Louise got into the car and tried to contain her excitement. Donnie’s call that morning had been unexpected, but instead of getting ready for college, she agreed to meet him.
‘How you doing?’ he asked, starting the engine and driving out of the car park not far from her house.
‘All the better for seeing you. That and not having to go to college.’ She smiled, pulling her cigarettes from her bag and lighting one. She handed it to Donnie and he took it, his fingers brushing against hers. ‘I didn’t think I was going to see you this soon.’
Donnie exhaled loudly and with the cigarette hanging from his lips, he put his hand over her knee. ‘Had to see you, didn’t I? You’re like a drug to me, few days away from you and I start feeling like shit.’
Louise felt her heart flutter. She knew exactly what he meant because that was how she felt about him too. They’d only been seeing each other for a few weeks, but she just couldn’t get him out of her head.
‘Same,’ she replied, trying to play it cool. ‘So, where we off to?’
‘Somewhere we can’t be disturbed.’
‘You mean somewhere your wife won’t annoy you?’ Louise said.
Donnie didn’t reply, instead he removed his hand from her knee and focused on the road. They were heading out towards the Trossachs road, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, where no one would be able to find them. It would be just the two of them for hours. No traces of a hotel booking, no cameras on the road and more importantly, no phone signal.
Louise was so in love with Donnie Black that it ached in her chest, but she hadn’t told him that yet. Even though he’d said she was like a drug, she couldn’t be certain that it was the right kind of drug, the same as the one she was addicted to.
For now, she would have to enjoy their relationship for what it was.