CORAL - Forever (A Romance Trilogy, Book 3) (25 page)

“Yes,” I say, realising his cheeks.

“Ow!” He says, flexing his jaw. I giggle again. “Right, well
I’ll be back in a second,” he says heading off for the bathroom.

The moment he shuts the door, my head falls into my hands –
What
the fuck just happened?

I stare blankly around my almost empty studio. I mean,
everything I just said to Tristan is true, I don't care that Justin’s back, or
that...he wants me back...or that...I drift off, my mind flooding with memories
of Justin and I, because we were, at a certain point in our relationship, so in
love with one another –
No!

I grip my hair in my hands and try to push the images away –
It’s Tristan I want, it’s Tristan I love, I can't live without him – Right on
cue I hear Tristan washing his hands, any second now he’s going to come through
that door –
Right game face on Coral!

I take a deep breath, push all thoughts of Justin away, get
to my feet and walk over to the kitchenette. Opening one of the cupboards, I
see my plates, cups, and glasses are still here. I can't really see the point
in packing them up, taking them back with us, Tristan and I already picked a
set that we are using –
Hmm...what to do?

“Uh-oh,” Tristan teases as he reaches me. “Should I have
packed those?”

“No...” I shake my head and close the cupboard. “I was just
thinking what to do with them?”

“Oh.” He says lightly.

“Actually I was thinking about all the furniture...If I rent
this place out, it will need all this stuff anyway, won't it?” I say gesturing
to the general area.

“Yes, it will. But you might want to change the sofa.”

“Why?”

“Most people who rent these out have a futon or sofa-bed
instead.”

“Why?”

“Get more money if it can sleep four people.” He tells me.

“Seriously?” I scoff. “Even though it has an open gallery
bedroom? I mean...it’s not like...you know...either couple would be able to’ –
“Have sex without being heard?” Tristan says, finishing my sentence for me with
a wicked grin.

“Yes!” I giggle, feeling a little nervous that he can read
me
that
easily! “You did a good job,” I add, looking around the baron room.

“Shall we go up?” Tristan asks.

“Up?” I question.

“Yes. Don't you want to check if I got everything from your
bedroom?”

“Oh...well I suppose so,” I say trying to work out Tristan’s
odd expression.

Taking his hand, I follow him up the creaking stairs.
What
is that sweet smell?
The moment we reach the bedroom Tristan takes a step
back and gestures to the room –
Oh wow!
There are twinkly lights, lots
of electric candles, and wild flowers everywhere making the room smell divine.
Why has he done this?

“When did you do this?” I squeak, my mouth hanging open as I
scan the bedroom.

“I didn’t, well I wanted to do this, but I didn’t want to
leave you either, so I asked Edith, she came down early this morning with
Stuart.” He smiles. “Do you like it?”
Is he kidding?

“Like it?” I scoff. “Tristan, it looks magical,” I say,
beaming from ear to ear. “But why have you’ – “Why have I done this?” I nod
unable to say anymore.

Tristan takes my hand and leads me over to my bed and sits
me down, then kneeling down in front of me, he looks up at me with those puppy
dog eyes of his.

“What’s the last memory you have of this place?”

I swallow hard. “Seeing Bob on the floor...” I whisper
unable to say anymore.

“Thought so, well I wanted to change that.”

“You do?” I squeak.

“Yes.” I stare around the room again. “Plus, I’ve never made
love to you here,” he adds.

I stare down at him, a little shocked. “You want to make
love – now?”

Tristan smiles shyly at me. “I thought it would be a nice
way to replace the old memory,” he says a little nervously, looking down at my
hand again.

“Make love – now?” I choke, almost laughing.

“If you don't want to...” He says, looking a little hurt.

“Yes.” I smile down at him. “I do.” What a wonderful thing
to have done.
See Justin wouldn’t have done something like this!
“But
can you tell me something first?” I ask.

“Anything.” He smiles his dazzling smile at me.

I swoon for a second then snap out of it. “Are you ok?”

“Me?” He questions, his brows knitting together.

“Um...yeah,” I shake my head. “Tristan, my ex just turned up
on my doorstep confessing his love for me – aren’t you upset about that?”

“Should I be?” He questions.
Huh?

“You mean...me?” I quickly surmise.

