I held out my hand for him and he took it, but instead of shaking he pulled my mouth to his and kissed me like it might be our last. He gripped my face and I wrapped my arms around his shoulders as we fell back onto the blanket. I felt electric, warm and fuzzy and full of every good thing life could give.
My eyes might’ve been closed, but as our kiss deepened, behind my closed lids I saw an entire universe full of stars.
Twenty-Eight.
Five months later. London.
“Trev! Where do you keep the bog roll in this swanky-arse flat of yours?” Lee called from down the hall.
My boyfriend craned his neck over the couch, where I was currently seated on his lap. “It’s in the cabinet over the sink,” he called back.
“Who the bloody hell keeps it in a cabinet?” Lee grumped. “You’ve gotten too many airs and graces since you moved in here.”
“You’re just jealous of how amazing my gaf is,” Trev shouted happily before he bent to kiss my neck. I shivered and focused my attention on the TV; otherwise I’d be tempted to drag him away from his guests and into the bedroom. Our bedroom. When we got back to London, you couldn’t have torn Trev and me apart for love or money. In the end, we both got so sick of going between my flat and his that he begged me to move in with him.
The whole family was gathered to watch the first episode of Running on Air’s third season. I was nervous because I knew I was going to be in some of the scenes, and I’d never enjoyed seeing myself on camera. It felt weird, like I couldn’t stop fixating on flaws that only I saw.
Trev pulled his phone from his pocket to check his texts. I read it over his shoulder, not surprised to see who it was from. Ever since our night at the circus, he and Jay Fields had been communicating non-stop. Both seemed fascinated with the other’s profession.
Jay: We’re about to go online to watch the first episode.
Trev: Aren’t you in Vegas? What time is it over there?
Jay: Just gone five but we’re early risers. Break a leg. I know it’s gonna be awesome.
I smiled, finding their little bromance adorable. Karla hurried to take her place by the television with a massive bowl of popcorn on her lap.
“Lexie and King just called to let me know they’re watching at home,” she said, giddy with excitement.
“How long’s left?” Trev’s youngest brother, Liam, asked. He and his girlfriend, Iris, were sitting on the floor because there weren’t enough seats for everyone.
“Five more minutes,” Stu answered him. “Don’t get your knickers in a twist, Constable.”
“Please don’t. Lee used to call me that all the time.” Karla grimaced. “Got on my last nerve.”
Lee, who’d just returned from the bathroom, slid in next to Karla and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “You were so easy to piss off.” He grinned. “It was too much fun.”
“I want to hear more about when you first met,” Stu’s partner, Andie, put in. “It sounds so fascinating.
“Speaking of which,” said Trev, eyeing Lee and Karla. “I think you two should thank me for being your go-between. If it weren’t for my communications management you probably never would’ve gotten together.”
Lee scoffed. “You keep telling yourself that, bruv.”
“Hush, it’s about to start,” Sophie interrupted as she grabbed for the remote to turn up the volume. My heart fluttered when the familiar Running on Air opening credits started to play. The fast-paced rock song filled my ears, interlaced with shots of each member of the cast. I was delighted when they slotted Isaac in at the end, announcing him as their newest star. They used footage of him from Bordeaux, where he ran along the narrow edge of a bridge then leapt to a nearby streetlamp and swung to the ground.
I grabbed my phone from the coffee table to send him a quick text. I knew he was back home with his mum and sisters, spending some quality time before they started filming season four.
Reya: Omg! Did you see? You looked amazing :-D
His reply came instantly.
Isaac: I’m DYING! My sisters are yelling their heads off in excitement.
I smiled to myself and placed my phone on the coffee table. Trev wrapped his arms around my middle and squeezed.
The episode started with footage of our train journey to Brussels, with Callum’s voice narrating how they planned to visit several cities and perform stunts in a range of public places. I took Trev’s hand in mine and laced our fingers together. I was so excited for him. This was our first time watching an episode together, and it felt wonderful.
Usually I’d watch with Karla and Lee, or at home in my flat, half exhilarated, half envious of the new and exciting life he was leading without me. Now I just felt proud. He and all the others really pushed their bodies; they practiced and trained non-stop to make their TV show as impressive and entertaining as possible. How could I not be proud?
The show progressed to the day on those rooftops in Brussels. Leanne and Paul were talking to the camera, but you could see Trev and me in the background. I tugged on his shirt where the first-person camera was attached as we chatted. It surprised me how flirtatious my body language was, because I never considered myself a flirt. But obviously I was when it came to Trev, even if I wasn’t aware.
“Look! There you both are,” said Stu, pointing us out. “Anybody notice how the camera’s zooming in a little too much on Reya’s arse?”
I let out a sigh. “I bet that was Jimbo.”
“Next time I see him I’m putting scratches on all his cameras,” Trev grumped.
The scene moved on to the group all lined up on the edge of the roof. Trev was the first to make the jump and my heart leapt with him. I remembered how nervous I’d been watching him drop like that. From my angle, you couldn’t see that there was another adjoining rooftop.
The shot cut to Trev’s first-person camera. It was unreal to be able to see how everything looked from his perspective. My stomach did a funny flip-flop when it showed the extent of the drop between buildings.
The next scene was a diary cam, which they filmed in studio back in London after the trip. It showed Trev sitting on an armchair as a faceless interviewer asked him questions. I recognised the voice as Barry’s.
“You decided to bring an old friend on as an assistant. Is there any history there we should know about?”
Trev gave a casual shrug. “I’ve known Reya for a couple of years but she only recently came back into my life. We needed someone to fill in for Jo and she was happy to come on board.”
“And the history?” Barry pushed.