Beyond the Skyline

by Lise Gold

  “Is it weird for you?” She asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well… I’m not a man, in case you haven’t noticed. There must be some internal conflict going on in that pretty head of yours? I mean, it would be strange if there wasn’t.” They both laughed. Sophie frowned, thinking about the question.

  “I don’t know. I guess it’s strange. Maybe. It’s certainly different. But it feels good and right now, I don’t want to think about it.” Mel smiled.

  “Me too. Right now, I wish we could stay here forever.” She ran a hand through Sophie’s hair. “You’re special; you know that?” When Sophie didn’t answer, she continued. “I’ve had the best time with you, and you keep on surprising me. I mean, look at them.” She pointed at the dogs, who were now soaking wet, chasing each other through the forest. “It’s so sweet of you to think of them on your day off. You’re a good person, Sophie.” Sophie smiled at the sight of Buba with the biggest grin on his face.

  “It’s not like that,” she said. “I should have taken him years ago, and I didn’t. I assumed someone else would adopt him but nobody did and now the poor boy is still here. I feel awful about it. There are just so many of them, and at the time, it didn’t feel like I could make a difference just by adopting one dog. But now…” She sighed. “Now he’s seven, and he’s still here. He’s never had a loving home, and he only gets a real walk like this occasionally.” Mel shook her head.

  “Don’t act like it’s too late. It’s never too late. You can still adopt him, right? He loves you, I can tell.” She beckoned Buba to come over with her arms spread out wide and he came tearing at her with a stick in his mouth, unsure of what to do with it. Sophie laughed.

  “You’re right,” she said looking down at him. “Do you want to come back with me, Buba?” She tried to take the stick from him, but he wasn’t having any of it. He bounced back each time she tried to snatch it from him. She leaned forward, lowering her head to his level. “Do you want to come to London with us?” Buba cocked his head as if trying to figure out what she was saying. Then he turned back to his friends who were barking at something high up in a tree. Mel laughed.

  “With us?” she said. “Are we a family now?” Sophie’s cheeks turned red, and she looked down.

  “Sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s not like I’m hoping for a happily ever after with you.” She buried her face in her hands. “Oh fuck, that sounded lame. Please ignore me; I’m such an idiot.” Mel laughed even louder now.

  “It’s okay, Sophie. I’m just teasing you.” She smiled, exposing her dimples. “Look at you, all shy and rosy. It’s cute.” She got off the bench and walked around it to give Sophie a hug from the back. She sighed.

  “So what are we going to do when we see each other in the office?” Mel sounded more serious now.

  “I don’t know.” Sophie turned around, her eyes desperately trying to read Mel's face as she plucked a leaf from her hair. Mel shrugged.

  “I don't think there's much we can do. We can't see each other if we work together. Not like this, anyway. My job is really important to me, and I've only just started.” She hesitated. “It won't look good on either of us if they find out.” She pulled Sophie’s head back against her chest, stroking her forehead with gentle fingers.

  “It’s not just the gossip we’d have to deal with, you know. You’ll be my line-manager soon. It's a recipe for disaster.” Sophie nodded. She knew Mel was right, but she had already begun to wonder how much she would be willing to give up for her.

  “I think I’ll find it hard,” she said. “I mean, I know we'll still see each other every day, but it’s not the same.” Mel laced her fingers through Sophie's hair and pulled it behind her ears.

  “I know. Me too.” She bent over and placed a kiss on Sophie’s forehead. “It’s probably for the best that you’re going on holiday. At least I won’t have to suppress the urge of jumping you every time I see you.” She grinned. “Now that I know you don’t mind.” Mel’s hands moved over her shoulders and into her top and her bra, tracing the side of her breasts. The afternoon felt bitter sweet. The holiday that Sophie had been looking forward to was only hours away. But it didn't seem that enticing anymore. It felt like goodbye, and all she wanted now was to stay in Hong Kong, with Mel. As if Mel could feel her sadness, she changed the subject back to Buba. He was sleeping in the shade under a tree, exhausted from the adventure.

