The Desire to Touch (30 page)

He reaches his hand over and clasps the tips of my fingers, “I don’t want to drag you into this world, I don’t think you could handle it. Ellie, even now we’re talking you’re looking down at your hands, I can feel you trying to pull away. I want to keep you to myself, I don’t want to share you with anyone.”

A little smile escapes from within but I try to hide it.

“You’re so timid and nervous, are you going to tell me you’d be able to handle this, everyone knowing what
you’re doing before you even know?”

“I’m not always timid,” I snap.

He smiles showing his beautiful teeth, “Not when you’re smart-mouthed, no.”

“I wasn’t always like this you know.” I look at him, crap lets avoid this.

He looks at me confused, “What do you mean?”

“Nothing, why do you want to protect me so much? Surely, if I’m all that you say I am, that just proves my point that our two worlds don’t mix.”

“But they can, we can try?” He slides towards me.

After four days of wanting it to happen it has, Trey Thomas is begging me to give us a try and all I can think is ‘No.’

“I don’t have the strength for this Trey.”

“Will you please tell me what has made you this way, what you’re so scared of?” He asks trying to look me in the eyes.

“I can’t,” I shake my head and pull away from him.

“Ok, I get it actions speak louder than words,” He stands, “Come with me.”

“What?”

“Please come with me, bring Meaga
n and Lacey if you’d feel safer. Please, I know I can’t ask you to trust me but I need to show you something.” He grabs his coat and places my pass card on the bed.

It’s 6:35pm and I am trying desperately hard to come up with an excuse but my brain has gone on strike, I look in the mirror and realise I’m not dressed.

“I’m not dressed to go out.”

“Ok, I’ll go and wait in the lobby till 7pm and if you don’t come down then I know I’ve asked too much of you, I promise I will leave you alone if you don’t come.” He puts his coat on and leans in towards me placing a chaste kiss on my cheek, then leaves the room.

I’m left speechless, I raise my hand and touch where he kissed, the skin tingles from the magical feeling he’s left behind. Meagan and Lacey come barreling in the room.

“What happened? Where’s he gone?” Meagan starts with a barrage of questions.

They both take a seat surrounding me.

“He said he missed me and realises he was wrong in his actions.” I take a breath, do I really want all this agro?

“And?” Lacey jumps in.

“He said he knows actions speak louder than words, he wants us all to go and meet him in the lobby by seven to go and do something to prove he means what he says.”

“So what does he say? Does he want to be with you?” Meagan pulls my hand away from my wrist.

I nod and stand debating whether to grab clothes from the wardrobe, I walk away and head for the kitchen.
I feel a presence behind me as I start scraping plates into the bin.

“Are you going to meet him?” Lacey asks.

I place the plate on the side and shrug, “I don’t know.”

“What are you scared of?” Meagan asks, walking up to me and placing her hand on my shoulder.

“I don’t know anymore.” I reply scraping another plate, although I can’t see them, I can feel their eyes talking to each other with looks.

“Well I still think he’s a grade A dick for the way he treated you and...”

“Yes but he’s obviously making an effort, isn’t it better to live a life regretting something you did than something you didn’t do?” Lacey interrupts Meagan

“Your psychology major going well then?” I look at Lacey smiling and she pokes her tongue out at me.

Where are the duo when I need them? No! I scream at myself what have you really got to lose by going to see what he wants?

I turn to look at the girls who are standing, frozen just watching me.

“What’s the time?” I ask

“6:50,” Meagan answers.

“Right, well looks like we’re going to see what Mr. Thomas has lined up for us.”

Lacey jumps up and down and Meagan rolls her eyes.

“Best hurry then,” Lacey pushes me towards the bedroom where I go in and throw on some leggings keeping my baggy black jumper on. I slip on my boots and run my fingers through my hair trying to put some of the towel-dried kink back into my dead straight, thin blonde hair. Not that he deserves any effort on my part, but I still don’t want to look a mess for him so I put on a bit of eyeliner and mascara. I exit the room where both the girls are waiting anxiously just outside my door.

“Will I do?” I ask half-heartedly, a big part of me is really excited and looking forward to seeing him again, but the other part knows not to get too excited.

Lacey wolf whistles, “Nice casual effort Jones.”

Meagan smiles walking up to me, “Look I still think he’s a jackass for the things he’s done, but I like the way he’s brought the old you back out and for that reason I think he’s good for you.”

“Ok nice sentiments but it’s four minutes to seven and we have to run.” Lacey shouts running for the front door.

I grab my handbag and we run to the lift, fate is on our side as someone leaves the carriage as we reach it and we get straight in.

On the way down I put my phone in my bag and find a bangle sitting at the bottom, I grab it out and pop it on. Meagan elbows me in the ribs and I look at her, she is shaking her head at me smiling.

“Bangle up Jones,” Lacey laughs.

The butterflies start up in my stomach as the dial reaches the ground floor.

“Come on,” Lacey grunts.

“How long left?” Meagan asks Lacey who is watching her clock.

“Seconds!”

Next thing the doors open and Lacey runs off out of the lift.

“Does she want to date him?” I whisper to Meagan who is walking arm in arm with me.

“Don’t even joke, she’d jump him in a heartbeat.”

We make our way past the reception and Lacey is leaning over the desk talking to Earl.

“Ellie?” Earl calls.

I look at him then at Meagan, “Don’t worry I’ll go and find Trey,” she says.

“Hi Earl.” I say walking over to him.

Earl smiles at me then looks at Lacey as if to say ‘go now’.

“Chill…I’m going,” she snaps at him then looks to me, “Thought I’d better tell your Uncle we’re off out.”

I smile at her but wonder why everyone is still treating me like I’m twelve, I suppose they’re only doing as they’ve been told.

