Where did your heart go? (The Heart Trilogy Book 1) (44 page)

As I pondered all these questions the hours and minutes ticked by. In the end as I finally fell asleep.

James closed the door after watching Stephanie walk away down the corridor. It almost felt like old times when they used to part, but that was always tempered with the knowledge that they would be counting down the hours until they were together again. Although he knew he would see her once more tomorrow, if she rejected him then he would have to deal with it and move on. Slipping between his sheets he replayed the kiss they had shared earlier, as he fell asleep he remembered all their kisses and he hoped that there would be more to come.

Chapter 53

Charlotte
looked over at the clock and saw that it was only five thirty in the morning. Weak sunlight poured in through the gap in the curtains as she sat up and tried to contain her breathing. She had been having another nightmare; this time she forgot all the steps to their song and just stood on the stage with everyone laughing. Her stomach heaved with the thought and she quickly leapt out of bed and into the bathroom. She threw up the remains of last night’s burger. Rinsing her face and cleaning her teeth she started to feel a little better as she leaned against the cool tiles. Her heart was still beating and the fear was still there that they hadn’t practised enough.

Suddenly she heard a quiet knock on the door.

“
Charlotte are you ok?” Mitch asked. She pulled open the door and fell into his arms. He held her shaking body and felt the slight sheen of sweat on her forehead, which rested against his chest.

“Just a nightmare and nerves” Charlie replied. Glad to feel his solid frame holding her. He pulled her over to the bed and they sat down.

“Come on tell me about it” he coaxed.

“I dreamt that I forgot all the steps to our dance and just stood on the stage and everyone was laughing”
Charlotte replied, thinking how silly that sounded.

“Perhaps we need to have a quick practice then” Mitch replied. He reached for the
phone and rang down to reception.

Charlie listened in to his side of the conversation with a puzzled look on her face. He put the phone down and smiled at her.

“Get dressed then, we have a half hour slot downstairs in the dining room before they lay up for breakfast” he said. Dropping a quick kiss on her forehead they sprang up and got dressed into their practise clothes. As they reached the foyer the girl on reception stood up and came round the desk
.

“Morning Mr
Cooke would you like to follow me” she said. Charlie watched her looking at Mitch, so she held onto his hand tightly. She pulled open some double doors into a large room with chairs and tables stacked at the one end and a small stage at the other.

“The staff will need to be in here by quarter past six to sort out the tables for breakfast” she said
.

“No problem” Mitch said “Do you have a music system?”
he finished. She pointed her well manicured finger tip over to the corner of the stage

“There’s
one beside the small stage” she replied “I’ll leave you too it” she finished.

In the large room Charlie still felt the butterflies inside her as they walked across to the stage and she handed him the disc with their music on it. They stretched to warm up and then as the first strains came through the speakers Charlie let the music flow through her, calming her. She smiled as Mitch walked across to her and crooked his finger as he took her in his arms. The first couple of attempts they aborted due to either mistakes with the steps or not being quite ready for the lift. They paused for breath and checked the clock. They only had time for one more run through before the staff would arrive. Taking a deep breath Mitch gave Charlie a large hug.

“We can do it” he whispered, squeezing her hand as he crossed to the stereo.

This time Charl
ie forgot all her dreams as the magic started to flow and she became Baby in the film. As she ran towards Mitch and he lifted her she flung her arms out and remembered the view of the lake. Sliding down his body they were enjoying a brief kiss when applause started to ring out from the far end of the room. They turned around to find the waiting staff and receptionist there watching them and obviously enjoying the spectacle. As they dropped into a bow to acknowledge them the receptionist walked over.

“That was amazing Mr Cooke, would you be free to speak to our Manager later this evening as he is looking for possible evening entertainers”

“Thanks Samantha” he said, reading her badge and letting go of Charlie to shake her hand. Charlotte watched her wiggle away; she hoped this woman was not competition for Mitch’s affections.

However as she turned back to Mitchell he was busy sorting out their CD, so she headed over to him and ran her hand over his tight bum. He turned around and smiled at her.

“Feeling better now?” he asked, pulling her close
.

“Definitely” she breathed, getting on tiptoes so that her lips could touch his.

“Come on shall we get showered and dressed and maybe some breakfast?” he asked. She nodded as he took her hand and they weaved between the staff setting up all the tables. Charlotte was aware of all the women looking at Mitchell as they passed; Mitchell saw the eyes of the guys on Charlie and pulled her closer. As they headed into their room Charlie wondered how her Mum was.

“Mitch, is it ok if I just give Mum’s door a knock after last night?” she asked.

“Of course you can, I’ll jump in the shower so take the key and let yourself in when you are ready” he said. Before they parted he pulled her close once more and kissed her slowly.

“Don’t be too long” he whispered.

As
Charlotte walked along the corridor to her Mum’s room she wondered how last night had been for her. Then her mind went back to her night with Mitchell as she hugged herself and blushed at the memory. After all it’s not every night that a girl loses her virginity. She paused at the door and knocked lightly and waited. Then she knocked again as the nerves started to set in. All of a sudden the handle moved and her Mum stood there.

“Hi Mum” Charlie said

“Morning Charlie, is everything ok?” I asked.

“Yes Mum, just been practising downstairs as I was feeling the nerves” Charlie said.

“Come in” I said, opening the door wider and standing aside so Charlie could pass. I watched her staring at me.

“So” she said

“Well we talked and we will talk again later today” I said, running my hands through my knotted hair.

I looked at my daughter’s disappointed face and wondered what she was expecting. I pulled her into a hug.

