Don't Get Caught

Chapter 9 - Ariel

2019
Bristol, England

Summer had well and truly arrived in my corner of England. After an awful year, the blazing sunshine and boost of vitamin D was exactly what I needed to pick me up.

Bath in the summer was my favourite place to be. A world heritage site, well worthy of the title, the classic Georgian buildings lined the wide streets, leading down the hills on all sides to the very heart of the city nestled in a valley. Walking around the Royal Crescent or the Roman Baths had become a regular pastime to calm my shattered nerves.

I'd had a Danny-free year, but the fact that I referred to it as such suggested he never completely left my consciousness.

Almost twelve months after our split I was at a colleague's barbecue. It was yet another perfect summer's day and their country house garden was heaving with guests. The large outside space was decked out with extravagant rattan furniture - seats all occupied - and the futuristic-looking shiny barbecue had a crowd of men surrounding it vying for the coveted title of Head Chef.

Trinny and her partner, Harry, had disappeared to some exotic location in the Maldives to get married in secret and then returned to throw a big party. Trinny wasn't a particularly close colleague, but I wasn't one to turn down an opportunity to meet people. And by people, I of course meant men. Single once again after my shitty year.

But I'd had a bad week at work too, caught up in a lawsuit over a GDPR breach, and discovered I wasn't in the mood for socialising so I slipped into the house. It turned out perhaps a social gathering was not what I wanted or needed.

In the depths of the house I found an empty sitting room with a large houndstooth patterned armchair and sunk into it. A tabby cat slunk over and sat on my lap, padding its paws until it was suitably comfortable.

We sat together for a while in the chair, Tabby purring away while I sipped at my drink, running my spare hand backwards through its fur; it didn't seem to mind. I could just about hear the noise of the party. I wished I was in the mood to be a part of it.

My mind began to calm in the quiet room. The recent racing concerns over my job muting as my eyes scanned the exposed beams before trailing down to the colourful artwork on the walls and the rows of bookshelves. I needed a room like this in my own home, but on a single person salary, the only way to achieve that in my profession would be to set up my own business. I'd have to settle for my pokey little house on the edge of the city. And not the nice edge either.

I didn't have peace for long. The door swung open to reveal a fantastic specimen of a man and the last person I wanted to see. Skarsgård. Wearing chino shorts that stopped just above his knees, showing off his long legs, and a white polo shirt.

"Oh, it's you," I said, forcing myself not to smile as my heart skipped a beat.

"That's right. I thought I saw you earlier." He approached my chair with caution, a guarded look in his eyes. "Room for one more?"

I made a show of looking at the limited space around me before telling him no. Armchairs are made for one.

"I reckon there is." He took my hand and pulled me up, causing Tabby to leap from my lap. Its eyes shot daggers at me.

Danny sat down in my place and then pulled me down to sit on top of him. I obliged, too easily, my legs across his lap, my shoulder against his. Tabby came to join us again having forgiven me already.

"How have you been?" he asked, stroking the cat.

I was surprised by his question. But not too surprised to answer. "I've been fine, thanks. Is there any point asking what you've been up to?"