by Julie Caplin
After the Wonder Wheel, they went on the dodgems before standing in front of the terrifying Thunderbolt ride.
‘What do you think?’ asked Todd, looking up at the death-defying vertical climb, the loop the loop and the waves of orange steel track.
‘I’m game if you are,’ she replied, remembering the last roller coaster she’d been on in Denmark. ‘I survived The Demon in Tivoli Gardens last year.’ She took another picture for Kate and sent it over.
‘You’re a brave woman, English,’ said Todd, watching the cart inching up the ramp towards the top of the sheer drop.
‘It’s not brave if you’re not scared,’ said Sophie, noting the slight strain in his face. ‘Brave is when you’re scared, and you still do something, when you face your fear. That’s real bravery. My friend Kate went on the Demon last year, even though she’s terrified of heights and had never been on a roller coaster before. And that is not one to lose your ride virginity on, but she didn’t want to spoil things for another member of our party. So she went for it. That’s brave.’
He lifted his chin. ‘I always thought being brave was recognising your limitations. Acknowledging you don’t have to do something to try and prove you’re brave. Saying I’m scared of roller coasters and living by it. Being honest to live by your beliefs and not try.’
‘I hadn’t thought about it like that.’ She tipped her head up, looking back at the height. ‘But sometimes the benefit is worth the risk.’
‘Hmm, I’m not sure. Do you want to go on?’ His deceptively casual tone didn’t fool her.
‘Not particularly, I’d rather have a hot dog.’
Relief loosened his shoulders which had been almost up to his chin. There was a story there. ‘Hot dogs coming right up.’
‘You’ve got mustard,’ he nodded at her chin and then scooped it up with a quick dab of his finger, lifting it to her lips.
He’d insisted, for her ‘food education’, on taking her to Nathan’s for the best dogs on the island and now they were sitting on the sand just off the boardwalk.
‘Mmm, thanks.’
‘My pleasure.’ The warm smile he sent over the huge hot dog he was eating had definite undertones of no good thoughts. ‘You look like you’re really enjoying it.’
‘It’s delicious,’ she said warily, immediately conscious of the incipient double entendres, ‘and at home I’d probably never eat a hot dog.’
‘Ah, that’s because you’ve never had your mouth around … an American dog before.’
‘Don’t start all that malarkey!’ said Sophie, nudging him, immediately blushing as she remembered what they’d been up to in the shower that morning and inadvertently looking at his crotch. It appeared she’d left all her inhibitions at Heathrow when she boarded the plane.
‘Malarkey?’ said Todd, imitating her accent. ‘Is that what it’s called?’
‘Shh,’ said Sophie, blushing some more. The dratted man didn’t miss a trick.
‘Shower malarkey.’ He nodded gravely, his intent gaze suddenly sharpening as she tried to take another bite of her hot dog.
‘Stop it,’ she ducked her head. ‘I’ll never be able to eat this if you don’t stop watching me like that.’
‘Yeah, but you look so cute when you blush.’
‘Behave.’ She gave him a repressive glare and was about to take another bite when he said, in a deliberate husky, suggestive tone, ‘I love your mouth.’
She wriggled in the sand, now starting to feel warm in all the right places. What was it about Todd that he could do this to her at any moment?
That naughty knowing look in his eye suggested he knew exactly what he was doing and then he waggled his eyebrows in a ridiculously over-the-top expression.
With an impish smile his way, she lifted the dog, playing along, blowing on the meat for a second, trying to look seductive and come hither, and then as she opened her mouth, she took a firm, snappy bite.
Todd’s head shot up. ‘Ouch!’
And she burst into giggles.
The silliness continued until she’d finished the hot dog and he scooped up the wrappers and jogged off to the nearest bin. She watched him cross the beach, with a light heart and a big smile on her face.
When they’d finished eating, they sat on the beach, side by side, Todd’s arm slung around her, watching the people around them, enjoying the touch of the brilliant sunshine. Sophie rested her chin on her knees, happy to watch the children on the shoreline dancing in and out of the sea, shrieking as the waves sped up the beach, splashing them with the cold Atlantic waters. She tipped her face up to the sun, glad she’d put sunscreen on.
