Page 30 of One Summer Weekend
Because it had taken only a split second, a micro moment, to undo the work of three years. Oh, I’d had a kiss or two since Troy – pathetic little triumphs of anger, hurt and revenge, futile attempts to salve my wounds.But this was different, totally different. And it wasn’t even a proper kiss … Is that why? Is it the very absence of passion in the kisser that creates a need forit in the kissed?
Oh God. How am I going to get through this weekend …
When I opened my eyes, the world was still as it had been: bright and big and beautiful. Only my view of it had changed.
At last, he broke the silence. ‘Shall we join the others?’
‘Yes.’ It was little more than a whisper.
His arm steered me over to a shelf of rock where Bill and Midge had spreada rug. And somehow I sat and talked and ate and drank like a functioning human being. When I’d made enough inroads into the pile of sandwiches to please Midge, it seemed natural to shift my position slightly, lean back against Jack and link his fingers through mine. Playing my part to perfection, as it were.
Except … where does the role play end and the real play begin?
From up herewe could see a vaster spread of hills and, while Bill and Midge went for a stroll, he told me their names. Once again, I was mesmerised by the quaint words.Or is it the lilt of his voice in my ear, the heat of his body behind me, the touch of his hand in mine?Whereas the enchantment of Latrigg had been its panoramic surroundings, here on Skiddaw I was under a different spell …
‘Next time,’he said, ‘we’ll climb Blencathra—’
‘Next time?’
‘Don’t you want there to be a next time?’
‘But we both know there won’t be.’
‘That’s not what I asked.’
He was right, of course; but I wasn’t going to give him an answer – and certainly not the one he wanted. I stared unseeingly across the valley.
‘Alicia.’
‘Yes.’
‘Who was he?’
‘Who?’
‘Theman who screwed you up.’
He made it sound so simple, when it was anything but. A pause, while I debated my reply; in the end I said slowly, ‘Nobody screwed me up.’
‘Oh, for fu—’
‘I did it to myself. He – the man – was just – just an accessory.’
‘So why can’t youundo it to yourself?’
I gave a brittle laugh and twisted round to face him. ‘Why can’tyouundo what you’redoing to yourself?’
His jaw dropped. ‘WhatI’mdoing—?’
‘Yes, changing your women more frequently than your underwear. Oh, and sleeping with your ex in between.’
‘Is that what you think of me?’
‘Why are you so surprised? I’ve read the local papers, seen you rush off with Karina as soon as her boyfriend’s back was turned—’
‘You’re making too many assumptions.’ Histone was clipped, his eyes cold. ‘And you know what they say about the word “assume”—’
‘One more thing,’ I went on, interrupting the challenge; after all, I’d have been astonished if he’d agreed with me. ‘Why did youreallyconvince the Board to buy Sphinx Industries?’ I lowered my voice, aware of Bill and Midge heading in our direction. ‘Could it be anything to do with your father?’
