Page 11 of One Night Only
I gawk as we drive past the brightly colored terraced buildings and neat village square. Faded bunting stretches above our heads, crisscrossing the roads while carefully maintained flowerboxes dot the narrow sidewalk. I feel like I’m in a tourist advert.
“That man is smoking a pipe,” I say loudly as we pass an elderly man in a flat cap, sitting comfortably on a bench outside a B&B.
“Isn’t it cute?” Annie waves at someone who recognizes her. “Paul hates it when I tell him it’s cute, but it is. That’s his uncle’s pub,” she adds, nodding to a cheery red-painted building on our left. I open the window as we pass a local school, listening to the shrieks of children as I spot two churches, three more pubs and…
“Oh my God.”
Annie speeds up as we reach a small general store but not quick enough for me to miss the giant poster of her and Paul in the window, accompanied by a hand-painted sign sayingcongratulations!
“I told them to take that down,” she mutters as I twist to face her.
“You’re famous.”
Annie squirms in her seat. “It’s Paul’s great-uncle’s store. It’s a real family occasion around here.” She glances at me as we zoom out of the village, back into the countryside. “Stop it.”
“I didn’t say anything,” I say, innocently, thinking about how the most important thing I’ll ever do is go back and take a million photos to embarrass her with.
“They’re excited,” Annie continues and I squint as the dappled tree cover gives way to bright sunshine once again.
“Is that Paul?” I ask, pointing to a figure up ahead.
Annie’s mood lifts as she catches sight of him. She beeps the horn and he turns, waving when he sees us. Oh, he’s handsome. I’d forgotten how handsome he is. Objectively so, of course. I’ve never felt anything for Paul other than sisterly love. He makes it simple. He’s easy to get along with, especially compared to Annie’s previous boyfriends, smug artistic types who only wanted to debate dead male artists. Paul remains a breath of fresh air. It helps that he’s crazy about her too.
“Has he been working out?” I murmur as we pull up beside him.
“Don’t say anything. He’s becoming the kind of person who thinks an interesting conversation is how many pushups he’s done.”
I gaze at the broad shoulders under his T-shirt. “Is the answer a million?”
Annie whacks my knee as he sticks his head through the car window to kiss her. “What did I tell you about picking up hitchhikers?” he says jokingly as his eyes flick to me. “Hiya, Sarah. Join the mile-high club?”
“I watched a documentary about sea lions and fell asleep.”
“Thrilling.”
“Get in,” Annie says, unlocking the back door.
“And here I thought I was going to have to walk a whole five minutes,” he grumbles good-naturedly as we take off again. “I see you haven’t crashed the car yet,” he adds and I laugh as Annie glares at him.
“Sarah bought tourist crap,” she says by way of retaliation.
“I supported the local economy,” I correct, seeing Paul’s faux disappointment.
“It’s not a leprechaun hat, is it?”
“There were these lovely shamrock earrings…”
“You know those things are made in China?”
“I don’t care! I’m on vacation. And I…Oh wow.”
For the second time in two minutes I’m speechless, although this time it’s more out of awe. My mouth drops open as the hotel comes into view over the crest of the hill. “Annie?”
“Don’t,” Annie mutters. She’s almost blushing. “I know.”
“Not this again,” Paul says. “It’s not that big.”
“It’s huge,” I say. “It’s beautiful.”
