Hearts on Air
Page 55
“Oh,” I said, several thoughts churning around in my head. “And it helps?”
“If it didn’t I’d be eyeing those fountains right now and considering jumping into them, so yeah, it definitely helps.”
I laughed because right as he said it, Callum and Leanne began play fighting by the water’s edge, both trying to push the other in. We watched them for a minute. All three of the film crew were capturing their antics. Paul and Isaac walked the perimeter of the square, snapping pictures on Paul’s phone.
There was something I needed to ask Trev, and although he was calmer and making better emotional decisions, I still hesitated to break the comfort we currently shared. I’d hidden so much of my feelings from him years ago, and that had probably, in hindsight, been a good decision. But now? Now as we were moving back toward a new friendship? Now required honesty and backbone from me.
“Do you remember the evening when Alexis called you because I was upset, and you showed up at my flat to comfort me?” I asked, breaking the quiet.
Trev’s shoulder brushed mine as he responded tightly. “Yeah, I remember.”
I swallowed and continued, “If you’d been in therapy back then, do you think you still would’ve left me like you did?”
It only took him a beat to answer. His fingers came to my chin, turning my face to meet his gaze. “Reya, if I knew then what I know now, I would’ve quit the entire show just to stay with you.”
My breathing quickened, as did my heart rate. Did he really mean that? “But . . . but it was the opportunity of a lifetime.”
“No, it wasn’t. Sure, I’m much better off money wise, but I’ve come to learn that jobs and wealth and possessions aren’t opportunities, not the ones that really matter. People are. We spend so much time striving for status that we don’t realise it’s the people in our lives that bring us real happiness.”
I was a little speechless. Valuing opportunity over people was what ultimately ended our relationship. Was he saying what I thought he was? Was he telling me he regretted his actions, leaving me in the lurch for days on end and being impossible to contact?
I stared at him. My eyes traced the strong line of his jaw, his almost translucent blue eyes, his full lips that were somehow still manly. Words tumbled out of my mouth in Spanish before I had a chance to censor them.
“Creo que nunca tuve otra opción más que amarte.”
I never had any other choice but to love you, did I?
He tore his attention away from the view and glanced at me with affection. “Pretty as that sounded, I didn’t understand a word.”
Yes, Trev, that’s exactly the point. “I know. Sorry.”
His attention went to my lips for a second. “What did you say?”
I hesitated a moment, then lied, “I said it’s a beautiful night and I’m glad I came on this trip.”
His mouth curved into a tender smile. “I’m glad you came, too.”
We both turned our attentions back to the view and I was lost in thought. A jolt shook me when I remembered I was wearing a microphone. We both were. Our whole conversation had been recorded, but the cameras weren’t on us so they likely couldn’t use it anyway. Still, we’d revealed a little too much. I’d revealed a little too much, especially if there was anyone in the editing room who understood Spanish. I should’ve known better than to drink tequila. It always made me loose-lipped.
A squeal rang out and I looked ahead to see Callum had finally manoeuvred Leanne into the water. She stood under a fountain, her clothes and hair drenched, just as Paul crept up behind Callum and pushed him in, too.
“You little wanker,” Callum shouted as Paul bent over laughing.
“Instant karma, baby,” Paul shot back triumphantly.
Callum charged forward, grabbed Paul at the waist and pulled him into the water with them. Lots of splashing and yelling ensued.
I chuckled and Trev grinned wickedly. “You want to join them, don’t you?”
“What? No,” I lied.
“Come on, Reya, if you can’t jump into a water fountain in Paris then where can you do it?”
“Man, you’re going to use that reasoning for everything while we’re here, aren’t you?”
His grin widened. It was kinda sexy. “Sure am.”
“I’ll only jump in if you do, too.”
Trev shook his head. “Nah, I’m a reformed character, remember? I’m only here to watch.”
Why did that statement make my mind go to dirty places? I nudged him with my shoulder. “If you jump in with me I’ll cook pancakes for breakfast.”
Dimples dotted his cheeks. “Oh, you drive a hard bargain, Miss Cabrera. You know pancakes are my favourite.”
“So, what’s it gonna be?”
He let out a theatrical sigh. “Fine. But only because you asked so nicely. And only because I can’t resist your pancakes.”
I stood and dusted the grass from my dress, then held my hand out to him. “Nobody can. I’m writing a new song. It’s called ‘My Pancakes Bring All the Boys to the Yard.’”
Trev took my hand and I pulled him up. “So pancakes are a euphemism for . . .” He paused and ran his eyes slowly over my body. Prickles tugged at my insides. “Cuddles and hugs?”
I barked a laugh. “Yep. I give the best cuddles and hugs in all of London.”
His voice dipped low, but it was still playful. “I think I remember.”
His deep tone had me swallowing down a lump of desire. Memories flooded my head. When we reached the water, Leanne, Callum and Paul were soaked to the skin, playing a game of who can splash the other one more.
“Is it cold?” I called out, slipping off my heels.
“Yeah, but you get used to it,” Leanne called back as she dodged a spray of water from Callum.
“Get in,” Paul shouted. “Live a little.”
Isaac watched from the other side of the fountain, his features a picture of amused befuddlement.
I shot a glance at Jimbo. “Are the mics waterproof?” He gave me a thumbs up. Well, hell, it looked like I really was doing this.
Trev took my hand in his. “On the count of three?”
I nodded. “One, two, thre—”
Before I could get the last word out, Trev pulled me into the water and I gasped from the cold. He lifted me up and flung me over his shoulder, then ran under one of the fountains. I yelped when the water hit my scalp, soaking my entire body in seconds.