“Ellie, I’m under strict instructions to not let you go out alone.” Earl says looking around.

“I’m not alone though - I’m with Meagan, Lacey, Trey and his bodyguard.”

“I know, and to be honest I’d let you go but your Uncle is very insistent on you staying in.”

“You can’t make me stay though.” Wow, where did that come from?

“No,” Earl answers taken aback.

“Right then, I’m off out and if there’s any issues I’ll sort them out when I get back. I’m twenty four not twelve and I can fight my own battles.”

Earl smiles, “Right you are, are they the words you’d like me to tell Brendan?”

“To be honest say what you want, I’m old enough and ugly enough to look after myself,” I smile.

“Good on you, but expect a phone call from him.” He smiles, turning back to the computer.

I turn on my heel and give my hair one last scrunch, hoping that’s enough to give it the extra volume needed. I walk towards the waiting area of the lobby and I see Trey sitting on one of the chairs, he looks up and smiles at me.

“Thank you for giving me the chance, I know I don’t deserve it.” He kisses me on the lips taking me by complete surprise.

I look around to see if anyone’s looking but no one seems to being paying attention, “Please just don’t mess me around.” I ask.

He takes me by the hand and leads me to the door, “I won’t.”

“Where are the girls?” I ask looking around as we reach the main door.

“They’re in the car,” he frowns, “Your cousin seems to have taken a liking to my bodyguard.”

“Don’t be pissy, I think he likes her too.”

“That’s the problem.” He leads me out to the convertible waiting at the curb.

Michael, Meagan and Lacey are all in the car waiting, Meagan is leaning into the front trying to talk to Michael who seems to be doing his hardest to not get distracted.

“I’ll have a word with her,” I squeeze his hand as we reach the car, Michael jumps out and pulls the chair forward so I can get in.

I climb into the back next to Meagan who has the middle seat and I sit behind Michael who is driving, Trey gets in the front passenger seat and turns to wink at me sending my heart all a flutter.

“Earl ok?” Meagan asks.

“I’m not allowed out,” I laugh rolling my eyes at her.

“Dad?”

“Yep
, he’s being really over-protective at the moment and I’m starting to feel suffocated by it.” I grab my bangle.

With that Meagan’s phone rings, Trey turns around to look at me.

“If we’re going, let’s go now.” I say.

“Ok,” he looks at Michael and mutters something that I don’t hear, the car pulls away and we’re merging into the early evening traffic of New York.

“Yes I know but…we’re fine we have…Dad listen…” Meagan holds the phone away from her ear and passes it to me, “You deal with him.”

“Brendan it’s Ellie, we’re out with Trey and his bodyguard so I’ll be safe ok I’m twenty four please let me have some freedom.”

“You do not stray from anyone, you stay together at all times do you understand?”

“Yes.”
He huffs and hangs up, I pass the phone back to Meagan and cringe, “Sorted.”

Meagan keeps her eyes forward and I catch that she’s making eyes at Michael in the rearview mirror.
I pinch her leg and she laughs then looks away, I glance at Lacey and I can see she’s on her phone Facebooking that she’s in Trey Thomas’s car. Her face is all alight like a kid at Christmas.

“Has this car got a dock?” Meagan blurts out.

Trey leans his head back, “Of course.”

“Great, put Ellie’s iPhone on so we can have some fairly decent music.” She laughs.

I catch Trey looking at Michael and smile, I feel like I’m seventeen again out with the boys who have just passed their driving test, flying round in a H reg ford fiesta. With that thought I go all giggly and the butterflies do a little dance.

“Pass your phone babe,” Trey looks at me.

Babe? In public, whoa that was unexpected and makes me blush. I fish my phone out of my bag and pass it to him with my right hand. He goes to take it but my jumper sleeve has ridden up and the bangle is up my forearm, the light from the streets illuminates my wrist. Trey takes my phone and his eyes lock onto my wrist at the same time as I spot it’s on show. We look up from it and to each other at the same time. Shit! There’s that look in his eyes, the same look everyone gives me when they think I’ve done this to myself. It takes all my strength but I smile at him and retract my hand, he smiles back and the look of pity empties from his face quickly.

“Anything in particular?” Trey asks.

“Let me see what’s on there,” Meagan starts scrolling through my playlists and I pray she doesn’t pick something uber cheesy, “Oh yes!”

She hands it back to Trey and he plugs it in, Fun – We Are Young starts to play at top volume.

Whenever this song is on in the apartment we turn it up loud and sing along, Meagan starts bouncing to the music making Lacey and I laugh. We all start singing I look out of the window as the lights pass by and a gentle spot of rain starts to run across the windows. I look at Meagan who is singing and dancing with Lacey, then she throws her arm around me for the female solo. I look to Trey and he has turned slightly in his chair watching me, instantly I feel embarrassed but I carry on.

We pull up at an executive car lot where all the lights are off but for one solitary office light that glows dimly in the forecourt.

“Why are we here?” I tap Trey on the shoulder.

“Wait and see,” he smiles.

Michael says something to Trey and he gets out of the car. A man in a very expensive looking suit approaches the car.

“Good evening Mr Thomas, everything is ready for you as requested.” The man smiles and waits for us to get out.

Michael returns and nods at Trey, “Ok come with me.” Trey says.

We all get out of the car and walk across the dark lot, we reach a glass door and go through a car show room to a room at the back.

“I will be in my office if you need me Mr. Thomas,” the man says.

“Thank you Cole,” Trey replies and the man walks off into his office.

“Why are we here?” I ask again.

Trey walks up to me and places both his arms around me interlocking his fingers behind me. “I want you to choose,” he says, his sparkling blue eyes searching mine.