Page 196 of Never Tell Secrets
The portly security guard looked up from his crossword, offering me a smile. We’d gotten to know each other over the last few months due to my nightly visits and with no more than a nod, he buzzed me through. I thanked him and he grunted in return.
I wandered the gardens for a while, enjoying the ethereal feeling that the moonlight brought out in the exquisitely crafted designs. It was surreal knowing that my creation was amongst them.
I headed to the sculpture arena last, my heart skipping a beat at the sight of the bright yellow rosette on the gated archway that sectioned off my piece.
I’d done it. I’d really done it.
I opened the gate and stepped inside, then froze, my heart shuddering in my chest.
I stared in shock, my mouth falling open.
This wasn’t happening. It wasn’t. And yet the way my legs threatened to give out told me that it absolutely was.
His suit wasn’t grey, it was the deepest, darkest blue and I couldn’t see his face, but I would know the set of his shoulders anywhere.
Alfie.
Sixty-Two
He stood, gazing up at flower me.
It had been five months since we’d parted and still I could barely breathe at the sight of him.
“I should have known you’d be here.” He turned, a rueful smile on his face. That perfect face that had my head spinning. “Forgive me, I’d thought you’d be out celebrating.”
Words. Find your words, Lola.
“Hi.”
Perfect. Great job.
“Hi.” He chuckled. He seemed lighter somehow. I stared, hardly able to recognise the man in front of me. “You look beautiful,” he said, that gaze sweeping over me.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him, I just stood there, unexpected pleasure rippling through me. “You look…blue.”
He laughed, looking down at his suit. “Yes, I thought it was time for a change.”
I didn’t think it was possible for Alfie Tell to be more gorgeous but he’d managed it. The colour elevated his eyes from cold grey to smouldering chrome.
I’d imagined thousands of times what it would be like if I ever saw him again, how I would feel, what I would say but nowthat he was here all I could feel was pleasure. The cord that had bound us, once barbed, then broken, wound between us again but this time it shone bright with purity and strength.
I wondered if he felt it too.
He gestured at my work. “Congratulations, Lo. I knew you could do it.”
“Thank you.” I should say something else, ask about his life, but I didn’t know where to start. Were we supposed to talk about the weather?
“Alfie…”
“I know, small talk doesn’t make sense for us. I really didn’t plan this, I just wanted to see your work and I thought I’d cause a stir if I came during the day.”
“I appreciate that.” It meant a lot that he hadn’t steamrollered my big moment. “Why are you in London?”
“I came back to pack my time capsule.”
I frowned. I hadn’t expected that answer. “The room in your house with your journals in?”
“And all my other memories, yes. Some of it I’ve sold, some of it’s been moved into storage, some things I haven’t found a home for yet.”
