Never Ever Leave Me (11 page)

…

Tuesday
evening duly arrived and John felt like a nervous teenager as he stood outside Katy’s building.  He’d dressed carefully, remembering that everyone he was meeting up with was younger than him.  He wore jeans, of course, as they were considered ‘de rigueur’ for the venue, topped with a plain black T-shirt and jerkin-style jacket.  All were new, bought the previous day in ‘Top Man’, as he didn’t trust anything in his wardrobe to be suitable.  The young, male shop assistant who advised him was about the same age as the lads in the quiz team so John trusted his judgement over his own.

Taking a deep, calming breath he pressed
the number on the security pad and waited for Katy to answer.  After a couple of moments he heard her voice.

“Hello, who is it?”

“Hi, it’s me, John.  Are you ready or will I come up?”

“Give me a minute and I’ll come down, I’m ready, I just have to lock up.  I’ll press the button to let you into the foyer.”

There was a low buzzing sound and the door slid silently open.  He entered and paced the floor nervously looking from lift to lift for signs of one of them descending.  Within a minute the one on the right began coming down and the panel lit up as it passed each floor.  The doors slid open and there she stood, looking even more beautiful than he’d remembered.  Like him, Katy was wearing jeans, but hers were topped by a pretty blue blouse which perfectly accentuated the colour of her eyes.

“I wasn’t sure what to wear,”
she said.  “Is this all right?”

“Beautiful,” John replied. 
He couldn’t take his eyes off her.  For a moment there was an awkward silence then he cleared his throat.  “You look beautiful and very appropriate for the venue.”

“I have to admit
, I wasn’t sure, so I went into Top Shop and asked an assistant,” Katy said.  “I’m a bit out of touch when it comes to choosing what to wear to a pub.”

John burst out laughing, “Me too,” he said then he pointed to his clothes.  “T-shirt, jeans and jacket, all
from Top Man, I was nervous in case I looked too much like a boring old fart so I went into the shop and asked a young lad for advice.”

The laughter broke the ice and both were relieved.  As they made their way out of the building and walked towards the pub, Katy slipped her arm through
his. This action felt natural and they walked in step, chatting about work, likes and dislikes, anything that came to mind.

T
he pub was in the heart of the city and it was unlike anything Katy had ever seen before.  It was very large and lively, full of people shouting to each other above the loud music that was booming out of speakers which seemed to be everywhere.  It was so noisy she could hardly hear John speak, surely they couldn’t hold a pub quiz here she thought?  They fought their way to the bar where John managed to get the attention of one of the barmen.

“Is there a quiz
being held here tonight?” he asked.  “I was told you held one on a Tuesday.”

“Up those stairs,
pal, in the tapas bar,” the man answered pointing to a spiral stairway to the right of the door.  “There’s a big money prize tonight as well as a crate of beer.  It’s a rollover, two hundred pounds.  Good luck, pal.  Can I get you anything just now?”

John looked at Katy.

“Let’s wait until we’re upstairs,” she answered.  “I don’t fancy trying to carry a drink through this crowd.”

He
thanked the barman then, holding Katy’s elbow, they negotiated their way through the crowd and climbed the stairs.  They emerged into a large quiet room set out with long trestle tables and a bar at one end.  John spotted the quiz team immediately.

“Over here
, Prof,” one of the young men stood up and called to him.  When they joined the group the young man, who was called Liam said, “I’m so glad you could manage because two of the team have cancelled.  We thought we’d be down to just the four of us.”

John
quickly introduced Katy to the group which consisted of three boys and one girl.  The other boys were Paul and Gary.  Liam introduced the girl as Chas and said she was his sister.  John always thought Chas was short for Charles but he didn’t risk asking any questions because she looked more butch than the boys.  She had a skinhead haircut, tattoos, piercings and muscles a wrestler would have been proud of.