“I’m not unhappy about meeting James again but twenty four years is a long time and I’m sure we have both changed as people” I said; trying to explain my conflicting emotions when even I wasn’t sure which way I wanted to go. My sleepless night hadn’t helped me much as I had spent much of it replaying the past as the feel of his lips on mine marked the present.

“Ok, Mum” Charlotte said “Just wanted to check you were ok” she finished, as I watched her edge towards the door “I’d better go and shower before we head down to breakfast”

“I’ll see you down there, I need a shower too” I replied.

Heading into the bathroom I looked at my reflection in the mirror and immediately saw the grey hairs peeping through and the wrinkles by my eyes. I looked down at the faded scars on both my wrists and was back in James’ hotel room again as I watched his face crumple in front of me. I turned the shower on and as steam started to fill the room I stepped out of my dressing gown and under the warm water. I felt instantly better as I tried to clear my muddled mind before I saw James later.

Charlotte
opened the door to her room and could still hear the shower running in the bathroom. She quickly stepped out of her clothes and crept in through the door. It was hard to move the shower curtain quietly but it didn’t matter as Mitch had already heard the door to the room open and hoped that she would join him. As she stepped under the warm jets of water Mitch held her against his slick body and she felt instantly the spike of desire course through her. Mitchell must have felt it too as he ran his hands over her silky body and pressed tight against her.

“Do we have time” she whispered, running her hands over his chest and then downwards to his hips.

“I think we do” he replied as he hooked his hands under her bum and lifted her into position. In his arms she felt as light as air as she floated with him on the waves of emotion.

With the water running down their hot bodies Mitchell pushed her against the cooler tiles to steady them. Then they rocked together to the invisible music that seemed to bind them together. As the orgasm rocked through her she called his name and was greeted with the same in return. She knew that they belonged together and that whatever happened today she was really looking forward to their dance.

James eventually woke up and automatically looked across at the empty side of the bed. He sat up and could still smell the faint trace of Stephanie’s perfume in the air of the room. He knew that she had worn Anais Anais when they had been together but this was a new scent. He knew that she was probably thinking the same thoughts as he was after last night. But overriding that was the feel of her lips on his once more; he knew that she had felt the magnetic pull between them. He headed for the shower and as the spray hit his body he remembered the way they used to share the cubicle together.

Sarah woke up and looked across at her phone which had just beeped. She looked at the screen and smiled at the message from her best friend asking when they wanted to head for breakfast. She quickly sent one back and then ran her hand down Chris’ back to gently wake him up. She always enjoyed the times when they were together and the other side of the bed was full instead of empty.

“Come on Sleepyhead, Stephanie is already up and suggesting breakfast in the next half hour” Sarah said.

Chris pulled her into his arms “I think we have time for a kiss first” he murmured. Sarah surrendered into his embrace and enjoyed their usual wake up ritual.

As I knocked on the door to Sarah and Chris’ room I wondered what I would tell them about last night. I really needed some time with just Sarah so that she could help me talk through the cloudiness in my mind. Perhaps that would have to wait until we were back at home again. Heading down to the restaurant I hesitated as we passed James’ hotel room door and thought of last night. It had felt so good to be back in his arms again, like he was the missing jigsaw piece to my puzzle. The restaurant was fairly busy despite the early hour and I guessed that many of the guests were participants and family members in the dance finals.

I spotted Charlie and Mitch already seated at a table for two over in the corner. They both glowed with youth and I guess love if you could visibly see it. As we were shown to our table we passed by James and his parents and they all smiled and said hello. I could see the haunted look in his eyes as if imploring me to make my decision quickly. I smiled and said hello back but left it short as we were eventually seated. Charlie and Mitch spotted us and waved and then returned to their healthy fruit and yogurt. The butterflies in my stomach were still fluttering as even through I had eaten nothing yesterday evening I was not remotely hungry. I settled on cereal and watched with envy as Sarah and Chris managed to tuck into a full English breakfast. From time to time I found I was staring over at where James sat and as he looked up his eyes spoke to mine, sending signals of love and regret.

Sunday’s dancing started at the earlier time of ten thirty so that it would all be over by two in the afternoon allowing some contestants to start travelling home. I had sensibly decided that two nights were better than one and it also allowed us time to explore the capital later. Reaching Charlotte’s door I knocked and listened to her shout.

“Just coming Mum”

I spotted Pam and Peter heading from their room and I realised how good it felt to see them both again. They met James at his door and then Charlie and Mitchell finally appeared, bags in hand.

“Is it ok for Mitch to come with us again?” Charlie asked; still finding a spare finger to hold onto him with.

“Yes, so long as it’s ok with James”

“Yes I spoke to Dad earlier” Mitch replied, raising his hand to his family further down the corridor.

The venue seemed an even busier hive of activity as we made our way to get some refreshments whilst Charlie and Mitch headed off to their rehearsal rooms to practice and get ready. I picked up a programme and spotted that the running order had changed slightly and Charlie’s group were second on and then Mitch further back at around the half way mark. As Chris excused himself I
grabbed a coffee and Sarah. We found a spot to sit down.

“So how did it go last night?” Sarah asked
.

“Ok, I think” I replied “I’m just so confused and I don’t know whether to listen to my head or my heart” I finished.

“Well let me try and help if I can” Sarah responded.

“James confessed to cheating on me with Felicity but it was
only a one night stand and she got pregnant with Mitchell’s older brother. The bitch threatened James with two options to either stay and see his child or leave and have no contact at all” I paused and let the information sink in.

“I can’t really blame him for choosing his child in such a cruel choice. She also threatened
to tell me that they had been having an affair for months and James didn’t want her to hurt me any further”