A Beautiful Forever

chapter 10

Elliot

This is one of the rare days when I had a late client, so I didn’t meet up with Paige to walk home with her like I usually do. Once I’m

back at the flat, I dump my gear in my room and then head out to the living area. I notice that Paige and Naomi’s names are missing

from the whiteboard we write our names on, to say who’s going to be home for dinner.

“Where are the girls?” I ask Gavin and Brian, who are sitting in front of the television watching the cricket, beer in hand, bag of chips

on the couch between them. They let out a loud cheer as the batter gets caught out before they answer me.

“Nomes dragged Paige out with her for a girly night,” Gavin told me without taking his eyes off the screen.

Brian laughs and throws a handful of chips into his mouth, crunching down loudly, “Yeah she didn’t look too happy about it,” he says.

“F*ck that Paige chick’s hot though, you should have seen her in that dress,” he nods his head thoughtfully and blows out his breath.

Gavin’s head joins in, “Are you two banging? ‘cause if you’re not…” he asks finally looking away from the tv.

“Don’t talk about her like that,” I warn them defensively.

Gavin raises his hands signalling ‘no offense’, “It’s alright mate, we’re just talking. Everyone can see you’ve got a thing for her – no

one’s cutting your grass.”

I shake my head, “Whatever,” I say, moving into the kitchen to grab a beer from the fridge.

“Hey, Elliot, can you grab us another one as well,” Brian calls out, returning the mood to normal.

Handing them their drinks when I return to the living room, I take a seat on the other couch, while I stare at the game on the tv, not

really watching. I’m busy thinking about where Paige is. I can’t help but feel kind of annoyed that she didn’t text me to say she was

going out. Then I kick myself because it’s not like I own her, it’s not like she owes me anything. I guess I’m just used to having her

around. I don’t really want to hang out without her… geez… I’ve got it bad.





Paige


Naomi has taken me to this Salsa club she’s heard about and has been dying to try out. We've both put on our most flowing

dresses, and I helped her curl her hair and pin it back to suit her outfit. I even went a little wild and put some red lipstick on myself – it

was under slight duress. Naomi insisted I needed red lips to go with my black knee-length dress. Other than that, I just have mascara

on.

Sitting at the bar, I watch Naomi strut her stuff on the dance floor with a guy who certainly knows his moves, he’s spinning and

swinging her around the floor effortlessly, and I have to resist the urge to clap whenever they finish a song.

“Come and dance with me,” she asks breathlessly when she walks back towards me.

“Oh I don’t know. I'm really not that coordinated,” I laugh.

“Nonsense! Come with me and I’ll show you.” She grabs my hand and pulls me off the stool and starts to try to show me how to move

my feet and swing my hips. I don’t do too badly, but I feel a bit awkward next to the smooth moving Naomi.

The guy Naomi had been dancing with moves back over to cut into our lesson, and I happily step away, bumping straight into a guy

who, when I turn around and see him, is the epitome of tall, dark and handsome.

As a grin spreads over his face, I feel his eyes drag over my body, “Can I interest you in a dance,” he rumbles in a deep baritone.

Instantly, I shake my head. “Oh no, I’m not much of a dancer.”

“Not from what I saw,” he responds holding out his hand for me to take. I look at it and step away from him, refusing his offer.

“No thank you,” I say firmly, walking directly back to my still vacant bar stool.

I notice the guy shake his head before he moves on to some other pretty girl who’s smiling and practically swooning the moment he

holds his hand out to her. Watching them move for a little while, I start to wish I hadn’t agreed to this as I get restless and wonder

when it’s time to go back to the flat.

Playing with my phone in my hand, I finger the touch screen, trying to decide whether I want to text Elliot or not. I feel lonely without

him all of a sudden.

Hey, what are you up to? I tap out and send before I have a chance to change my mind.

He responds quickly, like he had his phone in his hand and was waiting on me. Watching cricket with the guys. U?

Me: Watching Naomi dance.

Elliot: Y aren’t u dancing?

Me: I don’t like strangers touching me.

Elliot: U want me to come get u?

