Skin Deep by Helen Libby Read Free Book Online Page B

envelop me. ‘I’m going to miss seeing that smile
every day. I love you.’ He’s smiling but his eyes are bright with unshed tears,
much like my own.
    ‘I love you.’ Amazingly I can
still smile despite the tears forming. A few more lovely kisses and then he
really is gone. I wait for ages in the hall, propped up against the wall, in
the vain hope he’ll come back for another quick kiss and cuddle. Will it all
work out? Will our relationship last? I only know that we’re going to give it a
damn good try.

Chapter Fifteen

 
    I’ve always fancied going on the London
Eye at dusk, and so Leo pre-booked a “flight” for us both. We cuddle whilst
waiting to board a capsule.
    ‘I’ve got a surprise for you.’
Leo nuzzles my nose.
    ‘What is it?’
    ‘Wait and see, Miss Impatient.’
He laughs.
    When we’re in our gondola and have
begun making our ascent, Leo pulls out a small bottle of champagne from his
inside pocket, along with two plastic champagne flutes from his other pocket. I
let out a squeak. ‘Leo!’ He grins.
    Minutes later I’m sipping
champagne whilst overlooking the twinkling lights of London, my boyfriend
beside me. It couldn’t be more romantic, and I savour every moment. It’s
something else I’ve achieved on my list.
    We head to Leicester Square
afterwards where we have a meal in Garfunkel’s . We then make our way back to Leo’s place via the
tube. He’s renting a room in a colleague’s flat. I’m not sure I’d want to use
the Underground every day as even at 8pm it’s busy. We can’t get seats and so
hang on to each other near the door.
    ‘God! I hate this,’ Leo says through
gritted teeth.
    I make a sympathetic noise, and
snuggle closer into him. ‘This isn’t so bad though.’
    ‘I mean it, Gemma, I hate it down
here.’
    ‘You haven’t given it enough
time,’ I say soothingly. Suddenly the mood has turned negative. I listen to the
rattle of the train.
    ‘Are you happy, Gemma?’
    I look round at all the people
squashed around us. ‘Leo, this isn’t the place for a conversation like this.’
    Mind
the gap.
    ‘Well, I’m not happy. I’m bloody
miserable. I hate being so far away from you. I’m moving back.’
    I look up. ‘What? You can’t, not
yet. You haven’t been here long. And I don’t want to be the reason you give
your dream up.’
    ‘You’re my dream, Gemma.’
    I go weak at the knees, but
there’s still a stubborn voice inside me saying I must persuade Leo to stay in
London. Why? I shake my head. ‘You need to give it a bit more time.’
    ‘Why are you so insistent I stay
here? Don’t you want to see more of me?’
    ‘Of course I do.’
    ‘You’ve got a funny way of
showing it!’
    We’re silent for the remainder of
the journey. I’m wondering now just how successful this weekend is going to be. Not very, at this rate. I don’t want Leo to be
unhappy, of course I don’t, but I feel he needs to give this job – and London –
more of a chance. On the way home we call a truce; we want to make the most of
our time together after all, but it’s a fragile one and I feel uneasy.

Chapter Sixteen

 
    I sigh deeply over a cappuccino
in Costa.
    Kate is on alert. ‘What’s the
matter?
    ‘It’s Leo,’ I say flatly.
    ‘He’s okay isn’t he?’ Kate’s
voice rises an octave.
    ‘Oh, he’s fine,’ I say, for Kate
is no doubt imagining all sorts.
    ‘Have you two had a row?’ She
frowns.
    ‘No, nothing
like that. It’s just – I miss him so much.’ I definitely would not recommend a long distance
relationship. Even though the time Leo and I spend together is precious, it’s
so fleeting. And when we’re together it’s always with the knowledge that we’ve
got to part again soon. It’s tough.
    ‘Have you told him how you feel?’
    I shake my head. ‘No, he doesn’t
need any more encouragement to move back.’
    ‘I don’t understand you, Gemma.
If Leo wants to come back, then let him.’
    ‘I don’t understand myself.’