“If it didn’t I’d be eyeing those fountains right now and considering jumping into them, so yeah, it definitely helps.”
I laughed because right as he said it, Callum and Leanne began play fighting by the water’s edge, both trying to push the other in. We watched them for a minute. All three of the film crew were capturing their antics. Paul and Isaac walked the perimeter of the square, snapping pictures on Paul’s phone.
There was something I needed to ask Trev, and although he was calmer and making better emotional decisions, I still hesitated to break the comfort we currently shared. I’d hidden so much of my feelings from him years ago, and that had probably, in hindsight, been a good decision. But now? Now as we were moving back toward a new friendship? Now required honesty and backbone from me.
“Do you remember the evening when Alexis called you because I was upset, and you showed up at my flat to comfort me?” I asked, breaking the quiet.
Trev’s shoulder brushed mine as he responded tightly. “Yeah, I remember.”
I swallowed and continued, “If you’d been in therapy back then, do you think you still would’ve left me like you did?”
It only took him a beat to answer. His fingers came to my chin, turning my face to meet his gaze. “Reya, if I knew then what I know now, I would’ve quit the entire show just to stay with you.”
My breathing quickened, as did my heart rate. Did he really mean that? “But . . . but it was the opportunity of a lifetime.”
“No, it wasn’t. Sure, I’m much better off money wise, but I’ve come to learn that jobs and wealth and possessions aren’t opportunities, not the ones that really matter. People are. We spend so much time striving for status that we don’t realise it’s the people in our lives that bring us real happiness.”
I was a little speechless. Valuing opportunity over people was what ultimately ended our relationship. Was he saying what I thought he was? Was he telling me he regretted his actions, leaving me in the lurch for days on end and being impossible to contact?
I stared at him. My eyes traced the strong line of his jaw, his almost translucent blue eyes, his full lips that were somehow still manly. Words tumbled out of my mouth in Spanish before I had a chance to censor them.
“Creo que nunca tuve otra opción más que amarte.”
I never had any other choice but to love you, did I?
He tore his attention away from the view and glanced at me with affection. “Pretty as that sounded, I didn’t understand a word.”
Yes, Trev, that’s exactly the point. “I know. Sorry.”
His attention went to my lips for a second. “What did you say?”
I hesitated a moment, then lied, “I said it’s a beautiful night and I’m glad I came on this trip.”
His mouth curved into a tender smile. “I’m glad you came, too.”
We both turned our attentions back to the view and I was lost in thought. A jolt shook me when I remembered I was wearing a microphone. We both were. Our whole conversation had been recorded, but the cameras weren’t on us so they likely couldn’t use it anyway. Still, we’d revealed a little too much. I’d revealed a little too much, especially if there was anyone in the editing room who understood Spanish. I should’ve known better than to drink tequila. It always made me loose-lipped.
A squeal rang out and I looked ahead to see Callum had finally manoeuvred Leanne into the water. She stood under a fountain, her clothes and hair drenched, just as Paul crept up behind Callum and pushed him in, too.
“You little wanker,” Callum shouted as Paul bent over laughing.
“Instant karma, baby,” Paul shot back triumphantly.
Callum charged forward, grabbed Paul at the waist and pulled him into the water with them. Lots of splashing and yelling ensued.
I chuckled and Trev grinned wickedly. “You want to join them, don’t you?”
“What? No,” I lied.
“Come on, Reya, if you can’t jump into a water fountain in Paris then where can you do it?”
“Man, you’re going to use that reasoning for everything while we’re here, aren’t you?”
His grin widened. It was kinda sexy. “Sure am.”
“I’ll only jump in if you do, too.”
Trev shook his head. “Nah, I’m a reformed character, remember? I’m only here to watch.”
Why did that statement make my mind go to dirty places? I nudged him with my shoulder. “If you jump in with me I’ll cook pancakes for breakfast.”
Dimples dotted his cheeks. “Oh, you drive a hard bargain, Miss Cabrera. You know pancakes are my favourite.”
“So, what’s it gonna be?”
He let out a theatrical sigh. “Fine. But only because you asked so nicely. And only because I can’t resist your pancakes.”
I stood and dusted the grass from my dress, then held my hand out to him. “Nobody can. I’m writing a new song. It’s called ‘My Pancakes Bring All the Boys to the Yard.’”
Trev took my hand and I pulled him up. “So pancakes are a euphemism for . . .” He paused and ran his eyes slowly over my body. Prickles tugged at my insides. “Cuddles and hugs?”
I barked a laugh. “Yep. I give the best cuddles and hugs in all of London.”
His voice dipped low, but it was still playful. “I think I remember.”
His deep tone had me swallowing down a lump of desire. Memories flooded my head. When we reached the water, Leanne, Callum and Paul were soaked to the skin, playing a game of who can splash the other one more.
“Is it cold?” I called out, slipping off my heels.
“Yeah, but you get used to it,” Leanne called back as she dodged a spray of water from Callum.
“Get in,” Paul shouted. “Live a little.”
Isaac watched from the other side of the fountain, his features a picture of amused befuddlement.
I shot a glance at Jimbo. “Are the mics waterproof?” He gave me a thumbs up. Well, hell, it looked like I really was doing this.
Trev took my hand in his. “On the count of three?”
I nodded. “One, two, thre—”
Before I could get the last word out, Trev pulled me into the water and I gasped from the cold. He lifted me up and flung me over his shoulder, then ran under one of the fountains. I yelped when the water hit my scalp, soaking my entire body in seconds.
