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Will holds open the door from the street to my office building on Monday morning, and I smile my thanks as I walk through towards the lift.
“No stairs today, baby? Are you too tired?” Will grins as he pushes the call button and wraps an arm around my waist.
“Yes,” I grumble playfully. The lift doors part, and we step in. Will moves behind me and rests his hand on my belly. It’s his new default position.
“You don’t look pregnant with clothes on.”
“Not yet, maybe.” It won’t be long until I look like I’m expecting a football team.
“I can still see your breasts are bigger though.” He kisses my neck, and my head falls to the side on its own. I press back into his chest as his lips tease and promise wicked things.
The lift pings, announcing our arrival, and the doors slide apart smoothly. I stand straight and move forward to disembark. Will grabs my arm. “Wrong floor, baby.”
“No. It’s not.” Will steps out after me, and when we round the corner into the new office space, I hear his breath catch. “So...like I said, there have been a few changes.” I glance at his face as he takes it all in. There’s no one else here yet, but it’s obvious all fifteen desks are busy and occupied from the clutter on them.
His eyes finally land back on mine. He swallows hard. And then a cheeky smile lights his face. “There are a lot of desks here, baby.”
“Hmm. Come on. I’ll show you.” I giggle and hold out my hand. He takes it and brings it to his lips before following me to my office.
“So...” Will directs his attention from place to place again, his eyes jumping around like a box of frogs. “It looks like I need to catch up with your work situation...?”
“Short version? I needed more hands and found a successful events company that was closing because the owner was retiring. We came to an agreement. I got his staff and contracts, and he gets an ongoing commission and retirement income.”
“You’re bloody incredible.” Will pulls me to him and kisses me dizzy, until the lift pings and staff start to arrive for the day.
“You want to meet everyone?” I ask him, struggling for air.
“Of course, baby. I need to know who’s working with my future wife.” Will is cool as a cucumber, and I’m all hot and bothered. Fuck these stupid fucking hormones! “You catch your breath. I’m going to say hi.” He flashes me a mischievous, knowing smile and strides out of the door. I grab onto the desk and lean over, opening my chest and slowing my breathing. I need to not be flushed and flustered when I go and greet an office full of people today.
When I emerge into the communal area, I can feel the atmosphere. It’s thick and heavy. Expectant. I glance up, and Will is perched on a desk with a gaggle of women eating out of the palm of his hand. My eyes narrow.
“Morning, everyone!” I call brightly, and get only some people’s attention. Those who are capable of looking my way. Will stands and saunters over to me, all eyes on us now. “So, what’s new?” I ask, trying to focus on work. Will stands right in front of me and tips my chin up.
“Baby?”
“Huh?”
“How come these good people don’t know we’re getting married? Aren’t they event organisers?” What? Why would they...? He’s teasing me. “Alyssa here...” He jerks his head towards the general direction of her desk. “She’s an expert on weddings. She told me.”
“Aha.”
“So, maybe she and I could discuss it?”
“Umm... okay?” Will’s smile is luminous when he seals his lips on mine and dips me backwards. He stands me straight, fast.
“Is it...?” I’ve come to recognise that anxious look in his eyes. He’s worried about the baby. Again.
“Fine,” I whisper and push up on my tiptoes to kiss his lips lightly. And realise everyone is still watching.
“Good. Continue.” He pulls out a chair for me and indicates I should sit. Then he drags over another chair beside it for himself. His hand rests on my knee as he relaxes back in his chair and looks around expectantly.
“So.” I clear my throat. “Shall we have a quick run-through? How’s everything going?”
I try to listen as everyone summarises their client lists and progress, but crap! It would really help if Will wasn’t touching me. If his fingers weren’t circling over the underside of my knee. Even through the jeans. I shift and cross my legs the other way. His hand slips higher, and I yelp and cross them the other way again.
I grab his hand and hold it tight at my side, making him chuckle. He leans in and speaks quietly right into my ear. “Concentrate, Eva.”
“I would if you’d stop!” I hiss.
“...And the team builder is at ten thirty today, so...” Alyssa adds to whatever the hell else she just said. Her cheeks are as red as a phone box.