‘Mind if I have a snooze?’ asked Todd, leaning back. ‘I’m exhausted.’
‘Exhausted?’ asked Sophie.
‘Yeah, you’ve worn me out, English. You’re a demanding woman. I’m not sure I can keep up.’
‘Todd,’ she said.
‘Yeah?’
‘Go to sleep,’ she said over her shoulder.
‘Yes, ma’am.’
He stretched out beside her, one arm tucked around her bottom as if he wanted to anchor himself to her. She checked her mobile phone, enjoying the feeling of having him close, knowing he wanted to keep her close. Kate had texted back.
Blimey, girl. You didn’t say he was that bloody gorgeous. A smile touched Sophie’s mouth and she glanced back at Todd. In six months’ time this would be just a lovely memory.
For the first time in months, Sophie opened up the Facebook app on her phone. She’d not posted anything since she’d left London.
Posting a picture of the Thunderbolt on her page, she wrote: Enjoying life in New York. A day out on Coney Island. Blackpool it isn’t.
Like opening a bottle and letting the genie out, she began scrolling through her Facebook feed. A sudden wave of homesickness rolled over her, taking her breath away as she began thinking about friends and family back home. She’d cut herself off so sharply, she hadn’t thought about what they were all up to. There were lots of messages from people including Angela and Ella in the office. And there, a whole stream from James sent through Messenger.
At the flat. Can’t get in. When will you be home? Jx
Where are you? Jx
Sophie, we need to talk. I love you. It sounds a terrible cliché, but I can explain everything. Jx
Darling, I’m worried about you. Please get in touch. Just let me know you are OK. Jx
Please don’t cut me out of your life. There’s been a terrible mistake. We need to talk. Jx
A slew of other messages in a similar vein followed and then there was a break of a couple of months. And then last week there’d been a new message.
Sophie. I love you. I want you back in my life. I’m an empty shell without you. I’m so lost without you.
With a curl of her lip, she stabbed at the screen, her heart aching at her stupidity. She’d invested so much in him. So much love. So much hope. Her future. Six months ago she’d never have dreamed she’d be here. If you’d asked her then, her hope would have been to be engaged. For James to have finally popped the question. She’d been so convinced that he was about to propose. How had she got it so wrong?
She looked down at Todd, realising that he was watching her through half-closed lids.
‘You OK?’ he asked, lazily tracing circles on her thigh. ‘You look a bit sad.’
‘Fine,’ she said, keeping her voice bright, trying not to let the memories dampen the day.
‘Ready for a cold beer? Or would you like to go on another ride? Would you like to go on the dodgems?’
And there, she realised, was the difference. The magic word ‘you’. He might not take anything too seriously. He might be all about having fun, living for the moment and enjoying everything that life threw at him. But he cared about her. He did things for her. Even last night when he’d seduced her into bed, he constantly checked that she was happy, that she was comfortable.
Even with his harem he was solicitous. Making sur
e he took them to places they’d like. Looking out for other people. He might not realise it, but he was an absolute gentleman. Thoughtful and considerate. But not a man who was for keeps.
‘Dodgems,’ she said, jumping up. ‘I love the dodgems.’
Chapter 25
‘How do you fancy a trip on the Staten Island ferry?’ asked Todd, draining his coffee cup and already starting to rise to his feet. ‘If we go now, we can beat the tourist crowds.’
‘Ooh, yes. I’ve always wanted to do that since I saw Working Girl.’ She looked at her watch. It was still early. ‘I have promised Bella I’d help her later. I’ve neglected her a bit this week.’
They were finishing breakfast on the deck, having had a lazy start to a glorious Saturday morning. The sun was climbing into a pure-blue sky and the grey clouds of the week had finally been washed away.
