I ignored the washing, faintly amused to think he’d have to learn how to wash his own damn clothes, or continue living in some hotel, as I guessed he must be doing.
I filled my suitcase with all the clothes I could squeeze into it and shoved everything else into black garbage bags. What I removed from the house made almost no difference: it was only if David looked in my closet that he’d notice any major changes. That my 11 years with David had made such a small indentation was a sobering thought. I hadn’t been a bad wife, but I hadn’t been a companion to him either. Although it seemed doubtful that he’d ever wanted one. Still, it was a lonely way to live – for both of us.
Six o’clock came and went: still no sign of David. I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to tell him I was leaving him if he wasn’t even around himself: leave a note, send a text message, call his office, or even… drop by in person? None of them seemed particularly palatable. When I’d imagined telling him, I’d always assumed it would be in the privacy of our own front room.
Just after 10 PM I got a text from Sebastian.
* How’s it going? Did u get a room? Is the a*hole there? *
I knew if I told Sebastian that David was AWOL, he’d want to come over. But without knowing where David was, or his intentions, it was risky. The smart thing was to wait another 24 hours. But being smart and being in love, well, that was oil and water.
* By myself. Can Ches drop you downtown? Need to get out of here. *
He replied immediately, as I knew he would.
* 30 mins, jazz plaza. r u ok? *
I didn’t know how to reply so I just sent a quick text agreeing to meet him where we’d seen the jazz band earlier in the day.
The city felt very different at night. Once the sun had disappeared the laidback aura was tinged with a frisson of excitement, and an intangible air of possibilities. I was so close to being free, so close to restarting my life – it was a heady feeling. I was dizzy with unaccustomed recklessness – and I was going to see Sebastian.
We had three more months before we could escape to New York: it was going to be a time of austerity, not that I cared about that, but I thought we deserved one night to really celebrate. So when I found myself outside a low-to medium-priced hotel, I hesitated less than the length of a heartbeat, booked a room, paid cash and put the keycard in my purse with a sense of abandonment.
My impulsive decision made me slightly late getting to the plaza. My phone started ringing just as I spotted him scanning the crowds and running a hand through his hair.
I watched him from a distance, enjoying that moment of seeing before touching. Dressed simply in washed-out denim and a plain, black T-shirt that emphasized his strong, slim build, he was a still point of light, surrounded by the swirling crowds.
“Hi!” I said into my cellphone.
“Where are you?” he said, sounding worried.
“On my way,” I said softly as I snuck up behind him and ran my hand over his ass.
He jumped and turned around with a scowl on his face which broke into a huge, sexy smile when he saw me.
“I’ve got to go now,” he breathed into the phone, “a beautiful woman is feeling me up.”
“Is that right?”
Hidden by the crowd I ran my hand up the front of his jeans.
“Yeah,” he said into his cellphone, “I don’t know what she wants.”
“She hasn’t given you a clue?” I asked, rubbing my hand over him again and feeling his body respond.
“I think I’ll have to call you back,” he said and snapped his phone shut.
We stood staring at each other as I slowly lowered my cellphone.
He took a pace forwards so our bodies were nearly touching then he ran his hands lightly over my arms and rested his mouth on mine. I felt his warm breath wash over my face and his lips parted.