⇾ 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘 | 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐈

Chapter Eighty-One: Slow Down, Geo

May 23, 1962

The days turned into weeks, and before we knew it, we were back in Liverpool for the first time in a long time. Brian had seemingly chosen to forget he'd ever discussed John with me, and I gladly played along, pretending myself that it never happened.

We'd been back in Liverpool for a mere two days now and I was just getting to see Trixie again. She was thrilled when I'd called and asked her to meet downtown.

It didn't take long for her to begin pressuring me into telling her everything. I worked out every way I could avoid telling her about the trip to Lübeck and getting stuck overnight with him completely alone...there was no way I was keeping it from her, I knew. She had an annoying way of working out when I was leaving something out or lying.

"—he took me to a city about two hours out of Hamburg for a little trip," I said carefully. Trixie nodded, her eyes bright and imploring. "We missed the last train back and had to stay overnight," I said simply, failing to hide a blush.

Her hands fell onto the table loudly, just like Paul's had.

"Donna, you didn't—?"

I nodded, flustered to the point where I couldn't see straight. "What gave it away?" I asked.

"You're just rubbish at hiding the fact that you're embarrassed. About staying the night with him." She laughed. "It's not hard to work out."

"That's a fair point," I said, sighing.

"Well, good job," she said, snickering.

I gave her a sarcastic smile and a nod, laughing along.

"I say we drink to that." She thrust her milkshake into the air and I shook my head, clinking it to hers.

"Hey, George and I are going to the movies later," she said. "Why don't you and John tag along? A little double date action?"

I nodded. "That sounds awesome."

The bell above the door dinged and Trixie and I looked over, seeing John walk in, looking bored.

"John?" I asked, shooting Trixie an apologetic look. "What're you doing here, love?"

He sat down next to me and took a sip of my milkshake. "Hiding from Paul. He won't stop moping."

"What happened to him?" asked Trixie.

"He broke it off with poor Dorothy," John said. "I nearly didn't get him to shut up." He sat back.

"Why didn't you...you know...help him?" I asked. "Isn't that what friends do."

"Not us males, Donna," he said, waving a finger jokingly. "We tell each other it's for the best and go down to the bar, but it's the middle of the day, so that's a little crazy."

"And when have you ever cared about that?"

He shrugged. "I don't really know. Maybe it was Brian."

I shrugged too. "You're probably right."

"Oh, John," said Trixie, clearing her throat. "I was just telling Donna that George and I are going to a movie later. You two should come." She smiled.

John sat back, his hand falling onto my thigh discreetly. I breathed deeply, readjusting my posture slightly. "That would be nice, wouldn't it?" He gave an almost too innocent smile at me.

"We have to actually watch the movie," I said flatly.

He nodded. "I know," he muttered, mockingly crestfallen.

I rolled my eyes and returned my gaze to Trixie. "We can't wait," I said.

"I know you can't." She winked and I frowned, seeing John shoot a smirk at me.

"Everyone can sense it, love. We're like two bolts of electricity: unavoidable and unmistakable."

I shook my head. "Unbelievable." They laughed.