John got in the first round of drinks and Katy was commandeered into the team to make up the numbers.  They ordered some tapas from the bar and the group were in fine spirits when the quiz master duly appeared.
  Their group was called the ‘Bar Flies’ and, after several rounds of questions, they found themselves in tied first place with another group aptly named ‘The Blues Brothers’ as each member wore a dark suit, hat and shades.

“The tie break question is going to be on the books of Jane Austen,” the quiz master said.

There was a simultaneous groan from the ‘Blues Brothers’ and the ‘Bar Flies’.

“We don’t know anything about Jane Austen,” Liam said morosely.
  He looked miserable.

“You speak for yourself,” Katy piped up.  “I’ve read all her books at least twice and I’ve seen several films and tv productions.
  I’m a sad, old romantic, you see,” she explained.

Everyone grinned.  “There’s a crate of beer at stake and two hundred pounds,” Chas said.  “That’s over thirty pound
s each,” she stressed.

“And the question is,” the quizmaster said
then made a drum roll with his hands on the table.  “What was the name of the first Jane Austen novel to be completed for publication?”

Once again the ‘Blues Brothers’ groaned in unison.

“I know, I know, tough question, but it is a tie break and it’s worth two hundred quid and a crate of beer.”

The
‘Bar Flies’ looked expectantly at Katy.

“It’s not really about the content of her books.  It’s not really a fair question,” Paul
moaned.

Katy smiled, wrote something down on the quiz
form and slid it across to Liam, their team captain.  “I agree with you Paul, but I know the answer,” she said grinning.

Her team m
ates gave a loud whoop and Liam rushed forward with the paper.

The quiz master looked at the sheet
then said, “And the answer is ‘Northanger Abbey’ and the winners are the ‘Bar Flies’.  Congratulations.”

The group at the table erupted with stamping feet, cheers and whistles
.  John grabbed Katy and planted a kiss on her lips followed by everyone else in the team patting her on the back and kissing her cheek.  The group was ecstatic.  After receiving their prize and dividing the loot, Katy and John said goodbye to the others and headed back towards Townhead.  Both agreed it was the best night out they’d had in a long time and they were already planning another date.  When they reached her building John accompanied Katy to her front door.

“I’m so pleased we met again,”
she said as she stood in the doorway.  “I’ve had a great time.”

“Me too,” John agreed.  “I’ll call you tomorrow
after work.  Would you like to have dinner with me on Thursday?  I know you see your friend on Wednesdays.”

“Thanks,
I’d like that.”

They stood awkwardly for a moment as each was unsure what to do next.  Finally, John plucked up the courage to embrace Katy.  He gently pressed his lips to hers and the touch was electric.  His heart pounded in his chest, his lips trembled slightly and he felt a passionate stirring in his loins. 
He drew back.  He didn’t want to be too full on, not at this early stage in their relationship.

“I’m sorry,” he said unsure what he was apologising for.

“Don’t be,” she replied breathlessly and she drew him back for another embrace.

John held Katy close as his mouth found hers once again.  Their kiss was fierce and passionate, their lips and tongues searching, probing.  Even after the kiss had ended they clung to each other
reluctant to part.

“I’d better go,”
he said with a sigh.

She
nodded.  She knew the time wasn’t right for anything more, but she wanted more.

“Until tomorrow then,”
he said.

“
Yes, we’ll talk then, until tomorrow,” she agreed.  But as John got back into the lift and Katy entered her flat and shut her front door behind her she added, “Tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow.”

CHAPTER 16

“Well, tell me what happened,” Seher said.  “I want to know every last detail.  Did he kiss you?  Did you ask him back for coffee?  Did you….you know?”

“Yes, he kissed me.  He walked me to my door, but didn’t come in and no, of course we didn’t.  It was our first date for goodness sake,” Katy replied.

“Ah, so it was definitely a date then.  Are you seeing him again?”

“He said he’d call today so get off the phone.  He might be trying to get through.  I’ll be seeing you in
twenty minutes for the cinema and we can talk then.”

“I’m coming round.  I’ll be there in
ten, I’ve just got to do my hair,” Seher replied.