In the last few weeks since their trip to Coney Island, they’d spent each weekend exploring Brooklyn but this weekend they’d decided, if the weather was nice, to head to Manhattan. They’d been to the Barclay Centre to see a baseball game, where Sophie had spent more time watching the antics of the crowd than the game, which was totally unintelligible. They’d been to a rooftop cinema, they’d eaten pizza, Lebanese and Brazilian food and they’d been on the boating lake at Prospect Park, making the most of the warm balmy days.
This last week the weather had turned, with low grey clouds skimming the tops of downtown’s skyscrapers, the view from the windows blurred with drizzle. Not that either of them had noticed. It meant that their lunch breaks were spent in a cosy Italian deli that Todd had introduced her to. Of course, it was a great opportunity for her to pick Mario’s brains: Mario the fifth-generation Italian owner, who much to Todd’s amusement had taken a shine to Sophie and would pull up a chair at their table to talk food and recipes with her. It was rapidly becoming another one of her favourite places. She was really starting to feel as settled in Manhattan as she was in Brooklyn.
Sophie was secretly amazed and surprised by the way they’d fallen into such an easy regular routine. Each night on the days when Todd was in the office, they’d travel home together, stopping to pick up groceries at the store by their subway station. By unspoken agreement they hadn’t gone public about their relationship at work, although Sophie wondered whether Madison had said anything. If she had, no one made any comment. A couple of times they’d been to Todd’s apartment, which was only two blocks away. Looking at the stark white walls and minimal flat-packed furniture, Sophie could see why he preferred spending time at her place.
Most nights she’d cook for him, while he sat at the breakfast bar watching her, stealing kisses and complaining about being an unwilling slave when she made him chop vegetables. Without fail he’d wash and tidy up afterwards, constantly suggesting she took her clothes off again. He only stopped when one night she’d nipped off after dinner to add a dozen extra layers of underwear under her clothes. She laughed so hard her sides hurt, when in exasperation he started taking clean teaspoons out of the kitchen drawer to wash when he failed to get her naked.
He’d spent every night at hers, not that she was complaining. Her favourite part of the day was waking up next to him.
Todd came behind and nuzzled her neck, his hands sliding down to her waist. ‘Are you sure you want to go on the ferry this morning?’ His lips slid to capture her mouth in a kiss. ‘We could stay here,’ he muttered.
With a sigh she looked up at him, her eyes dancing. ‘And if you start that, we’ll never get out.’
‘I’m not complaining,’ he replied, his hands moving up along her ribs. ‘Are you?’
She sucked in a breath as his fingers skirted her breasts.
‘I mean if you have any complaints, I’d be more than happy to have a replay … maybe I need to practise …’ His hand closed over her breast, finger and thumb capturing her nipple.
With a fractured breath she leaned back into him, starting to feel heated. They’d only left the bedroom half an hour ago, but already she wanted him again. Sex was a constant adventure, hot and hard some days, soft and tender on others, but always a revelation. It was as if she couldn’t get enough of him.
The shrill tones of Todd’s phone interrupted, and he frowned as he looked down at the phone on the table. With reluctance he peeled his hands from her ribcage. ‘It’s Marty. Sorry, I’d better take this.’
‘Hey, little dude. What’s up?… What?’ Todd turned away and walked back into the apartment, his shoulders hunching as he went.
Sophie picked up her orange juice, leaning back in her chair and watching the children playing in the back yard two doors away. With a brief pang she thought of James’s daughter. Was he still with his wife and Emma? And if his wife hadn’t confronted her, how long would James have kept up his double life? Sophie still had the occasional daydream of their future, of children. She screwed up her face. Children. Todd would have beautiful children. She knocked back her orange juice with a quick jerk of her hand. If he ever had any. Sadness washed over her. Not for herself but for him. He deserved to be loved, to be happy. This last week they’d spent every available moment together and he’d been lovely. He might not realise it but he was good in a relationship. Perhaps one day he might change his mind. Realise that love was worth taking the risk and that not all relationships were as toxic as his parents’. She wasn’t stupid enough to think she was the one to do that.
