They had spent a week in New York before finally returning to London. Gwendoline had been riding high on life while still in the states just simply being in Nik's company more freely. She showed him her favorite coffee shops, a rooftop restaurant with a view to die for, a hidden away fashion shop (that didn't interest him in the slightest), and even took him for a long walk through Central Park - he had somehow goaded her into agreeing to a rowboat ride. It was a truly laughable moment to behold, two giants in a tiny rowboat, neither of them understanding how the rowing works. They'd narrowly avoided running into several other rowers, Nik almost lost an oar to the murky green water, and the two of them nearly tipped over the boat countless times.
While Gwendoline couldn't resist the outrageous smiles that Nikolaj pulled from her, she felt a constant nagging at the back of her brain. You never did such wonderful things with Giles. You would never be able to spend such...joyful days with him. His ideas of fun are going shopping for new rolls of fabric or getting take out from our favorite restaurant and watching a movie. It was fun... but it wasn't this kind of fun. Nikolaj has a more childish side that Gwen had let go dormant, she had grown accustomed to lackluster days of window shopping and going through the same motions over and over again.
But their time running around New York, playing and fucking like teenagers - including their quickie in the airplane bathroom stall - had come and gone more quickly than either would have liked. Before they knew it, they were standing at the front steps of Giles' - not Gwen's flat - their suitcases in tow. Gwen felt her body growing stiff, unable to lift her hand to open the door. She had the key, but now she felt unwelcome, this wasn't hers anymore. She betrayed him by sleeping with Nik in their home when it was still their home. He's done the same with Jonathan. Stop feeling guilty about that. At least your mother didn't catch them together.
"Gwen...?" The small voice came from behind her.
She blinked away the haze of her thoughts. She rapped on the door quickly, we can't keep standing out here, we'll be seen. She waited, listening for Giles' footsteps, but they didn't come. Would it be better if he weren't here? To pack up my things without him? Sighing, she rooted through her purse, found the key, and let them inside. She left her suitcase inside the entry hall and dropped her purse beside it.
"Giles, darling, we're here!" She called out.
Nikolaj trailed quietly behind her, his hands shoved awkwardly in his pockets. Couldn't we have waited a day? Does she need to leave this place so urgently? He followed behind her as she walked through her home, grabbing small knick-knacks that must have been hers.
He grabbed her elbow. "Gwendoline. Why are you trying to get out of here so quickly? You haven't even found a new place."
She looked back at him with her brows furrowed and her eyes starting to burn red with tears. "What do you mean I? I thought we discussed finding something together."
Nik gently grabbed her hand. " We haven't found a new place. I'm sure Giles isn't in a hurry to get you out of here. We can take our time." He pressed his lips to her knuckles.
She sighed quietly and nodded. "It just feels wrong having all my belongings here now."
"I understand, I still need to get all my things from Denmark. Maybe this is something we can do together. But first, we need to find somewhere to start new. I meant it, I want to start new with you."
Gwen gave a quick nod. "I want that, I do. I want you." She planted her lips against his, her hand immediately coming up to cup the back of his head.
Down the hall, someone cleared their throat. Slowly, Gwen pulled away and looked over. Giles stood there, a small smile across his lips, his arms full of grocery bags. "I wasn't expecting you two until tomorrow."