Katy was about to say don’t come round so early because she wanted to be able to have a private conversation with
John when he phoned, but before she could say another word she found herself listening to the dialling tone.  The minute she placed the phone back on the table it rang again and her heart skipped a beat.  It’s him she thought as she answered.

“Hello Katy, remember me?  I’m the guy who’s been awake all night thinking about you.”

She smiled, “Hello John,” she replied softly.

“Did you have a good day at work?  Do you still want to go out to dinner with me tomorrow?  Do you fancy Italian food?”

“Yes, yes and yes,” Katy replied then she said, “Seher is about to appear here at any moment, so you’ll understand if I can’t talk.  She’s so nosey, but she has my best interests at heart.”

“Yes
, she seems like a lovely girl and, from what you’ve told me, a good friend.  Why don’t we arrange for me to meet you after work tomorrow then we can go straight out.  There’s a great little restaurant on the south side, just ten minutes from your office, it seems a shame for you to travel all the way into the city centre then have to travel back again.”

“That sound like a plan.  What’s the place like?”

“Small, intimate, up-market casual, the food is superb and the atmosphere is great.  I think you’ll like it.”

Katy heard the buzz from the security phone.

“Sorry, John, but that’s Seher buzzing up.  I’d better go,” she said as she pressed the button to let her friend into the building.  “I finish at five but by the time I’m ready to leave it’s usually nearer ten past.”

“I’ll be waiting for you when you come out. 
I’m really looking forward to seeing you again.”

“Me too,”
she replied.

They ended their phone call just as Seher rang the bell.

“Well, did he call?” she asked when Katy opened the door.

“Yes,” Katy replied as she stepped aside to let her friend enter the apartment.

“And, are you going on another date?”

“Yes, we are.”

“Well tell me about it, when and where?  Goodness it’s like trying to pull teeth getting information out of you. I want to know everything.”

…

John was excited about the date he’d arranged.  He couldn’t help smiling whenever he thought about it.  Suddenly, after months of putting off the task, he decided the time had come to put his house in order.  Armed with black bin sacks and steely determination he began to clear things out beginning with the wardrobe in his bedroom and, more specifically, Carol’s side of the wardrobe.  Several months before he’d managed to bag most of her clothes and donate them to charity, but there were still some items that he hadn’t been able to bear parting with.  Personal things that stirred memories of the good times they’d spent together.  Her wedding dress for one and the sun hat she wore on their honeymoon in the Seychelles.  Many, many items, far too many, his home had become a shrine, but it was time to move on.  He would of course have his photographs, Carol’s wedding ring and the heart shaped pendant he’d given her when they’d first started to date, but the soft toys they’d won at the carnival, ornaments and an assortment of nick-nacks would have to go.

Once he started,
he worked like a madman.  Sweat poured from him as he went from one room to the next packing and bagging all manner of things.  When he finally finished it was nearly one o’clock in the morning.  The house looked bare and minimalist.  To John it seemed empty, but he knew that the rooms were clean and fresh, the house was elegant and stylish and, more importantly, he would now feel able to invite people in.  He’d shut himself away, hiding like a small creature in its burrow, but now, at last, he could breathe.

…

Over the next two weeks John and Katy went on several dates and by week three they couldn’t get enough of each others
’ company.  John was romantic and kind, he bought Katy flowers and when they visited the theatre, a small box of handmade chocolates to nibble on during the show.  He wined her and dined her and wooed her.  After much soul searching he now felt ready to move the relationship forward and, with that in mind, he made up the double bed in the second bedroom with new, crisp, Egyptian cotton sheets.  He didn’t want to bring someone to the bed he’d shared with Carol and he vowed to replace it and redecorate the room as soon as possible.  John filled the bedroom with flowers, hoping Katy felt as he did.  He would never push her to do anything she was uncomfortable with, but when they kissed and embraced her passion was as intense as his and when he held her in his arms he could feel her body tremble with desire.  It became more and more difficult for him to leave her at the end of the evening, but he didn’t want to rush things.  He wanted their relationship to be something special, something lasting.