, I suggest we vacate your room immediately and head to The King’s Arms. Where I intend to introduce you to my friends, Mr Buckfast and Ms Midori.’
He walked to the door and held it open for her.
‘Shall we?’ he smiled.
‘So, let me get this straight,’said Valentina, half an hour later as they sat in a secluded corner of The King’s Arms. ‘Kinloch only has one pub.’
Charlie nodded. ‘Yup. And the locals are under strict orders to leave us alone.’
‘So, this pub crawl is more of a pub… sit?’
‘I can take you for a walk around the village in between drinks if you like?’
‘No need. I like it here. I feel normal-sized.’
Charlie looked dolefully up at the low beams and rubbed his head.
She giggled. ‘Did it knock any sense into you?’
‘Not a chance. What do you think of the whisky?’
She pulled a face. ‘It’s not really my thing.’
He smiled. ‘You’re a teenager tonight, so you’re going to hate most of the things you drink. The trick is to pretend you like them. The whisky is just a warm-up.’ He gestured to a tray of glasses on the table between them. ‘These are the main event.’
She looked at the shot glasses and tumblers. They were all the colours of the rainbow. ‘What are they?’
‘Well, I thought you could combine two of the items on your list: pub crawl and trying something new. So, I’ve got a selection of the weirdest things the bar staff could provide.’
‘But I’ve already tried something new. That disgusting fried candy bar.’
‘Aha! But that was food. Now we’re moving on to drinks. We’ve got Pernod and black, Midori, Advocaat, Pimm’s, cider, Buckfast, crème de menthe, Baileys, Kahlúa, Cinzano, vodka and Red Bull, and the pub’s own dark ale. There is also Scotland’s second national drink for you to try, but I’m saving that as a hangover cure tomorrow.’
She arched an eyebrow. ‘I’m working tomorrow. I can’t have a hangover.’
‘Where’s your fighting spirit? Being a teenager is about turning up late and drunk for work, then breaking the chocolate eclair machine.’
‘Huh?’
He handed her a glass. ‘Here. You only get my secrets if you drink.’
She sniffed. ‘It smells like aniseed?’
‘Pernod and blackcurrant. Tastes like cough medicine.’
She took a sip. ‘If you think it’s cough medicine, then it’s actually quite nice. Now, tell me your secrets.’
He leaned forward, darting his eyes back and forth to make sure they weren’t overheard. It was unnecessary, as no one was near them. Valentina moved in closer. She could see the flecks of gold amongst the green of his eyes. A heavy heat was building inside her.
