CORAL - Forever (A Romance Trilogy, Book 3) (24 page)

Tristan looks across at me and squeezes my hand, smiling
down at me. He looks so good today. He’s dressed in a short sleeved cream linen
shirt with the top three buttons open – I'm sure it’s to tease me – dark blue
jeans, and a pair of brown mocasins.

For some reason I'm reminded of the first time I travelled
in this car with him, just those few short weeks ago –
God I had it so bad
for him, even back then!
And look how far we’ve come, how much has
happened...

“What are you thinking about?” He asks, looking intrigued.

“I'm thinking about the first time I was in this car with
you.”

“Yeah?” I nod smiling broadly. “Elaborate, please...” He
says squeezing my hand again.

“No way!” I scoff, smiling up at him.

“Why not?” He laughs.

“Some things just shouldn’t be said,” I giggle.

“Oh really?” He teases.

“Yes, so stop it!” I titter.

“Oh...I’ll get it out of you,” he banters.

“You think so, do you?” I tease, batting my lashes at him –
Thank
god I put some make-up on!

“Oh yes, I do.” He says with full confidence.

I shake my head, laughing at him. Stuart pulls up at the gym
and parks in a bay.

“Ready?” Tristan beams. I nod so Tristan jumps out, runs
round the car and opens my door for me – bowing grandly as he does. “Me lady,”
he says, holding both his hands out to me. I giggle at his sweet, playful
gesture – we really do seem to be back on track!

Taking his hands, he gently pulls me to my feet, brings me
into his chest and leans down to kiss me. “Tell me,” he pleads against my lips.

“No!” I banter.

“Oh...you infuriating woman!” He teases.

“Ok, maybe I will, if you’re good?” I tease.

“Good?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Good, how?”

“Well...let me think? Hmm...no moaning about how long we are
out, and no broodiness! I want this to be a relaxed, nice day out, ok?”

He instantly puts on his broody face.
I think he’s
teasing me?

“Seriously?” I pout.

His face splits into an ear to ear grin.
Bastard!

“You know...I really love it when you’re playful like this
Tristan.”

“Oh you do, do you?”

“Yes.”

“Just playful?” I shake my head and bite my bottom lip. “What
else do you like?” He questions, running a finger down my cheek.

“I'm not saying,” I tease.

This time Tristan pouts. I have to giggle.

“Ok, maybe I will, if you act like you are incandescently
happy?”

His purposely puts on a big, happy, smiling face, then says,
“I already am incandescently happy. I’m with you.”
Oh bugger me!

I melt – again! I gaze up at Tristan – no ogle – is probably
the appropriate word, then quickly pull out of it –
Jeez! He really knows
how to knock me for six sometimes.

Tristan cocks his head to the side and chuckles at me. “You
ok?”

“Yes,” I chuckle. “Come on. Let’s get this over with so we
can take a walk.”

“As you wish,” he says. Taking my hand in his, we start
strolling across the car park.

“Coral!” A male voice shouts. Tristan and I both turn to see
who it is. Will is jogging across the car park towards us. Tristan instantly stiffens
beside me.

“It’s Will,” I whisper, he instantly relaxes. “Will!” I beam
as he reaches me and carefully hugs me.

“What the hell are you doing out of hospital?” He asks. I glance
across at Tristan; he has an I-told-you-so look on his face.

“I hate hospitals Will. I had to get out of there!”

“Oh...right. Surely you shouldn’t be walking about though?”
Not
him too!
So I decide to ignore that and introduce him to Tristan instead.

“Will, meet my fiancé, Tristan Freeman. Tristan this is my
personal trainer Will Richards.”

They shake hands. “You’re engaged?” Will says a little shocked.

“Yep.” I nod twice. “Oh, you and Natalie should come to the
wedding! It’s in two weeks up at the house on The Cliff.” I gesture behind me
with my head. Will seems surprised by my invitation. “That’s if you want to,” I
add.

“We’d love to. I’ll check with Nat, make sure she hasn’t
already arranged something.”

“Cool, I’ll call you at the gym tomorrow?”

“Great. I’d better get back. It’s good to see you up and
about Coral.”

“Thanks Will.”

“Nice to meet you Tristan,” he says, shaking Tristan’s hand
again.

“You too,” Tristan says, and with that Will nods to us both,
and heads back towards the gym.

“Another admirer,” Tristan says one eyebrow cocked up.

“Ugh!...Will’s married,” I groan.

“So?” Tristan smirks.

“Seriously?” I choke. “Are you gonna go broody on me?” I say
frowning at him.

