This rockstar life

2.6 Latchkey kid

He'd said he would meet me at the station, but I'm early so I'm not expecting to see...but here he is, also early. He has an umbrella but no coat, even though it is about five degrees. He is also wearing that huge half-moon grin of his and, despite my intention to act cool and sophisticated, I find myself beaming back. After an embarrassingly long time standing and grinning at each other like idiots we become aware of the crowds of passengers pushing past us and start to move away from the entrance. South Ken is a stop for lots of shops and museums, so it's crazy-busy even on weekends. Why Chelsea itself doesn't have a tube station is a mystery; I'd say it's too posh, but Hampstead is fancy too and we've got loads.

"So where do you want to go?"

"Mmm, coffee first?"

Mornings are not my thing and I require assistance from caffeine if I am to make conversation and not walk into traffic. We head off down a narrow side street that has slightly less people bustling through it.

"So when did you get back?"

"Yesterday evening. But only for a couple of days, I have to go to Germany on Monday. Oh, wait." He stops and digs in the pockets of his jeans, "I got you these." He's holding up a set of keys. "So you can come and go even if I'm not around. If you want to."

"Do you usually go round giving your door keys to women you meet on the street?"

"Actually, yeah." he looks thoughtful, "I should probably stop doing that, I've had to change the locks twice."

I think this is a joke, but I take the keys quickly in case he changes his mind. He hooks his arm through mine and we continue down the street. I hold the keys tight in my fist buried in my pocket, my insufficiently-caffeinated brain slowly processing that, even though we only spoke once on the phone while he was away, he has been thinking about me and wants me to be part of his life. Keys should be a big step, but they were offered so casually that it just feels natural. I picture walking up to the front door and letting myself in; settling down on the sofa to wait for him to get back from a trip. I was freezing until a few minutes ago but now I feel warmth in my chest. Steve notices me smiling to myself and asks what's going on in my head?

Still half in the daydream I reply, "Just thinking about you coming home to me.", then instantly regret the words. Such a fast-forward; so off-puttingly keen! My heart sinks when Steve stops walking abruptly and turns to face me.

But when I risk lifting my gaze, there's no hesitation in his expression as he says, "I would love that."

Taking my face in his hands, he kisses me, in the middle of the street, until an impatient cab driver beeps his horn at us.

(December 1989)