Page 42 of Is She Really Going Out with Him?
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Safely back inmy hotel room, I boil the kettle, hoping a cup of tea might right this shift in reality. I have stepped into an alternate universe where now, rather than hating Will Havers, I want to kiss him. Of all the people to suddenly be attracted to, Will would not be my first choice. I’d be joining the ranks of all the other doe-eyed women in the office who fawn over him; it’s unconscionable. Hopefully in the sober light of day I will see sense, and we can go back to how things were before.Thank GodI left when I did.
A full moon shines bright through a gap in the curtains. Walking over to the window to admire its clarity, my eye drifts across the street. Will’s light is on. He’s walking around in his boxer shorts, his physique unexpectedly broad, the curve of his arm muscles visible from here. It’s only a second, a glimpse, before I look away, but in that exact moment, he looks up at my window.Shit.My light is on too. Did he see me?
Backing away from the window, I duck down to the floor and draw the curtain as best I can from the bottom. Of all thehotel rooms in all of Hay, I had to have a view right into his. My phone pings with a text message.
Will Havers
What are you looking at?
Oh God. Oh God. No. I can’t ignore it. I have to reply. What do I say?
Anna Appleby
Full moon tonight. It’s impressive.
Will is typing. My heart is pounding, simultaneously wanting this to be happening as much as I really do not want this to be happening, whatever this is.
Will Havers
Come back to the window and point it out, I can’t see it.
Slowly, I open the curtain and make a cartoon jab at the moon. He’s standing by the window now, still in only his boxers, looking straight up at me. My God, he has an incredible body. I gulp. He looks down at his phone.
Will Havers
I feel underdressed for this moon meeting.
Anna Appleby
I’m sure the moon doesn’t mind.
Will Havers
Either I’m going to have to put some clothes on or you’re going to need to take some off.
He looks back up, lifts his chin, challenging me. I could shut it down, scold him for crossing the line we’ve been dancing around all night. But the fizz inside me springs back into life with a vengeance, the playing-with-fire fizz, which is like fizz coupled with the danger of unexploded fireworks. Without letting myself think, I use my free hand to unbutton my shirt, letting it slide open to reveal my bra, then shrug it off my shoulders so it falls to the floor. He puts one hand up to lean on the window frame, typing with the other.
My breath is loud in my own ears.
Will Havers
I have no interest in looking at the moon anymore.
I just want to look at you.
When I read the message, I stumble slightly, my feet losing their grip on the ground. I steady myself, leaning on the windowsill, then look back outside. He’s waiting for me to answer. What’s going to happen now? There is no scenario that I’m prepared for here. The street looks empty, but if someone walked by and glanced up, they’d be able to see me, standing here at the window in my bra. For what seems like an eternity we just stare at each other, neither moving, neither reaching for their phone. It’s another game of chicken.
Will Havers
Something is ruining the view.
Anna Appleby
Oh yes?
Will Havers