“No, but I think you should change trainers.” He adds, still
smirking at me.

I laugh loudly at that one. “Oh Tristan, Will does not like
me like that.”

“Ok...” he says. “Have it your own way.”
Shit! Is he
right? Does Will like me like that?
I shake my head and shrug it off. No,
no, it’s just Tristan being Tristan.

We take each other’s hands again and continue walking across
the car park, just as we reach the steps leading down to the concourse, I look
up and see a tall, slim male standing outside the studios; and from my guesstimate,
he’s right outside my place?

I keep my eyes focused on him as we head down the steps, he
takes a step forward and knocks on my patio door, then he puts his face up
against the window, his hands either side, looking for me I guess? Just as we
reach the bottom step, the man suddenly turns, so he’s directly facing us and
freezes. I instantly do the same –
Holy fuck!

TRISTAN
ARCHES AN EYEBROW AND LOOKS DOWN AT ME
. I grip his hand tighter and
stare straight ahead. He cocks his head to the side, then his gaze follows
mine, down to my studio.

“Coral. Who is that?” He ask, his voice low – I can't speak,
my heart is hammering against my chest and my mouth has gone dry –
What the
hell is he doing here?

“Coral!” I turn and look up at Tristan with wide eyes. “Who
is it?”

“My ex...Justin,” I whisper. Tristan’s face instantly
hardens. “Don't cause a scene!” I add.

“What do you want me to do, shake the guys hand?” He spits
sarcastically.

“No.” I take a few deep breaths trying to calm myself. I
never, ever thought I would see him again. I was told that he’d moved...gone to
Manchester...or somewhere up north?

“Then what do you want me to do?” Tristan questions, letting
go of my hand and running his hands through his hair. He’s practically
bristling with tension.

“Nothing, you don't have to do anything Tristan,” I say,
staring down at Justin again. He raises his hand up to me, his version of a
wave – I do not wave back!

He looks so different – Gone is the skinny boy that I knew,
now he looks like a man, all bulked up, grown up? His hair is still the same messy
sandy blonde, his eyes ice blue. His cheekbones are more defined, his jaw more
chiselled, and his lips...I swallow hard – He looks good...really good. Then I
remember the heartbreak I endured over this man, the pain, the sleepless
nights, the anger, the hate – I suddenly feel really pissed at him – I mean really,
really,
pissed...how dare he turn up here!

“Give me one minute!” I say to Tristan through gritted teeth,
and without waiting for his reply, I start marching down the concourse. I know
Tristan is following me, but that’s good, I want him to – It doesn’t take long
for me to reach Justin.

“What are you doing here?” I snap, my foot tapping, my hands
on my hips.
I'm on a roll today! Anyone else wanna come out the woodwork,
bring it on!

“Hello Coral, it’s nice to see you too?” He says, a little
sarcastically.

“Answer my question!” I bellow –
Keep your cool Coral!

“See you haven’t changed,” he says dryly. “Still the same
bad temper.”

“Fuck you!” I hiss.

“Oh nice...” He says, nodding his head. “Really nice!”

“Well what did you expect Justin? A loving embrace, a kiss;
or one last fuck for old times sake?” I spit.

“Jesus Coral, what’s your problem?” He says looking all wounded
and shocked.

I almost choke vomit on him. “My problem?” I choke.

“Yeah...you don't have to be so antagonistic towards me,” he
says, looking bruised.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I say, totally incensed, my
hands clenching into fists.

“Coral.” Tristan says, I turn and see he’s stood a couple of
feet away from me. “Come, let’s go. I don't want you getting upset like this.”
He snaps, his eyes dark and worried.

“No!” I stamp my foot, instantly wishing I hadn’t – It sends
shooting pains up my body, across my shoulder and through my lung. I hiss and
try to hide it, but Tristan can see right through me.

“Right that’s it, we’re done here!” Tristan says stepping
towards me.

“Er...I don't think so,” Justin says stepping in front of
me.
Oh fuck a duck!

“Move, now!” Tristan warns taking a step closer to Justin,
they are almost nose to nose.

“Ok Stop!” I shout, stepping in-between them and holding
both hands out towards their chests. The last thing I want is these two
fighting! “Tristan here’s the key, why don't you get the air-con on I’ll be
inside in a second.”

“No!” He growls – He and Justin seem to be having some sort
of pissing contest. They are both stood there like frozen statues, eyeballing
one another, sizing each other up. Tristan is radiating tension, his jaw
clenching every couple of seconds. Justin has his fists clenched at his sides,
just waiting for Tristan to pounce – Justin, was never afraid of confrontation.