My thumbs hover unmoving, as I contemplate whether or not I should bail. I jolt my head up and cradle my phone in my lap guiltily as

Naomi comes over holding a bottle of beer and smiling. “How’s Elliot?” she asks, nodding at my phone.

“What? Why would I know?” I reply, feeling strange that she immediately jumped to that conclusion.

She tilts her head and looks at me like she can’t believe I think she’s that stupid. “It’s obvious you two are into each other Paige. It

hums in the air whenever you’re around each other.”

I frown a little, “I thought you were interested in Elliot.”

She laughs, “I am, of course I am! If he said ‘hey Nomes, you, me in the bedroom – leave your clothes at the door’ I’d say, ‘hell yeah’

and run in there. However, that’s not going to happen - he’s not interested in me; he's interested in you.”

Laughing, I say, “I don’t really think he talks like that.”

She shrugs, smiling and taking a sip from her beer. “So what’s holding you back? Why aren’t you making wild monkey love with him

every chance you get?”

“Because, I don’t know – maybe I think he’s too good for me, maybe I don’t want to get my heart broken, maybe I don’t want to ruin

our friendship. There’s literally dozens of reasons why it’s a bad idea.”

“Maybe, but if you like each other, why can’t you have an amazing couple of months together – even if that’s all it is, it’s better than

doing nothing, watching him leave and then regretting it for the rest of your life.”

“He doesn’t really want me Naomi. It’s the unattainable thing that’s making me attractive right now. He'll find someone else to turn his

head eventually, and this will all be a moot point.”

“Paige, have a look around this club,” I do as she says and scan the club taking everything in, “Do you see one guy even remotely as

good-looking as Elliot?”

“Well… no.”

“Then why would you knock that back?”

“Because… I feel like I have to,” I say looking down at my phone. Naomi looks down and takes it out of my hands reading the

message across the screen. “Hey! What are you doing?!" I grab for my phone as she steps away, keeping it out of my reach as she

types out a message.

“There, it’s done – you’re welcome,” she says smiling and heading back over to her dance partner. My phone beeps in my hand and

I look at the message on the screen.

I’ll b there in 10

Feeling nervous all of a sudden, I get up and head to the ladies' room to check my reflection, frowning when I see the painted lady

looking back at me. Turning on the tap, I grab some paper hand towel out of the dispenser and wipe the lipstick off my face. I look

ridiculous. This isn’t me.

Looking at myself again, I take a deep breath. “Don’t do this, nothing changes,” I coach myself. I can’t believe I was just entertaining

the thought of having something more with Elliot. Bloody Naomi, I had this all under control. Didn’t I?





Elliot


I borrow Shane’s car and drive to the club to pick up Paige. She's waiting outside with Naomi, who’s leaning up against some guy.

When they see me pull up, Naomi waves at me then nudges Paige towards the passenger-side door.

“Have fun!” she sing songs as Paige climbs in.

“Has Naomi hooked up?” I ask once the doors shut, as I watch Naomi walk back inside the club entwined with that guy.

“She has, thanks for coming to get me,” she says pulling on her seat belt.

“You rescued me actually. I hate cricket,” I confide in her.

“Isn’t it blasphemy to say that!” she replies mockingly.

“It is, don’t tell anyone.” I wink as I pull out into the traffic and start to make my way through the streets to turn us back towards the flat,

although I’m not interested in returning to watch cricket again.

“You want a coffee?” I ask when I spot an open café.

Paige looks ahead to where I’m indicating. “Yeah, I do actually.”

We keep our eye out for a parking spot, finding one quickly and walking back to the café. It’s surprisingly busy, and we have to line

up behind another four people to order.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look really beautiful tonight,” I tell her, nudging her lightly in the arm with my elbow.

She laughs, and I prepare for the coming lecture. I know I shouldn’t have said anything, but I couldn’t really help myself – the woman

is gorgeous, she should be told.

“Thank you Elliot,” is all she says.

“Wait, what? Where’s the brow beating?” I ask jokingly.

She shrugs and smiles at me as we reach the front of the line, I order for both of us, and we go and sit at a table near the window

while we wait.