‘Marty’s in trouble again. I’m going to have to take a rain check on the ferry trip. I have to go to the Upper East Side. Dad’s making all sorts of threats. Marty’s in a terrible state.’
She jumped, so lost in thought, she’d not heard his approach.
‘What’s he done?’
‘You look bright eyed and bushy tailed.’ Bella’s teasing drawl greeted Sophie as she went into the bakery kitchen. ‘You’ve got that thoroughly ravished look about you.’
She pulled on an apron and gave Bella a sunny smile.
‘My cousin is keeping you … busy.’ This time there was an underlying touch of cynicism in her words. ‘I’m surprised the novelty hasn’t worn off yet.’
‘We’re having fun, Bella.’ Sophie tried not to sound defensive, but she was getting a little fed up with Bella’s regular warnings. ‘I got the memo. Todd doesn’t do commitment. He won’t fall in love with me. I get all that. I’m not going to fall in love with him.’
‘Sorry, hon.’ Bella came over and put her arms around her, with a quick squeeze. ‘That was mean. I’m not trying to be a bitch. I worry about you. This might be the most attentive I’ve seen him … but I know what he’s like. I love him to bits, but he’s not a stayer. Hell knows, he could do with someone like you on his side but he’s … well, you’ve seen his folks in action. As far as he’s concerned, love is a blackmail tool.’
‘Hardly surprising. Have they always been like that?’ She and Todd rarely talked about his family.
‘Always. It’s like treading on eggshells around them. One minute they’re ready to kill each other and heading to the lawyers for a divorce and then they’re all over each other again. They’ve calmed down in recent years.’ Bella sighed. ‘I remember one time. It was Christmas, darn it. Ross made one of his disparaging comments, she lost it and pushed the whole damn tree over. Ornaments smashed everywhere. She flounced off and refused to come back downstairs. Can you imagine Christmas dinner that day?’
Sophie winced, picturing a young Todd.
‘So where is lover boy today?’ asked Bella. ‘I have to say, he seems remarkably attentive. Has he been home this week? I might have to double your rent, it’s like he’s moved in.’
‘He’s gone to see his folks. Marty is in trouble again. Apparently he hacked into a few Facebook accounts of guests at the party. Added horns and a tail to the pictures of Ross’s business partner’s wife, which has not gone down well.’
Bella started to snigger and started to sing, ‘Beware the devil woman …’
Sophie shook her head. ‘S
he wasn’t the only one. Quite a few of the guests that weekend were visited by the Photoshop fairy.’
‘You’re kidding … oh, Marty.’ Bella put a hand over her mouth to hide her smile. ‘He’s a …’
‘He’s in a lot of trouble … again. Todd’s gone to run interference.’
‘That’s hilarious,’ said Bella. ‘Wish I’d seen them. Some of those folks are pompous idiots.’
‘Unfortunately, Celine and Ross don’t feel the same way. They’re furious. Marty called Todd this morning, crying hysterically down the phone.’
‘Poor kid. And smart. He chose their Achilles heel to make his point. They’re obsessed with putting on the right image. It’s pretty harmless in the scheme of things.’
‘Yes,’ Sophie sighed. ‘But Todd worries about him getting into bigger trouble.’
‘They should pay the poor little sod a bit more attention.’
‘That’s what Todd says.’
‘Hmm, he’s not wrong. But I’m grateful he’s hot footing it to the rescue. It means I can use and abuse your help.’
Icing and decorating the wedding cake for the interior designer was Bella’s priority for the day and for the rest of the morning the pair of them were absorbed in transferring the patterns of the three wallpapers the bride had selected for each of the different tiers of the cake. Sophie had been tasked with tracing the pattern onto the rolled-out sheet of icing. The painstaking work took all her concentration, as she used a pin to prick through the wallpaper design laid on top of the icing.
When they broke for coffee, they took their drinks into the café. Bella’s Saturday staff were busy but they bagged a table at the back.
‘And what’s the latest with Wes?’ asked Sophie. Bella had enough comments to make about her and Todd, so she had no compunction when it came to probing for the latest. ‘Has his mother been in again?’