“I assume there would have been complaints,” I said in a pompous voice.
“Complaints indeed. Not the done thing, Mr Fairweather.”
He did that. Made me this, this smiling loon with butterflies in my stomach. I wanted him back. So, so much.
“So what…what happens now?” It felt safe to ask because he was being so nice. And we were talking. I loved that we were.
“Maybe we can talk? Keep in touch?”
“I’d like that.”
“I’d like it more if you were here in my bed and kissing my forehead and pulling my hair. You do that. Always getting your fingers all tangled up in my hair.”
Hearing him saying it soothed my soul. Perhaps he was telling me off, but it felt like he was…just painting a picture of what we’d been. Showing it to me like a holiday snap.
“I love your hair.” A safe statement.
“One day it will fall out, and I’ll be bald.”
“Then I’ll buy you a woolly hat. It gets cold up there in Scotland, I hear.”
“Freezing. It’s an old building, built in the fifteenth century. Historic.”
“Haunted?” I had to say it. Smiling.
“Probably. Never seen or heard anything, though. Just me and a hundred kids and a bunch of farm animals. Staff and teachers. The odd ghost probably wouldn’t get a word in. And we’ve had fibre broadband installed all over now, so people can stream and all that. Probably scared anything paranormal off for good.”
“Thought screen time was bad for kids.”
“Our seniors are young adults; we can’t really police it. And for what the parents pay for their time with us, comfort and accessibility are key. A lot of our lessons use…”
“Sounds like a good school.”
“We’re a very good school. I’m the headmaster.”
He was such a child. And all I could think of was the way he felt against me. The scent of his hair. The look on his face when I made him come.
I shuddered. Because I was just that. Being ridiculous.
“I need to go to bed, Fox. Early start tomorrow, and I need to be sharp for work. Can I call you again sometime?”
Weird. Rude. Intrusive. Over the top. Also? Desperate. So bloody desperate.
“Same time, tomorrow?” he said gently.
“Yes.” Please.
“Noah?”
“Yeah?”
“Those two days we had were wonderful. I need you to know that. I have no regrets about anything we did because…you’re…”
“I’m what, Fox?” The smile on my face. Ridiculous. Happy. Fuck.
“You’re wonderful too.”
“Good night, Fox. I’ll speak to you tomorrow then?” Just double-checking. Hoping he meant it.