  “You’re going to do it, right? Adopt him? Seriously, he’s so cute. If you don’t take him, I will.” Sophie nodded and searched for the bag of boiled chicken in her bag.

  “My only regret is not doing it sooner.” She sighed. Look at him. How can I not? It’s just sad that we can’t help them all.” She held up the bag, and the dogs ran up to her, eagerly waiting for their share of the treats. Buba looked up, stuck his nose in the air and stormed over too. He sat down in front of her and joined the others in the staring competition. Sophie threw him a piece. “It’s going to take a couple of months, buddy. But we’ll get you home with me no matter what.”

  24

  “Thank God for the hotel spa,” Mel sighed. “It feels good to be clean. I couldn’t believe how dirty I was after that hike.” They were soaking in the Jacuzzi in the spa on the top floor of the hotel and had already sampled the sauna and the infrared cabins after a long shower. Candles and incense surrounded the tub in the private room they had splashed out on and as perfect as it was, the prospect of having to say goodbye made Sophie feel sad. Their time was up, and soon they would pretend that none of it had ever happened.

  “Can I call you?” Sophie asked. Mel shrugged.

  “I don’t know. Maybe better not.” She played with a lock of Sophie’s hair. “But then again, I can’t promise I’ll be able to resist texting you either.” She splashed some water over Sophie’s back. “You are so beautiful. Did you know that? Even your shoulders are a delight to look at.” Sophie smiled and leaned back, turning her face against Mel's breast.

  “I feel like we've been away for weeks. It just feels so natural being here with you. I can’t imagine never having a bath with you ever again.”

  “Yeah,” Mel said, stroking her forehead and pulling her closer with her other arm. “I'm not quite ready to let go of you either.”

  25

  The yellow hammock that Sophie had claimed for the week hung between two large trees, overlooking the white-sand beach and the ocean. Its gentle rocking felt like a warm comfort. Sophie tried to read her book, but her mind kept wandering, consumed by daydreams. Behind her, reggae music was playing from the speakers, spreading a happy vibe. She stretched out and lifted her head to listen to the sound of laughter from the beach. A group of holiday makers was trying to navigate a floating bar into the sea, but the tide kept dragging them back onto shore. It was late afternoon, and the light was beautiful this time of day, framing the palm trees along the waterfront and leaving a shimmer on the calm surface of the water. Surfers were making their way back from a long day at the beach, stopping off on the way for a cold beer. A loved-up couple was drinking sundowners on the porch in front of their cabin. The multicolored one-bedroom huts were either scattered along the beach or built on poles in the ocean, about a meter above sea level and, although they were basic, there was something very charming about them. Sophie’s hut was on the beach, underneath a group of palm trees. Her square room had a large bed in the middle with a pink mosquito net draped over the frames on either side, clashing with the bright orange of the bed sheets. Sophie preferred the hammock though, and more than once had she woken up in the middle of the night to find herself still sleeping in it, surrounded by lizards and mosquitos.

  The hippie resort was the perfect place to be alone. Sophie could swim in the sea or lie in her hammock and watch people surfing. If she wanted someone to talk to, she could join the other guests at the long table by the beach, where a bonfire dinner was served after sunset. She hadn’t realized just how tired she was until s
he was doing nothing at all. She had been working hard the past year, and she could slowly feel her body starting to relax again. The daily yoga classes on the beach were a great way to loosen up her muscles. She could already feel a change in her body. Her stomach felt harder, and her arms and legs seemed more toned. Sophie hadn’t been to the gym in a very long time and exercise was something she hated. Here in the sun on the beach, it wasn’t all that bad though.

  “Sophie.” Sophie turned around.

  “Pong! Hey! How are you? Good to see you again.” She shielded her face against the sun and squinted while her eyes adjusted to the shade that Pong’s broad frame created behind her. The Thai owner of the resort was in his early thirties, tall and lean, with a friendly face and a long ponytail which dangled down his bare, tattoo-covered back. He was wearing his usual costume of board shorts and flip-flops as he walked around her and took a stance next to the hammock, legs wide, hands on hips. He nodded.