“I love how sensitive your body is. All of it.” I splutter, and Will sits back in his chair, a smug grin on his face. “Sounds like you have a busy day, baby. I’ll let you get on. Do you want some tea before your nine o’clock?”
“My nine o’clock...?” My bewildered eyes search his mischievous blues.
“The catch-up with Glenn? Whoever he is.”
“Right. My...Glenn.” I swallow hard and nod. “Yes. Glenn. The guy who retired...”
“I’ll get the tea.” He kisses me soundly before he strides out, towards the rooftop terrace.
“Bloody hell,” I wail and fall back in my chair. I look up at the faces turned my way and clear my throat. “So, that’s Will. My fiancé. He’s...Christ, I don’t know the word.”
“Hot?” Someone giggles. I don’t know who.
“Yep. That. And a lot of other things besides. So...” I push up to my feet with my hands on my thighs. “If there’s nothing else...?” I glance around, and everyone shakes their heads. “Great. I’ll be in my off...”
I almost jump out of my skin when someone yells my name. It sounds wrong. Too urgent. “Eva!” I look over to the door and see Gary rushing through it. Davey catches him and pulls him back by his shirt.
Oh! Crap!
Not at work, please!
“Sweets, please! I’m sorry. Just give me five minutes. Please!” he yells, struggling against Davey’s grasp.
“It’s your call, Blue. You want to talk to him or not?” I look in Gary’s desperate, sad eyes and I want to make the pain go away for him... but I can’t. I can’t do it.
I shake my head and Davey jerks him hard, slamming him back into a wall. I turn away, unable to watch a moment longer, and Gary wails something I don’t understand. My feet freeze, just for a second, before I walk as fast as I can (without running) to my office. And then realise Will is about to come this way.
Shit! I don’t want him to see Gary. I spin around on the threshold and gasp. Will and Gary are locked together. Not fighting. Hugging.
Gary is almost in tears, and Will is...trying to comfort him. What the hell happened here?
It doesn’t matter. I... it doesn’t matter. Will glances up when he feels my eyes. His face is so sad it’s torturous. I look away, shaking my head and wondering how the hell this happened.
Oh, yes. Lies. That’s how.
Davey jogs towards me, all eyes watching his progress. Welcome to the spectacle that is my life. Enjoy the fucking show, people!
“Blue?”
“Two minutes. That’s it.” He nods and whistles to Gary and Will, as I walk on wobbly legs to my desk and sit before I fall.
Gary charges through the door within seconds, and then stops dead, just over the threshold.
“Eva...” he begins. And then runs at me.
“Stop!” I hold both my hands up, pushing my chair further away from him. He freezes as though I pressed pause. “Don’t. Don’t...touch me. Just tell me why you’re here.” I’m aware Davey and Will are hovering, just outside the door, but I keep my attention on Gary.
“I’m sorry. Eva...Sweets...I’m really fucking sorry.”
“I know. I know that you are...but...” I shake my head, trying to find the words. “It’s just too soon.” My voice is trembling.
He searches my eyes and then drops his head. He nods. “Bells...she wanted to come...”
“No.” I shake my head firmly when he looks up at me. “I get it. I understand why and how it happened...but...you should have known better, Gary. So should Bells. I can’t... I won’t...do this again. Not ever.”
“Dan,” he whispers, and I see the light of understanding dawn.
“Yeah. Dan.”
“But...Will said...”
“Will is different. He didn’t know better. He has never experienced better. His whole life, betrayal...it’s just what happens in his world. He built a business from it, because it was so bloody normal for him. People screw him over and leave him to deal with it. You did. You did know better...and I love him. Whether I want to or not, I’ll love him for the rest of my life. But I don’t need you. And I don’t need anyone else.”
I see the hurt my words have caused, and I’m sorry. I am, but they’re also true. After everything with Dan, I won’t ever explain to people who should know better what I am and am not capable of.
“So...maybe after you’ve had some time...we could talk?”
“Maybe.” He nods once and turns to leave, his head hanging low with one hand curled around the opposite forearm across his midsection. I watch Davey pat Gary’s shoulder as he walks past him. Davey gives me a look I don’t understand, before he follows Gary out, and Will walks towards me.
I press my lips together, my breathing shaky as tears fill my eyes, and I watch his cautious progress. He quickens his step and Will pulls me to his chest, stroking my hair and kissing the side of my face, again and again, until I’m calm.
