Page 32 of Take My Breath Away
“It’s over,” he says, quietly.
I don’t know what to say, so I just nod and pick up my coffee. It’s tepid.
Not my business, nothing to do with me…But, I can’t help the shiver that runs through me because whatever James says, I’m not so sure Aiden’s got that particular memo.
Chapter Fifteen
JAMES
Since Aiden’s sudden appearance, on Saturday, I’ve been edgy. There’s no other way to describe it. I’m not an edgy person, never have been, but I am now.
I don’t like surprises, being left unprepared and caught on the hop, or situations and events slipping their leash; but that’s exactly what happened when Aiden walked into the café.
It was like two completely separate parts of my life collided, each alien to the other. I’d seen the way Aiden’s eyes had raked over Perry, and I’d known exactly what he’d been thinking. Like with the guy in the bar, it’d taken every part of me not to bare my teeth, growl and bite like a damn guard dog. There was no reason why he wouldn’t have looked at Perry and thought about how to include him in the games we’ve played so many times. Aiden knows me, or thinks he does, yet for the first time ever I’m wondering whether I really know myself.
I take a deep breath before I sip my drink and look out over The Breaker’s Yard, watching out for Elliot’s arrival, but my mind soon drifts as it goes over, yet again, what happened in the café.
“Whatever it is you’re thinking about, stop it now because it’s making you look as miserable as sin.”
Elliot drops into the seat in front of me. He’s looking well, better than I’ve seen him in God alone knows how long. Well, and content, and happy. Elliot’s another who craves the always and forever life. He’s got that with Freddie, his soon-to-be husband. They’ve even got a dog, even if the stinky, farty thing was Elliot’s first. Elliot peers at me, a frown carving itself into his brow.
“Are you all right? Do you have wind? I’ve some Rennies in my briefcase if you want some?” I glare in response, but Elliot only grins. “You’re lucky I’m free this evening. Monday is normally our intermediate salsa class night but this week—”
I sit up straight. “Excuse me? Salsa? You’re learning tosalsa?” Even in the flickering lamps lighting up The Yard, it’s easy to see Elliot’s gone red. “What’s Tuesday? Couple’s Crochet? Gay Gardening?”
“We’ve been going to class for a while, because we want to do more than stumble around for our first dance,” Elliot says, as he looks around for somebody to take our order, deftly avoiding my eye.
His and Freddie’s first dance as married men, at their summer wedding next year. Elliot’s still tomato red, and still avoiding my eye, and out of nowhere an overwhelming tide of love and affection for this man rushes through me.
“You and Freddie will be spectacular together.” And they will be too, but it’s not the dance I’m thinking of. I clear my throat of the emotion that’s making it rough and dry.
“James, are you all right?” Elliot finally gives up pretending to beckon a member of staff, and turns his attention to me.
“I’m fine.” I catch the eye of a young waiter, who bustles over. I know what Elliot wants without asking, and I order us two large G&Ts, before I turn my attention back to him. He’s giving me a critical, questioning look.
“What?”
“Are you sure you’re okay? No recent bang on the head? Or a sudden loss of appetite?”
Elliot’s doing his best to keep his face straight but he’s having a hard time of it.
“What are you talking about?”
“You completely ignored the waiter. Blond, pretty, nice arse, etcetera etcetera, and you didn’t even glance at him. Something must be up. Or not.” Elliot snorts at his own joke, just as the waiter returns.
This time I do look. The waiter’s exactly what Elliot says he is. He smiles at me, the come-on shining bright in his eyes. Any other time, I’d have already arranged to meet him for some quick and dirty fun, but his blue eyes aren’t chocolate brown, and his blond hair isn’t the colour of autumn leaves. I nod my thanks for the drinks and turn away.
“Well, that’s a first,” Elliot mumbles, as he raises his glass to his lips.
Sipping his drink, his eyes never leave mine. He’s waiting for me to speak, to reveal why I sent him a text just an hour ago asking him to meet me.
I want to tell him about me and Perry. Except, of course, there is nome and Perry,not in the way most would understand that.
“Look, I suppose I should have told you before, but Perry—”
“You meansugar on legs.” Elliot snorts again, the second time in less than ten minutes. “That’s how you described my Executive Assistant to me, one time. Do you remember? It took me a good couple of days to look him in the eye. Anyway, what about him?” Before the words are out of his mouth, his eyes widen. He puts down his glass with a clunk. “Oh no, don’t tell me he’s finally succumbed to your cheesy flirting?”
“I’ll ignore that remark. And my flirting isn’t cheesy. Look, Perry’s staying with me, just for now. He’s renting a room in my house because he needed to find somewhere else to live, and fast. I don’t want to make a thing about it, but I thought you should know. In case you call round, and, erm, find him there. At my house.”
