Heavy Hearts (5 page)

We arrived at the south side of the bridge and it was breathtakingly beautiful. The blue and white lights beamed around it and glowed onto the River Thames. It consisted of two stunning Victorian towers that held two parallel walkways high up in the air. The suspended walkways
were only open to pedestrians as part of an exhibit, so we had to stay on the lower walkway where cars zipped past us, but it was still amazing and quite romantic.

We stood at the base of one of the towers and leaned against the blue railing to look out into the London night sky; soon it was just Simon and I. Suzette and Adam graciously found their own little corner of the bridge.

“So, have you been having a fantastic time or what?” Simon inquired.

“I am having one of the most riveting nights of my life Simon, thank you, very much.” I tried to sound sexy as I spoke, but I’m afraid it came off as
girlish giddiness. I tried to save myself by moving in closer to him, looking up at him under my lashes with my innocent eyes, as I bit my lower lip and twirled the end of my long hair. I instantly felt silly.

“Well then, I’m delighted. I’m having a wonderful night with you as well Lucy Whitten. I think I’m really beginning to
like you.” His words, mixed with his impeccable accent, made me melt and at that moment I was all his and he could do what he wanted with me.

“Can I ask
ya somethin’?” He requested.

All too quickly I said “anything,” too eager to hear what he would want to ask of me. 

“Lucy,” He began, getting a little bit closer. “Would it be alright if I…” he continued, and I moved in closer. We were so close at this point that I could smell the faint scent of alcohol mixed with fresh mint on his breath, and the back of his right hand gently caressed my cheek. He was on the fast track to passionately kissing me on that dazzling bridge. That resplendent man was in the middle of asking me permission to be kissed and I could feel every inch of my body on pins and needles as I sensed the electricity between our almost touching lips, but that was when I heard it. Suzette… ruined my moment.

I turned around to see a sight that no one ever longs to see, Suzette’s head flung over the side of the railing as she emptied the contents of her stomach into the river. Adam rubbing her back and holding her hair as he glanced at me shaking his head left to right mouthing the words “I am so sorry”, but it wasn’t his fault, and it wasn’t her fault either; so I had no one to blame for ruining the moment with Simon; that was the thing that made me fume the most.

The four of us spilled back into a cab for the last time that night, Adam instructed the driver to bring us back to The Savoy. I found myself once again in the backseat sandwiched between my best girlfriend, and the man I desperately wanted to be kissing, but instead I held Suzette’s head in my lap as she fought back the urge to toss her cookies.

I stroked her hair lightly and looked into Simon’s bewitching brown eyes apologetically. I didn’t know what exactly he was thinking at that moment, but he was a perfect gentleman about the situation and understood that we needed to get her back to the room right away.

The whole cab ride we stared into each other’s eyes, smiling at times and pouting at others. It was the most intense staring match I had ever been involved in, and to tell you the truth it was a real turn-on.

The cab pulled up outside the hotel and Simon asked the driver to wait a moment for him. He walked the three of us up to our room to make sure we got in okay. Adam carried his passed-out girlfriend into the room and I held back to say goodbye to Simon.

“I’m so sorry about all this. I shouldn’t have even brought them with, I should’ve trusted that you were a decent person and…” he put his index finger up to my lips to stop me midsentence, and good thing too cause I could feel myself beginning to ramble.

“I’m glad you brought them with, it’s important that your friends like the company you choose to keep. I had a wonderful time with the three of you tonight, and I just hope you enjoyed it just as much.” He released my lips to let me reply.

“I did. Trust me I’ll remember this night for the rest of my life.”

“Well, then there is only one thing left to do,” he took me by the hand and pulled me back toward the elevator bay. I was feeling a mixture of emotions that made me smile wildly. Confusion, excitement, worry, and curiosity surged through me all at the same time, but I wanted to trust him so I followed blindly.

We left the hotel and he opened the cab door for me once again, beckoning for me to get in, but I was hesitant and I took one step back from the curb.

“Do you trust me?” He looked at me hopeful as he held the cab door open. I nodded, because I did. “Then hop in.”

I jumped in the cab and watched as Simon whispered something to the driver, just low enough that I couldn’t hear where we were going, for the second time that night. Worry washed over me for quick second, but I pushed it away when he slid in the cab beside me and took my hand again.

I knew Adam would go ballistic when he realized I was gone, so I took my cellphone out of my clutch and sent him a quick text letting him know: “I’m fine, Simon has one more surprise. Please don’t worry. I trust him.” Hoping that was enough to keep him at bay.

“What are you up to?” I begged him to tell me what this was all about.

“Patience my darling, patience.”

After a few minutes of driving it started to become clear what he had planned as the Tower Bridge came into view again and my heart started to po
und so loud in my chest I was sure that was why the cabbie leered at me in the rearview mirror.

We found ourselves standing in the same place on the bridge we had been less than an hour ago, before we were so grossly interrupted, and this time he didn’t spare a second.

He took my hand and pulled me close to him and he was oh so warm. His right hand found my face again, moving through my hair to the back of my neck as he pulled my face up into his and our lips collided. Just like that. No need for build-up this time because we both needed it so very badly.

All of the events of that night came rushing back. The food, the booze, the dancing, the bridge, and I
was hungry for him. I ran my fingers through his hair pulling him deeper into me, but it wasn’t enough. I could feel it in his kiss that he was feeling the same way I was and we lustfully made out on the bridge for what seemed like hours, but I’m sure it was only minutes.

Chapter 6

I woke up the next morning feeling renewed; like somehow I had been enhanced. I closed my eyes to try and picture all the moments of that night behind my eyelids. I wanted to hold onto every word, every touch, every kiss, and every single detail I could possibly grab onto. I smiled at the thought of his seductive lips on mine and I wished that I wasn’t waking up alone in that mammoth of a bed, but I was alone.