  “Welcome back.”

  “Thank you,” Sophie smiled. “Glad to be here again. Where have you been? Haven’t seen you around these past couple of days.” He shrugged.

  “Just some family stuff up north. I drove all night, couldn’t wait to get back to my waves.” He knocked on one of the surf boards that was leaning against the wall and dusted the sand off. “So, can I finally convince you to take some surfing lessons?” He winked. “My offer still stands. First one is free.” Sophie started to shake her head, but then she hesitated.

  “Maybe. I’ll think about it.” She said. Pong looked surprised.

  “Feeling braver this time around, are you? What happened?” Sophie laughed.

  “Nothing happened.” She smiled. “Actually, a lot happened, but I’m still sort of processing it.” She sat up in the hammock, her legs dangling down on either side. “You know what? Okay. Why not?” Pong clapped his hands together.

  “Great. I’ll pick you up at nine tomorrow. You better be ready.” He turned around and started walking towards the bar. “Actually, make it ten,” he yelled without looking back. “I’m going for a drink!”

  Sophie laughed. She opened her book again and tried to remember what it was that she’d been reading for the past couple of hours, but her thoughts had been consumed with flashbacks from the previous week. Whenever she tried to concentrate, she became distracted by visions of Mel’s naked body, and memories of how it felt pressed up against hers. It aroused her instantly every time, to the point where she no longer had control over her own body. It was her new favorite pastime, fantasizing about Mel. Her intention had been to try to forget about her during her holiday, but instead, her fascination with Mel had grown to borderline obsessive. The more time passed without Mel, the more Sophie thought about her. It was a lot harder to let go than she had hoped it would be. Her phone beeped, and she jumped up, searching for her bag. Although they had agreed not to be in contact outside of work, Sophie couldn’t help but hope that it might be Mel each time a message came in. There was nothing apart from a long text message from her mother.

  ‘Hi dear, it’s your mother. Are you enjoying your holiday? We’re busy here. I’ve hired a flower stylist, and he’s done a great job with the dining room, but we’re still working through the kitchen, throwing some country flair into the mix. Orange shades are quite the thing right now, but it’s hard to find pots and vases that work with such an unusual color! Genevieve can fit you in for a hair extension appointment in two weeks so let me know if you’ve changed your mind. I’ll ask her to keep the hour free for you just in case. You still haven’t told me how your date with Aldo went. Did you buy yourself a nice dress? Deborah and I are dying to hear all about it.’

  Sophie ignored the question regarding her date like she had in her previous messages. She sent a short reply to let her mother know that she was fine and then started typing another message.

  ‘Hi Mel’ She shook her head and erased it.

  ‘Hi there. Just thinking of you. Did you get back okay?’ Sophie sighed. Of course she had gotten back okay. It sounded like a poor excuse to talk to her, which it was. She tried again after staring at the screen of her phone for at least half an hour.

  ‘Hi there. How’s your first week in the London office going? Hope they're nice to you!’

  She pressed send before she could change her mind and immediately regretted it. Mel hadn’t texted her so maybe she shouldn’t have reached out either. Damn it. Now I’m going to look desperate. She didn’t know whether to switch her phone off or to leave it on. Both options were nerve wracking. It was still morning in the UK and Mel would be at work now, probably in a meeting or a fitting. She slammed her phone in the sand, angry with herself for her lack of self-control when it beeped. She held her breath, scared to look.

  “Fuck!” she said out loud, after carefully opening one eye.

  ‘Hi Dear. Glad to hear you’re having a good time. How did your date go? Why are you ignoring my question? I’m having lunch with Deborah at the Grand later, so please get back to me as soon as you can. Be careful and don’t eat any of that foreign food. Your mother.’