“Do you still have feelings for him Coral?”

“Tristan, what I said to him was true. There will always be
a part of me that will love him, but it’s over. It’s you I love, you I want, it’s
you I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

He smiles shyly at me. “Then I have nothing to fear, and no,
I'm not upset. I'm not going to say it didn’t kill me to see you standing so
close to him though...” He trails off.

I smile shyly at him, lean down take his face in my hands
and softly kiss him....

TRISTAN
IS HELPING ME PULL
my t-shirt over my head. I can't help giggling as
I look up at him. That was fun, very sweet and will – without a shadow of a
doubt – be the best memory I will ever take away from this place.

“Thank you,” I whisper, smiling shyly at him.

“Oh Coral...it is indeed my pleasure.” He teases, his eyes
glinting wickedly, I can't help laughing. “So what now my beautiful darling
girl?” He asks, leaning down to kiss me.
Oh!

My heart melts, he really is on top form today. “Um...” I
try to get my brain firing again. “How about some ice-cream?” I say.

“Ice-cream?” He asks frowning up at me.

“Uh-huh! Ice-cream and a walk on the beach.”

“Your wish, my command.” He says leaning down to kiss me
again. Then he starts flicking all the candles off and switching off the
twinkly lights. “Shall I get Stuart to take the flowers back to the house?” He
asks. But I don't answer him, because something’s bothering me...niggling away
in the back of my mind...what is it?

“Coral?” He stops what he’s doing and stares down at me.

Then I remember –
Holy fuck!
– Bile rises into my
throat. I whip my head round to look at Tristan, my eyes wide with fear.

“What’s wrong?” He whispers, frozen just like me.

“The CCTV,” I mouth, my voice unable to get the words out,
my mouth completely dry. I swallow hard. It will have recorded us...having
sex...just like...just like when I was a kid –
Oh god, I feel sick
...No,
no, no....

I sink onto the bed feeling completely horrified.

“Coral?” Tristan is straight over to me, his one hand on my
forehead, his other hand holding my good hand. “Baby, what’s wrong, you’ve gone
as white as a ghost.”

“The CCTV,” I whisper, my voice barely audible.

“Gone,” he says, frowning up at me. I instantly relax, but
now I feel a cold damp sweat layering my body, the after affects of the shock. “Coral,
you didn’t really think I’d’ – “No,” I interrupt, “Not intentionally of course
not.”

Tristan sags with relief. “Good, you ok?”

“Getting there,” I breathe.

Tristan leans forward and kisses my forehead. “You’re
sweating?” I look down and see my hands are shaking –
Fuck!
Not
now...please....we’re having such a wonderful day. “Back in a sec!” Tristan
dashes off, moments later he returns with a tea towel in his hands. “Here
baby,” he kneels down again and places the cold, wet towel against my
forehead...oh that’s so nice...I close my eyes as it soothes and cools me.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“Coral, this is my fault. I'm so sorry baby. I should have
told you I had it removed when we packed this place up...Shit!” I open my eyes
and see Tristan run his hand through his hair in frustration.

“It’s ok,” I whisper. “Don't be mad at yourself.”

“Well I am.” He snaps.

“Please...don’t be. This has been such a great day so far, well
apart from the crappy parts. We both seem so much happier, more relaxed. I want
the whole day to be like this, so please...I’m begging you, don't spoil it.” I
croak.

Tristan takes a deep breath in and slowly blows it out. “Ok
baby.” He smiles up at me. “Feeling better?” He adds.

I smile down at him –
That was not a nice feeling!
– I
need to get out of here!

“Let’s go!” I say, slowly getting to my feet. Tristan nods,
takes the tea towel off my forehead, and we slowly head down the stairs...

WE
HAVE HAD THE MOST WONDERFUL MORNING
. We ate ice-cream – which was
another surprise as my favourite is rum & raisin, the same as Tristan - as
we strolled hand in hand along the beach. Popped into the office – much to
Joyce’s surprise – I met Karen, she’s really cool and I think, possibly, is
going to become a new friend – who’s actually a girl! And Joe, ah sweet Joe, is
getting her kids back on Friday, she is beyond excited – I'm so pleased for
her. I said I’d pop over to her place on Sunday, meet her kids, say hello.

