A Beautiful Forever(14)

“Sure, lets go,” he says being certain to give me enough space to move past him as he opens the door for me. He stands so there’s no chance for us to touch accidentally and continues to keep his distance as we walk back to the car. I feel a deep sense of regret about how I reacted earlier. I miss his closeness already; I miss the gentle brushes when our bodies connect, and I miss his hand on the small of my back to guide me through the door. They’re small gestures that had become normal, and now they’re gone…





Chapter 11


Elliot


That moment in the coffee shop when she told me to let go, keeps playing over and over in my mind, and it hurts like hell every single time. I’ve been doing my best to maintain the new ‘no touching’ policy that Paige established between us. But it’s hard. We've spent the best part of a month getting to know each other, and I didn’t realise how much of a habit touching her had become. Now, every time we go out as a group or when I walk home with her, I have had to consciously remind myself to give her physical space. I feel kind of empty now, and even though I’m trying to maintain our friendship, it’s hard and I’ve been a bit lax in meeting her after work these past few days.

It’s not that I’m avoiding her. I just need to work things out in my own head. She told me that it bothers her that she likes it when I touch her. Just thinking that sentence hurts my head, and I don’t understand how I’m supposed to behave around her, so I’m doing my best to stay at work for as long as possible, keeping busy until I figure out how to handle this.

“Any last minute clients?” I ask Celsey, our American receptionist who arrived on her working visa not long after I did.

“Hi Elliot,” she says smiling brightly as she looks up from what she was doing and tucks her shoulder length blonde hair behind her ear to keep it from falling over her eyes. “Looking for extra hours?”

“Yeah, I could do with the cash,” I answer. It’s only a half lie. I'm really just trying to stay back so I have a good reason not to meet up with Paige again today.

“Can’t we all,” she laughs as she taps at the keys on the computer in front of her and peers at the information on the screen. “There aren’t any PT clients, but I heard Jessica saying that she’s struggling today and wants to go home early, do you think you could take her last couple of clients on?”

“Absolutely, I’ll go and let her know. Thanks Celsey,” I smile as I turn to go and find Jessica to tell her I’ll take over for her.





Paige


“Looks like you finally pushed hard enough to chase him away,” Andrea comments as we exit the salon, this is the fourth day in a row that Elliot hasn’t been waiting for me.

“I think I’ve f*cked everything up with him,” I tell her.

“Paige, tell him how you feel. He's obviously crazy about you. I’ve never known a guy to hang around outside a hair salon like he does for someone who’s just a friend.”

“What the hell am I supposed to tell him? I don’t know how I feel about him Andrea.”

“Bull shit,” she says bluntly.

“Excuse me?” I ask surprised.

“Bull shit you don’t know how you feel Paige. Now go and sort it out with him, I want you smiling at work tomorrow – that frown of yours drives customers away,” she comments as she walks off leaving me standing in front of the salon as I contemplate exactly what I should do.

Pulling out my phone, I text Naomi. Is Elliot at home?

I wait for a couple of minutes for her to respond, her answer the deciding factor in which way I go.

No not yet, she replies.

Knowing what I have to do, I put a call through to his work.

“City Point Club, Celsey speaking,” answers a girl with an American accent.

“Oh, um hi, I was just calling to ask if Elliot Roberts is working this evening,” I enquire.

“Yes he is, would you like me to see if has time for another client?” she asks.

“Um, what time would that be?” I ask.

“He’s booked up until seven thirty.”

“Ah, that’s probably too late for me. Thanks for your help though.”

“No problem,” Celsey says as I disconnect the call and work out my timing. If I leave now, I’ll get to his work in time to be waiting for him for a change.





Elliot


As I exit the building that houses the City Point Club, I’m more than ready to go back to the flat and just veg out with a movie for a couple of hours. Based on the whiteboard this morning only Shane, Paige and I are due home for dinner. The others are either working or going out with their significant others.

“Elliot, wait up!” a female voice calls to me the moment my foot touches the pavement outside. I turn, seeking out a face I might recognise and notice one of the girls I trained this afternoon smiling and walking towards me. “Are you finished for the day?” she asks as she stops in front of me, she has a tiny figure with long wavy caramel coloured hair and large brown eyes, although I can’t remember her name.

“Yeah, I’m just headed home,” I reply, smiling politely at her.

“Could I interest you in maybe grabbing dinner, or a drink?” she asks hopefully, adjusting her hair and smiling brightly at me, in an attempt to appear flirtatious.

Clearing my throat, I look up at the building feeling awkward as I work out my reply, “Um, what was your name?”

“Kerry,” she responds quickly.

“Right, Kerry. Listen, thanks for the offer but I’m expected elsewhere tonight,” I lie, trying to make this easier on both of us.

“Oh, well maybe some other time?” she presses.

Smiling I reach out and touch her arm in an attempt to let her down gently. “Listen, I’m sure you’re a lovely girl,” I start.





Paige


As I walk towards Elliot’s work, I spot him standing outside talking to a tiny girl who is obviously flirting with him. My heart starts to hammer against my breastbone as I witness him smile and reach out to touch her arm. In that moment, my rational mind leaves my body, and I find myself standing boldly in between them, behaving like a woman scorned.

“Who the hell are you?” I practically spit at the tiny super pretty girl with her beautiful hair and perfect body who I instantly dislike.

Elliot cuts his head towards me, and frowns like he’s not really sure what I’m doing here. Truthfully, I don’t even know what I’m doing here – I seem to have lost my mind somewhere along the way.

“Paige? What are you doing? Why are you here?”

“Oh I’m sorry; you have a girlfriend. I should have known,” the tiny girl I hate squeaks out in her annoyingly cute voice.

I simply glare at her as Elliot frowns at my behaviour. “Kerry, I’m sorry but I don’t think it’s a good idea. Thank you for the invite though,” Elliot tells her kindly before he takes my arm and guides me forward until we’re out of tiny Kerry’s earshot. “Paige, what are you doing?” he smiles patiently, his voice calm as he searches my face for answers.

“Well I’m sorry. I was trying to be nice and meet you at work for a change. I didn’t realise you were staying late at work so you could pick up,” I bite out churlishly.

“What the f*ck Paige?” he demands confused, “I just knocked her back. Right in front of you.”

“Whatever Elliot, I saw you touching her arm.”

“Are you serious?! Paige, I was trying to let her down kindly – she’s a client. This is my work. I can’t be a bastard and just tell her to f*ck off because I’m interested in a girl who hates that she likes it when I touch her. It doesn’t sound quite right does it?” he asks, a slight edge to the calm he’s fighting to keep in his voice.

“I don’t hate it,” I whisper as I close my eyes in a fight to make my internal defences let me open up to him. “This…this is hard for me ok? I haven’t been close to anyone for years… and I…I’m just not sure how to do it.”

“I don’t want to push you Paige. But I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

My mouth opens and closes as I fight to find something to say, “I don’t know either,” is all I manage.

He looks up to the heavens for some sort of answer as he sighs and chews the side of his lips. “Let’s just go ok?” he says as he puts his hand on the small of my back and prompts me to walk in the direction of the train station. The return of that simple touch is more beautiful than I can bear, and I have to pretend to brush my hair out of my face to catch the tear that escapes from my eye.





Elliot


We travell home in virtual silence, both of us inside our own heads attempting to work out how we're supposed to be together. One thing I know for sure is that I’m obviously crazy about her, she keeps pushing and pushing at me, and I just stand there, taking every single blow because I know that eventually she’ll stop, and she’ll let me in.