  Despite her frustration, Sophie couldn’t help but chuckle. Her mother had a fear of anything exotic. She was convinced that eating Asian food would lead to instant food poisoning and that it was dangerous to venture beyond the borders of her SW3 postcode, with the exception of fenced-off resorts with armed guards at the entrance. She shook her head, put her phone in her bag and walked towards the sea, tiptoeing to avoid the hot sand on the soles of her feet. It would do her no good hanging around her phone, waiting for an answer. She passed a shower cabin with a sign that said ‘Please trun off the water after abuse.’ Sophie laughed and wished Mel was there to laugh along with her. She waded in to her waist, jumping when the waves hit her. It felt cold on her skin after the burning heat of the sun. She shivered as she splashed water on her chest and upper arms before lowering herself into the ocean. It was nice, just riding along on the gentle tide. Her hair spread around her face, tickling her neck. Thoughts came and went as she went into floating mode, but none of them were able to distract her from the matter that really bothered her. She was in love with Mel. Things that had seemed important to her before, like her promotion or her friends’ opinion of her, had faded into the background. If only Mel felt the same way, any obstacle could be overcome, including the work situation. By now, Sophie had had a lot of time to think things through, and she didn’t feel uncomfortable with the fact that Mel was a woman. In fact, she cursed herself for having been so blind all those years. Cat had been the first clear sign, but she had dug a very deep hole and buried her feelings so far down that they had only resurfaced now. She sighed. Her parents didn’t have to know, or at least not yet. Anyway, she didn’t think they would take it too well. Her brother would understand though. He had a lot of gay friends that he went out with on the weekend. According to him, Soho was a much better place to party than Chelsea, and his absence at most Sunday lunches was the clear evidence of that. Stewart had never invited her to come along on one of his nights out. They just didn’t have that kind of bond and Sophie had never craved a closer relationship either. They were brother and sister, related by blood. Nothing more. But now, it seemed more important than ever to be closer to him. She tried to wipe the salt water out of her eyes and immediately made it worse with her wet hand. It started to sting, and she made her way back to shore with very limited eyesight, stumbling out of the water. After cleaning her eyes out and applying another layer of sunscreen, she searched for her phone in her bag. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the message icon jumping.

  ‘Hey, sexy. Happy to hear from you. They’re lovely here apart from the skinny white girl in the shoe department. She’s grumpy as fuck. ☺ How’s Thailand? Thinking of you.’

  Sophie checked to make sure no one was around to witness the wide smirk on her face when she read the message. Mel had called her sexy. That alone would be enough for her to thrive on for the coming days. Her hands were shaking from
excitement while she thought about an answer.

  ‘Hi, gorgeous. Thinking of you 24-7. All good here in paradise. You would have loved it!’ Sophie hesitated for a moment, then continued. ‘Miss you ☺.’ She thought about deleting that last part. Maybe it was too much. But then Mel’s text had seemed genuine, and so she would be too.

  So what now? What’s the protocol? Is she going to send me another message back? It didn’t matter all that much anymore because Sophie was dancing on cloud nine. She subconsciously started humming a Chinese tune she remembered from the elevator in their hotel. It had always annoyed her, the way it played on repeat and she had to listen to it twelve times a day, but now it seemed rather charming. Another message came in, and she pulled her towel over her face to block out the sun from her screen.

  'Miss you too ☺. Can’t help but picturing you naked. It's keeping me from my job. What are you wearing?' Sophie felt a tingle in her lower abdomen and smiled. Was she sexting now? That would be a first. She read the message over and over again before thinking about a reply. Her heart was thumping in her throat.

  'Tiny bikini. White. Tassels at the side.' Her phone beeped immediately after she sent it.

  'That sounds hot. Send me a picture.' Sophie giggled while she tried to take a selfie. After about ten attempts she was happy with the result and sent a shot taken from the top. Her mouth and breasts were in sharp focus. The rest was blurred by the sunshine. Mel seemed pleased with it.

  'OMG. If only I was there with you...' Then she received another message.

  'Got to go. Meeting. Will message you later. Send me some more pictures so I can get through this week :)' Sophie felt elevated. Her shaking hands hovered over her phone. She tried to think of something to send back but put the phone away eventually. There was no rush. Mel would stay in touch and so would she. And that was all she had been hoping for. She sprinted up to her cabin to put her phone on charge.