We finished our evening the previous night with a kiss at the door and nothing more. I craved that I could’ve been brave enough to invite him in and to do what I knew we both wanted, but I just couldn’t. I wanted to know that this was something that could be somewhat real and that it wasn’t all about
the conquer; and that was my biggest mistake… my downfall.

I got out of bed to find Suzette and make sure she was still alive. Before her spectacle that night I don’t think I had seen anyone throw up that much in my life.

Both of them were already awake and sitting on the dark yellow couch just staring out the giant window facing the river as they shared some breakfast. I spotted an extra tray sitting on the brown granite topped coffee table and motioned toward it looking to Adam for approval that it was for me. He nodded as he placed a strip of bacon into his mouth and slowly chewed. The two of them looked completely dazed, Adam sitting straight up and Suzette with her limp head lying in his lap as she nibbled on a piece of bread.

I felt bad for Suzette, and I wasn’t really sure what was bugging Adam, but I wanted to have another amazing day so I tried to snap them out of their breakfast coma.

“What’s on the agenda for today?” I asked to get things going.

Suzette picked her head up and tossed the toast back onto a plate. “Well,” she began, her voice was hoarse, no doubt from all the vomiting. “I kind of want to go back to that bridge. I didn’t really get to enjoy it, and I
kinda want to go to the top level and get some sweet pics.” My body tensed when she mentioned the bridge. I wanted to go back too, but I longed to go back in time with Simon.

“Sounds good to me, then can we take a ride on that?” Adam pointed his finger out the window to the giant Ferris
Wheel across the river. I had a thing about heights, and those two really tested my fear with their high bridges and giant wheels.
But, the top of the London Eye would be quite romantic with Simon, assuming he would join me
; I thought to myself.

“Sounds like a plan, a terrifying plan, but I’m down.” I tried to keep myself composed as I chewed on a piece of sausage, but I wanted to jump out of my skin and give Simon a call to invite him on our elevated evening. However, I didn’t want to seem too eager, I thought a text might be better.

We spent the afternoon being lazy in the suite. Suzette and I took a bubble bath together to unwind. The hot water undid any knots we had and the scent of lavender filled the room to calm us. She probed me for details about the rest of the evening after she got sick; which she never stopped apologizing for. I told her it was okay, that we still had our moment and it was even more magical then I could’ve hoped for.

“Still, I feel like such an ass. I knew I was drinking too much, but those pink shots that they kept handing to us were amazing. Tasted like liquid candy!” She exclaimed.

“Which is why I only had a few, you have to be careful of the delicious tasting alcohol, that’s the stuff that will mess you up… clearly.” I pointed to her as an example.

“Yeah, well… shut up!” She splashed me with water and our laughter drew Adam into the bathroom to check out the action.

“Ladies, I love to see the two of you soapy and naked, but it’s getting late in the day and the bridge is going to close eventually.” Adam gulped as he tried to sneak a peek under our bubbles.

“Alright, give us a minute…
perv.” Suzette scolded. We hopped out of the tub, all prune-y, and got dressed for a casual evening out. Suzette threw on a pair of jeans and an adorable flowing blue tank top with a tie around the waist that she knotted once and let the strands hang low. I opted for a pair of black shorts and a baggy white ‘Killers’ band t-shirt that hung off my right shoulder and was cut in a way that my stomach peeked just a little bit. I chose not to invite Simon that evening after all so I didn’t have to try too hard to look adorable, I went for comfortable as I pulled my hair into a messy bun. After slipping on my black and white Converse sneakers we were ready to go.

****

I helped Suzette get some cute photos of her and Adam standing in the bridge's high walkway, but after only a few minutes of feeling a bit uneasy I decided to walk back down to the lower level. The height was making me a little nauseous and I needed to feel more grounded. I went back down and leaned against the edge of the bridge in the same spot as the night before. Why the height between the lower half of the bridge and the water didn’t scare me, I don’t know, but it just didn’t seem very frightening.

My phone buzzed as I stood there enjoying the warmth of the sweet London air on my skin, and I looked down at it shocked to see that it was Simon. I took an adorable picture of him at the club dancing with Suzette and I, his fedora on my head, and him smiling like the adorable fool he was. I couldn’t help but squeal at the sight of the picture and the excitement it made me feel to know he was calling me. I wasn’t that surprised though, our chemistry was pretty vehement.

“Hello…” I answered after a few rings, trying not to seem super eager even though I totally was.

“Lucy, love, it’s Simon!” He exclaimed.

“I know silly, what did you think I was going to forget you after one day?” I tried to sound light, but what I really wanted to say was “Please come find me right now, I’m dying to be touched by you.” I kept my composure pretty well though.

“Good… good. I’m glad you haven’t forgotten me. Listen… I hope this isn’t too forward, but I would absolutely love it if I could kiss you right now, and run my fingers through that messy bun you’re sporting.” Naturally I was confused, and my eyes darted around.
Could he see me? Or was he just lucky?
I thought.

“What?” I said, with a partial laugh. Then a hand wrapped around my waist and startled me. I turned and Simon was there in front of me, phone still held up to his ear.

“Hey beautiful.” He whispered. I hung up my phone and placed it back in my front pocket.

“Hi” was all I could say before his lips were on mine and his neatly groomed facial hair tickled my nose. I pulled back dazed. “Wait… what are you doing here?” I wondered.

“Not happy to see me?” He asked with a hint of pain.

“Oh my, no... I’m thrilled to see you, but… are you following me?” I didn’t want to sound harsh or anything, I just wanted to know what brought him there right as I was standing alone and wishing for him to be holding me just like he was at that very moment.