Page 57 of Just Like You
“You want beans with it?”
“You have cheese?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then after that, I’ll leave you in peace, but I need your number so I can text you. And I need you to promise me something.”
“What?” Here I was, standing in front of my fridge, grabbing butter and cheese like I was actually doing this. Making Gina DeSanto a snack in my kitchen. Like this was real, and I was, once again, going along with the madness that was my life.
“Give him a chance. Just try. Go with the flow of whatever this is you have because I’ve never seen Kieron like this before. Not with anyone. He says your name, and his whole body goes soft. He just wants to be able to see you. Show you that behind all that…bulk and stern facade he has going on, is just a man who wants someone to love him, with everything that he is.”
“I see,” I said.
I wondered if I actually did. But I made her toast and we sat in silence, one that was surprisingly exactly what I needed.
“Get yourself ready for work, and then I’ll drive you to the airport.”
“I have a car.”
“Yes, but I like driving. And I feel like you and I could do this friends thing. I’ll pick you up when you get back if you need to. Gives me something meaningful to do. Purpose. Plans. I need those.”
“You’re just like him.”
“Indeed, I am. We’re two idiots shaped from the same mould. And you? You need to go to work. You have someone waiting for you when you land, and I think that’s a good step forward.”
I nodded. Perhaps she was right. Or maybe she was just as deluded as I was, but when I was neatly tucked up in her giant black Mercedes? I wondered if this was actually it. The point when I finally grew up.
Sonny, you won’t believe where I am. I’m sat in a car with Gina DeSanto. She says hi.
You bastard, you’re lying.
Sadly not. Now tell me to my face that I haven’t got the best tea.
That’s it. You win. Hands down. NOW TELL ME EVERYTHING.
I didn’t. I left him to stew in it. Because…perhaps there was nothing to tell. Or maybe it was just the way it was. Either way, I smiled and put my phone away. Sat there like a passenger princess getting dropped off by the curb, as Gina DeSanto got out and opened the door for me.
Grown up or not? I got a hug and a peck on the cheek and promised I’d ring her.
Chapter Sixteen
Kieron
Iwas usually more confident than this, but I’d spoken to Gina, twice, and to Julian briefly before he got on his flight.
We were good. Awkward, but good. There was so much hope here, such a bright future, if I could only pull this off.
Well, my plans were simple. I would fuck him and hold him and tell him that I loved everything that we’d built so far. And that there was a future for us, if we onlygave it a try.
And no getting anyone else up the duff or shagging randoms from apps.
Or something like that.
What the hell, Juliet?She was now in my head with all her fears and stupid drama. There was no drama here. Just me and a stubborn man who had apparently landed.
I probably looked dishevelled and tired because I’d flown in late last night and been too scared to move from the airport in case I missed him, so I’d got Maura to do the research and she’d told me exactly where to find him. The right terminal, just outside arrivals, where no doubt he would be appearing at some point to find his transport to the assigned hotel.
Then I’d reluctantly rung the only person I trusted to help me. Faye. Grovelled like the idiot I was and got her to get Maura some ridiculous flowers delivered to her desk.
