It Started With a Kiss by Miranda Dickinson Read Free Book Online Page B

reached a Victorian ironwork bandstand. Tiny snowflakes began to swirl about our ears as we climbed the steps and sat down on the wooden bench seats for our alfresco breakfast. Charlie bit into his bacon sandwich and as silence fell between us I felt my stomach begin to knot once more.
    ‘Good sarnie?’ I offered, reasoning that any conversation was preferable to none at all.
    He nodded and turned the full force of his stare on me. ‘Rom …’
    The excruciation factor shot up a million-fold. ‘Charlie, can we just forget Saturday ever happened, please?’
    ‘I still think we need to talk about it. I reacted badly, and I’m sorry.’
    ‘You were just being honest.’
    ‘As you were. And I should have handled it better.’
    ‘You don’t have to say that. I know it wasn’t what you were expecting.’
    He smiled. ‘It wasn’t. It came totally out of the blue. I mean, one minute we were talking about Quincy Jones and the next …’
    ‘I know. I’m sorry, Charlie. I should never have said anything. I don’t know what I was thinking.’
    Charlie sighed and looked at me. ‘I think you’re amazing, Rom. I always have. But you’re my best friend and that’s what matters to me. I’m sorry if I gave you the impression that I … that we … you know.’
    Instantly, I looked away. As I stared at my coffee, a sudden image of the handsome stranger from the Christmas Market flashed into my mind. Despite the intense embarrassment still working its way through my guts, the memory of his lips on mine gave me a welcome boost of hope. I remembered Wren’s words to me yesterday, when she gave me the bauble from the scene of the kiss:
    ‘Let this remind you that there is at least one amazing bloke in the city who thinks you’re beautiful …’
    And suddenly, everything came into sharp focus. True, this wasn’t particularly helpful right now, seeing as I didn’t actually know where he was, or have any idea of where to start looking. But I was going to find him. Somehow.
    ‘So where did you go after you left me?’ Charlie asked, dragging me back to reality.
    I kept my expression steady, despite my heart performing cartwheels. ‘Just into the Christmas Market to finish my shopping.’
    ‘Hope you got me something nice,’ he quipped, obviously instantly regretting it. ‘Sorry.’
    ‘It’s fine. Don’t worry.’ It wasn’t fine, of course, but I really didn’t want him to be apologising every time any flicker of normality appeared between us.
    Charlie studied my face. ‘So – what happens now?’
    I unwrapped my sandwich to avoid his eyes. ‘We enjoy our breakfast before it gets cold.’
    ‘That’s not what I meant.’
    ‘I don’t know, OK? I haven’t ever been in this situation before.’
    ‘Me either.’
    I looked at him and attempted a smile. ‘I know, I’m sorry.’ I didn’t want to see the hurt in his eyes, didn’t want to face the consequences of my confession, but we needed to move on from this – for the sake of the band, if nothing else.
    ‘We have all these gigs coming up, so maybe we should focus on that.’
    ‘Right.’ He paused, carefully selecting his words before he spoke. ‘And what about – us?’
    ‘There’s nothing to say about us. It’s going to be awkward for a while, but I’m willing to carry on as before, if you are?’
    The strangest look drifted across his face. ‘Sure.’
     
     
    It was an uneasy truce, but it was a truce nonetheless. As I headed towards the city centre offices of Brum FM later that morning, I consoled myself with the thought that at least I had tackled the subject head on with Charlie before anyone else was involved. Hopefully we could move on from this without the rest of the band noticing too much awkwardness – I really didn’t need any more embarrassment.
    Ted, the gruff-looking security guard, greeted me at the door as I arrived.
    ‘Morning. Didn’t think you’d be in today, what with Christmas and all.’
    ‘I’m only in for a couple