Free Cwtch Me If You Can by Beth Reekles Page A

body and take in every inch of him, but my eyes are glued to his.
    I have never wanted a guy to both kiss me and not kiss me more in my entire life.
    Then, after a painfully long silence, he says in a whisper, ‘You know, I’m coming back here to do my PGCE.’
    And what will that give me, I wonder, a year, two years? It wouldn’t be enough.
    I don’t give my heart over lightly. With me, it’s all or nothing, and always has been. And with Sean… He’ll break my heart worse than anyone else.
    I don’t realise I’ve said all that aloud until he steps closer, and says, ‘Maybe. But isn’t it better than regretting that you didn’t?’
    My mouth falls open, but no words come out. I hesitate.
    I shouldn’t have come to this party. I should’ve stayed home. Far away from Sean.
    But everywhere I go, I run into him. In work, on nights out, here… I can’t get away from him. It’s like – like the universe is throwing us together all the time, and no matter how many times I try to run away, I’ll still be running towards him.
    Almost like there is such a thing as fate.
    The romantic in me is back, and she’s here to stay, I realise.
    So now, the way I see it, I have two choices – keep running, or stand still.
    His hand on my face startles me, and I blink, focusing back on Sean. His thumb skims over my cheekbone. His skin is cool, but his touch sets my whole body on fire again. And I’m leaning into him, head tilting up, almost automatically.
    I can see hope flickering in his eyes, but there’s tension in the rest of his face, like he can’t let himself hope too much. Because he thinks I’ll reject him again. He’s sure I will.
    But he has to ask me.
    â€˜So?’ he breathes. ‘What’s it gonna be?’
    I’m standing still. I’m not running any more.
    In answer, I kiss him.
    This kiss isn’t on the cheek. Sean is still for a moment. Shocked, I guess. But just as I start to pull away, his arm wraps around me and the hand he’s got on my cheek slips around to the back of my head, knotting into my hair. And he’s kissing me back in a way that makes me think I’ve never really been kissed before.
    It’s intense and desperate and so, so gentle, all at once. I don’t melt in his arms, though – I push back into him with everything I’ve got, hoping that time doesn’t start moving again. This is something I never want to end.
    But it does – my clutch bag starts vibrating at my feet. When did I drop my bag? And when did Sean press me up against the door?
    We pull apart and I bend down to get my phone. Sean steps back, giving me space, and I look up at him with a guilty smile. ‘I’m sorry, it’s Cathy… I should get this.’
    I answer, but before I can get out a hello, she shrieks, ‘Where the hell are you? Did you go home? Are you at home? I’ve been looking all over for you and I can’t find you! Where are you?’
    She’s so loud that I have to pull the phone away from my ear. That’s when I see the three texts she’s sent me that I’ve missed. All in the last ten minutes, all asking where I am.
    â€˜Calm down,’ I say. ‘I’m still here.’
    â€˜Well where the hell are you?’
    â€˜I’m with Sean.’
    There’s a long pause.
    â€˜Alexandra Singh, I am only going to ask you one question, and I want an honest answer. Are you naked right now?’
    â€˜No!’ I sound really shrill, and I blush. ‘God, Cathy.’
    â€˜Sorry, just checking. So what are you doing, just hanging out with him?’
    â€˜Sort of.’
    â€˜Please tell me I haven’t interrupted something,’ she groans.
    â€˜No, Cathy! Jeez. We’re just…’
    â€˜If that sentence isn’t PG, don’t finish it.’
    â€˜Kissing,’ I mumble.
    There’s another long