A Beautiful Forever - By Anderson, Lilliana Page 0,24
over to the light switch, as I do Naomi reaches out and switches the lamp on, so she can continue to read while I go to sleep.
“Good book?” I ask her as I slide beneath my covers.
She rests it open on her chest and sighs smiling as she looks at me. “It’s the best,” she says, “so romantic!”
Laughing a little to myself, I roll over to face the wall and bid her goodnight, leaving her to read her cheesy romance novel and wishing life was really like one. I’d love noting more than a happy ending, but I’m fairly sure people like me don’t get them.
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. “Fuck 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.