“These people are going to think they’re working for a bloody nut job!” I hiccup as I wipe my eyes. Will steps back and brushes my hair from my face, tucking it behind my ears as he speaks softly.
“But if they knew, even part of the story, they’d realise they’re working for the strongest, kindest, most loyal woman in the world.” I give him a watery half smile and sit when he guides me back to the chair. “Do you want me to stay?”
“No. I’m okay. You go do you.” He frowns but nods, worrying his lip.
“Hold on, I left your tea somewhere.”
“Thank you,” I tell him a minute later when he returns with the cup, leaves it on my desk and kisses me goodbye.
––––––––
Will calls back to me, all the way in my office, from the front door. “Sweetheart? When is our next scan?” I hear the gasps. He’s doing this on purpose. Git! I fold over, banging my forehead on my desk. “Just let me know later, then?”
I give him a thumbs up, holding my hand high in the air, without lifting my head, and pray this day will end soon.
––––––––
Just before ten thirty, I, along with all the staff, assemble in Scott’s club, now called Bailar.
Scott gives me a wide, genuine smile that lights up his eyes as I enter. “Wow! You got a tan.”
“Yep. It’s kind of impossible to avoid with a month in Greek summer sun.”
“Are you ready to salsa?” I nod, smiling to myself. Oh yeah, I’m ready. “Have you done this before?”
“Oh...a few times,” I tell him vaguely.
“Great. Come over here, and we’ll show your guys what they’re going to do today.” I follow Scott to the centre of the dance floor as he introduces himself and two other guys, his in-house salsa instructors, to those that haven’t met him yet, and he runs through the format for the day. “So...Eva? Shall we?” I nod and place my hand in his when he holds it out, and the music starts.
It doesn’t take more than a few bars for Scott to realise I’ve held out on him. His eyebrows jump. He spins me and raises his dance game to strictly level. “A few times, huh?” He smiles as he places my hand on his waist, spins and picks it up again. “A few hundred?”
“I wasn’t counting!” I laugh and duck under his arm when he spins me again. He’s pretty good. I bet Will can salsa. I can’t wait to find out. Maybe I should bring him along when the place is open?
The music fades, and we get a round of applause. “Something like that, then?” Scott laughs, his arm still around my waist. “Did you want to teach some?” he asks.
“God no. I’m just here for the dancing.”
“Aww. And I thought you came to see me,” he teases.
“Yeah. That too.” I laugh. I really do love to salsa. It’s a guaranteed serotonin booster.
––––––––
I watch the instructors demonstrate the basic back and forth salsa step, and then work their way around the room, to help out and show people how it looks and feels to dance with a professional.
“Eva, is it?”
“Yes, Hi.” I give him a smile and take his offered hand. I thought he was going to shake but he pulls sharply and spins me around, right into another number.
“I’m Oz.” He smiles as the music cuts out and the next track begins. “I don’t want to give you back, but Scott might kill me if I don’t.” I frown, and he grins. I assume he means that he’d rather dance than teach very basic steps.
So would I. And I can, because it’s not me that has to, so I’m grinning ear to ear when the other instructor holds out his hand.
“Where did you learn to dance?” instructor number two asks as he bends me backwards, raising my knee high up his rib cage.
“I had lessons as a kid.”
“You must have had a lot of lessons.”
“Every week for about ten years.” I laugh as he spins me around. God, I love to salsa!
I’m too high to be tired when the lesson is over, giggling at nothing. “Thank you, guys. I think everyone had a great time.” I watch the staff pick up their belongings; every one of them is smiling.
“Eva? Do you have a minute?”
“Sure.” My facial muscles are beginning to ache with all the bloody grinning.
“I’m trialling a chef. I wondered if you might give me a second opinion on the food?”
“Of course. When were you thinking?”
“Can you stay for lunch?” I hold up one finger, indicating he should give me a second, and pull out my phone with a new digitised diary. “Um, I can do...” I glance at the time. “One o’clock, for an hour or so?”
“Great.” He lets out a breath. I can see from his eyes that his mind has just sprinted off, so I say my goodbyes and leave, for now anyway. I have a midwife appointment to get to.