“So why did you go to a salsa club if you didn’t want to dance?” I ask, watching her play with the packets of sugar on the table. She's

reorganising them, so they're lined up in their colour groups.

“I don’t know why,” she answers. “I hate clubs; I really do – all that gyrating against strangers,” she makes a face to illustrate her

distaste before continuing, “it just… isn’t my thing. I suppose I thought a salsa club would be a bit different, and it was. It didn’t have

the massive crowd, but it still had the gyrating and the touching. So I was glad to leave. Thank you again for coming to get me.”

“It was my pleasure Paige,” I say placing my hand over hers to stop her fiddling with the sugars. “Relax.”

Quickly withdrawing her hand, she places it in her lap, her cheeks flush as she looks around the room nervously.

Feeling an emptiness in my palm where her hand was, I move the sugar to the side and watch her flit, curious as to her behaviour.

“Paige, does it also bother you when I touch you?” I ask, suddenly concerned.

The flush on her face seems to increase as she focuses her attention on me and meets my eyes. “No,” she breathes, shaking her

head lightly. “No, it’s just the opposite. That’s what bothers me.”





Paige


Did I seriously just say that? I see confusion pass over his face before the realisation of what I admitted dawns on him. I’m ever so

grateful when our coffees are brought over, and our attentions are diverted as we accept them and thank the server.

He’s watching me, his eyes boring through me as I take a shaky sip from my coffee. “Oh, f*ck that’s hot!” I exclaim, almost spitting

the scalding liquid back into my mug.

A smile plays on the edge of his lips as he watches me fiddle about with a napkin as I wipe my mouth and try to cool my tongue.

“So um… Naomi’s a fantastic dancer. You should see the way she twirls around the dance floor. I’ll have to ask her if she’s had

lessons when I see her next,” I say, trying to salvage some sort of normal conversation.

“Paige,” Elliot says reaching across the table and placing his hand over my own. My breath catches in my throat as I close my eyes

to the feeling his touch evokes inside me. I’m aroused and frightened all at the same time. My fear wins out and I try to pull my hand

away, but I’m met with resistance as he encloses his hand firmly over my own. “Please don’t pull away,” he whispers.

With a shaky breath, I open my eyes, focusing on our combined hands. I catch myself thinking about what it would be like to give in

to this attraction between us and simply go with the flow for a change instead of trying to control everything. It’s so tempting, being

half way around the world, to just pretend everything will be ok… so tempting.

I place my other hand on top of his, my thumb caressing his skin absently as I meet his intense eyes. The attraction between us

crackles and sparks through the air between us, numbing our senses to all that surrounds us. Closing my eyes, I inhale slowly in an

attempt to calm my rapid heart. “Please Elliot, just let go,” I whisper, a frown etched on my face as my words betray my feelings.

The moment his hand retreats, I’m at a loss. The ache in my chest seems to slide down into my stomach and turn sour. “I’m sorry

Elliot. It's not you ok?”

“Save it Paige,” he says, unable to hide the hurt in his face. “I don’t need any speeches ok. I know where we stand.”

I attempt to fill the emptiness in my hands by wrapping them around my mug and taking careful sips.

“So, um… Naomi can salsa can she?” he asks, ending the silence that was stretching out uncomfortably between us.

“She can. She's really amazing actually,” I gush, so grateful to him for speaking normally to me.

Despite the easy conversation that continues between us, I can’t help but feel that things have changed between us and not in a

good way. Maybe I need to move out and let him go so he can find someone else. But, the mere thought of cutting my ties with him

causes my chest to constrict and tears to spring into my eyes.

“Paige, what’s wrong? Are you ok?” Elliot asks quickly as he watches me clearing my throat and blinking rapidly as I try to get a

handle on my emotions.

“I’m fine Elliot,” I lie. “I just bit my tongue.”

“Oh,” he laughs, settling back into his seat. “Are you bleeding? Do you want some water?”

“No, I’m fine. It's okay now. Are you ready to go?” I ask, pushing back my chair and reaching for my bag.

“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…