“Ok fine!” I snap. “You!” I poke Justin in the arm. He stops
trying to stare Tristan down, rubs his arm and looks down at me. “What are you
doing here Justin?” I say shaking my head at him.

“Well now you’re asking nicely’ – “You’ve got a fucking
cheek, you expect me to be nice to you when you did the dirty behind my back
with my
best
friend?” I squeak.

Justin’s mouth pops open, then he closes it changing his
mind on whatever he was going to say, then he does the same again.

“You know what, I don't actually care why you’re here. Just
go...please...and don't come back.”

“I'm back in Brighton,” he says.

I'm stumped, shocked, it’s my turn to be speechless. Then I finally
find my voice...

“Why?” I question breathlessly.

“I got a great job offer,” he says.
Hmph!
“And Harriet
and I split.”
Oh!
My heart sinks into my stomach. I shrug it off as
though it doesn’t bother me, but it does. “Coral...” He reaches his hand out to
me, his eyes pleading with me –
Damn those baby blues!

“No!” I take a step back from him. “I’ll ask you one last
time then I'm going inside. Why are you here?”

“For you.”
Fuck!

“Me?” I squeak. Justin nods once. Damn it, I know that look.
“You want me back?” I quickly surmise.

“Yes, if you would have me back...” Justin shakes his head.
“Look I'm sorry to just turn up like this, but my Mom said you were in the
paper and when I read...when I read that you had got shot, I had to come and
see you. I had to see for myself that you were ok.”

“Well I am,” I retort, feeling shocked by his words.

“Yes, I can see that,” he says a ghost of a smile on his
lips.

“Look, Justin’ – “I am sorry Coral, for everything, for
doing what I did, for hurting you...I guess you could say I’ve grown up, seen
the light...and in all that time we’ve been apart, there hasn’t been a day
that’s gone by where I haven’t thought of you.”
No fucking way!

“Justin...” I swallow hard, then look across at Tristan, he
looks like he’s about to expire. “You need to go, now.” I say and turn to
unlock the patio door.

“That’s it?” He says, his voice trembling. “I tell you all
of that and that’s all you have to say?”

I take a deep breath and turn to face him. “Justin I'm
engaged. This is my fiancé Tristan Freeman.” Justin’s mouth pops open, his eyes
darting back and forth between the two of us. I lift up my left hand. He stares
down at the ring on my finger for a moment. Putting my hand down, I take a step
closer to him, we are only inches apart, and I'm thrown back in time for a
moment –
Whoa! I always did like his smell!

I look up at him looking down at me, his baby blue eyes
scorching me. He’s tall, but not as tall as Tristan, but his body has changed
so much, he’s bulked up like Tristan, but not as big, and this t-shirt he’s
wearing...it looks really, really good on him –
Coral, what are you doing?
– I shake my head to get myself together. Then I take a deep breath and say my
piece.

“Look J, it doesn’t matter that your back in Brighton. It
doesn’t matter that you’ve missed me, or that you want me back. It’s never
going to happen, ever. I love Tristan’ – “He doesn’t know you like I know you.”
He interrupts, his voice giving away his feelings –
He’s hurt!

“No J that’s where you’ve got it wrong. You remember how you
were always trying to get me to talk to you, to tell you things about myself,
why I'm the way I am?” I softly say.

He slowly nods once. “You...you wanted so much from me that
I couldn’t give you, that’s because it wasn’t meant to be with you, it was
meant to be with him.” I say glancing over to Tristan. I can see the relief in
his eyes. “Tristan knows everything about me, you don't.”

“But that’s not fair Coral, how can I compete with that...if
you won't let me in...?” He says, shaking his head in disagreement.

“Justin. You and me, it’s never going to happen. I'm getting
married in two weeks.” Justin looks completely devastated.

“Please...” he begs, swallowing hard. “Don't do this Coral,
give me another chance. Just...let’s meet up, try again. I’ve missed you
treacle, so badly.”
Oh!...
I used to love when he called me that!

Get a grip Coral! –
I take a deep breath, pull my
shoulders back and look him square in the eye. “Justin, you ripped my heart out
and stamped all over it. I don't care what your excuses are for your actions
back then, the point is, I would never, ever have done that to you, no matter
how unhappy I was. That’s a huge difference in values don't you think? And
well, Tristan and I, we share the same values. I know that without a shadow of
a doubt he would never, ever do that to me’ – “Damn right!” Tristan pipes up,
interrupting me – It makes me want to smile, but I don't and continue. “And you
did Justin! It’s something I can forgive, and I
do
forgive you and part
of me will always love you, but it was over the moment I caught you two at it!”

