Lock down on Ice

Chapter 10

Vanessa got out of her bed slowly, she felt like she had spent the night in a tumble drier. Perri had to be thrown out of her room in the small hours so that she could get some sleep. Even as she pushed him through the door he was peppering her face with kisses. She smiled at the memory, then grimaced as her sore body protested her movement. She didn't know he felt the same way she did about him and it knocked her sideways, she briefly imagined being his girlfriend and standing proudly on his arm as they went to events and dates together. She wracked her brains for clues that he really liked her but couldn't find any so now her anxiety was kicking in. 'What if he thinks last night was a mistake?' Swallowing her panic down, Vanessa opened the door then was hit by the aroma of food cooking. She walked slowly towards the kitchen, the combination of her aching limbs, fear and suspicion made her travel at a snail's pace, she wondered if she had accidentally eaten some dodgy mushrooms because the whole of last night and this morning was not making any sense to her.

"Good morning!" A familiar, deep voice called out and she nearly left the floor in fright. "I'm not that scary am I?" he laughed.

"Sorry, I'm just so confused" she replied truthfully. She surveyed the carnage in the kitchen, there were pots and pans and empty wrappers everywhere.

"I told you I can't cook." Perri said sheepishly, he lifted up a pan that had something unrecognisable and burnt in it. Her laughter nearly drowned the sound of the doorbell. He disappeared from the kitchen and returned with two bags. "That was sick timing!" he said setting the bags on the counter and grabbing some plates from the cupboard. Vanessa peeked inside the foil containers and saw a delicious serving of crushed avocado and poached eggs, there was still hot buttered toast in another container.

"Oooh my favourite" she gushed.

"I know" Perri replied proudly, his grin was from ear to ear as he plated up. They sat at the breakfast bar with their back to the horrific mess and enjoyed their breakfast quietly both dreading the conversation they knew they must have. Eventually Vanessa broke the silence.

"So...about last night..." she started.

"I'm sorry I upset you," Perri interrupted, putting his cutlery down. 'Did he do that on purpose, mention the argument instead of the mind blowing sex...? I bet he doesn't want to tell me, maybe I should let him off the hook and get in there first.' Vanessa's anxious doubts were beginning to scupper her. She looked at the beautiful young man in front of her, could she ever be enough for someone like him she thought.

"It's ok Perri, I wanted to talk about after that actually." She took a deep breath. "Maybe we should forget that it happened?"

"Oh," Perri said quietly "If that's what you want."

"Yeah, if that's what you want." Vanessa replied, crestfallen. They finished eating in silence.