And now we are sat inside a cute little bistro on North
Laine, Tristan was too hot to sit outside, and we’ve just tucked into a really
delicious salad.

“Nice?” Tristan asks.

“Very nice,” I say beaming back at him.

“Shall we?” He says, gesturing for us to leave.

“Yes.” I stand, take his hand and we head over to pay the
bill.

I quickly whip my purse out without Tristan seeing and hand
the male waiter my card. Tristan turns his head just in time to see me do it.

“No!” He shouts to the waiter who instantly freezes with my
card in one hand, and the wireless payment machine in the other.

“Put that card through right now!” I laugh. He smiles a
little awkwardly, looking from me to Tristan. “Please...” I beg. “He won't let
me pay for anything.” The waiter hesitates as he looks across at Tristan’s
stern expression, his hand held out with
his
card –
Oh fuck it!

Yanking the machine and my card out of his hands, I push my
card into the slot and hand the machine back to him. “Too late!” I say smiling
sweetly at Tristan, who’s teeth clamp together in annoyance. In my peripheral
vision, I can see the waiter is trying really hard not to laugh. I chuckle away
to myself, feeling triumphant.

Tristan is as stiff as a board as he stands next to me.

“Thank you, have a good day.” The waiter brings my attention
back to him. I take my card and receipt – Wow! A whopping £22.75, that’s what
Tristan’s arguing about!

“Why did you just do that?” Tristan snaps as we head
outside. I curl my hand around his toned bicep and look up at him.

“What? I can't treat you?” I question. His lips press into a
hard line. “Tristan’ – “I don't want you spending your money,” he says a little
harshly.

I stop walking, Tristan follows suit. “Ok, just hold on a
minute,” I say my hand held up. “Are you saying I can't spend
my
money
on you, I can't treat
you
, but it’s ok for
you
to treat
me
?”

Tristan shrugs. “I'm a man Coral, it’s what I do.”

“What?” I say laughing a little.

Tristan sighs then places his hands against my cheeks. “It’s
my job, my responsibility to take care of you, provide for you. It makes me
feel like...like I'm doing what I should be doing, when you take that away from
me...” He shakes his head and starts to smile. “It’s emasculating.”

My mouth pops open. “Are you kidding me?” I squeak, half
laughing as I do.

Tristan’s brows knit together. “No.”
Holy fuck, he’s
serious!

“I...I don't really know what to say to that?” I say,
totally mind blown.

“Speechless? That’s a first,” he teases.

I cock one eyebrow up at him. “Tristan...I...I’m sorry, I
didn’t mean to make you feel like that...but’ – “You want to treat me too?” He
says finishing my sentence for me.

I nod up at him. “Ok, well in the future, when you do, just let
me know in advance ok?”

“Why?” I frown. Tristan laughs and shakes his head at me.
“Oh I get it,” I say. “If it’s not too expensive you’ll go along with it, but if
it is, you won't let me pay?”

Horror registers on his face as he realises I’ve worked it out.

“That’s crazy,” I say. “But if it makes you happy...” I lean
up and kiss him.

“Thank you,” he whispers, leaning his forehead against mine.

“Well I suppose, in a way, you just paid for lunch anyway!”
I bark, remembering the money he’s put into my account.
Must remember to
transfer it back to him!

“Yes, I suppose I have,” he says, smiling triumphantly at
me.

I shake my head at him and laugh. We start strolling down
North Laine, hand in hand, both happy and relaxed, despite what’s gone on
today, and then I see it – The little bit of inspiration I was looking for. I
quickly look around me trying to find a shop I can send Tristan into, so I can
buy him the present –
Yes, I love those!

“Tristan.” I stop and look up at him. “I'm tired. I want to
get home but I really want to pop in that shop, there’s a new album out that I
want. But you see that chocolate shop behind you?”

Tristan gazes quizzically at me for a moment, then turns and
looks at the shop. “Yes,” he says, almost laughing as he turns back to me.

“Well, I have a thing for the dark chocolate rum balls that
they sell, they’re absolutely delicious.”

“You want me to go get you some baby?”
Oh Tristan, you’ve
fallen for it so easily, that’s so cute!

“Do you mind?” I ask, batting my lashes at him for optimal effect.

“Of course I don't.” He says, smiling sweetly at me.