“Please...” He begs again, his eyes closed for a second. “I
can make you happy, you know I can, let me make it up to you.” I suddenly start
to feel faint. I'm not sure if it’s the relentless sun beating down on me, or
Justin’s words, or both, but either way I need to sit down before my legs give
way.

“Tristan.” I reach my hand out to him, he’s instantly over
to me.

“What is it?” He softly asks, gripping me by the waist.

“I feel faint.” I whisper, closing my eyes and leaning
against him.

“Keys?” I drop them into his hands. He walks us the couple
of steps to the door, unlocks it, yanks it open, lifts me into his arms and carries
me over to the sofa. Releasing me, he dashes over to the sink, fills a glass
with water and comes back over to me. Kneeling in front of me, he hands me the
glass. “Here, take a sip, it’s nice and cold.” He adds.

I put the glass to my lips and take a welcome sip. I'm
instantly reminded of the first time he was attentive like this, the day of my
hangover, the day he was at the office and caught me scoffing that muffin, then
my reaction when he told me Joyce had sold, he dashed off to get me water back
then – I shake my head and almost laugh at the crazy situation.

“Coral?” Justin goes to take a step inside the studio.

Tristan is instantly to his feet. “You need to leave. Now.”
He threatens in a cold, hard voice – He is radiating tension.

“No.” Justin argues, crossing his arms.

“Do you want me to help you leave?” Tristan threatens.
Oh
crap!

Justin holds his arms out wide, a slight smile on his face –
Oh, you really don't want to upset Tristan like that!

“Bring it on!” He sneers at Tristan.

Tristan’s hands bunch into fists. I can tell he’s itching to
chuck Justin out. “If you actually
did
give a fuck about her, you’d see
she’s in no state to be dealing with this!” Tristan hisses through gritted
teeth.

“Justin!” I shout. “Go now, I mean it!”

Justin puts his hands in his pockets and stays where he is,
he hasn’t taken his eyes away from me. “Do you want me to leave?” He asks me.

“Yes! I’ve already asked you to!” I snap, glaring at him.

Finally after what seems like an eternity, he nods once
looking down at the floor then looks up at me. “I’ll see you soon Coral,” he
says with a determined look on his face. I shake my head at him and look away.
He
always was a cocky son-of-a-bitch!

Tristan walks over to the air-con, switches it onto full,
then heads over and pulls the patio door shut.

“Is he gone?” I ask.

“Yes.” He hisses.

“Thank you,” I whisper, taking another sip.

“What for?” Tristan asks, his hands fisting at his side
again as he stares out at Justin’s retreating figure.

“For not trying to take over, for letting me say my piece.”
I watch him walk back over to me, kneel down and gently stroke my cheek. Then
he leans in for a kiss. I pucker my lips and press them hard against his,
hmm
he tastes so good...

“I'm very proud of you,” he says pulling back.

“You are?” I squeak, surprised.

“Yes, I thought you were going to punch him in the face, but
you did really well. You were mad, I could see that and you handled it.”

“I don't feel like I handled it,” I choke.

“You did Coral.” I can't help laughing at that one. “Now,
tell me, how are you feeling? Are you still faint?”

“No, I'm good now,” I say.

“Well I think we should go home, you’ve had enough
excitement for one day.”

“I thought we had a deal?” I say, purposely pouting.

“A deal?”

“Yes! No moaning about going home and no broodiness?”

“Yes...well, that was before’ – “Tristan, I’ll say it again.
When are you going to learn that I'm stronger than I look?” He smiles, then
frowns as he stares down at my hand with the catheter in it. “Look, I will
admit, if you weren’t in my life and Justin had turned up, I would be a mess,
and I’d be running to Rob to help me assimilate it all, all the feelings that I
know would have come up. But you are in my life, and I couldn’t give a damn
about what just happened. It’s no big deal, and I don't want it to affect our
day together – capiche?” I add in an Al Capone accent.

“That was really good,” Tristan chuckles.

“I know, I can do accents quite well,” I say, chuckling
along with him.

“So it would seem.” He teases in an equally impressive Al
Capone voice.

“Wow! So are you,” I say, chuckling some more.

Tristan suddenly stops laughing, his expression turning serious.
“So really, you’re ok?” he asks. I lean forward and squeeze his cheeks so it
makes his lips pucker up and kiss him.