Never Forget Him

by Tracy Lorraine

  “Come on then, our room’s waiting,” Jay says, stepping up to me and distracting me from my extravagant surroundings. He grabs my hand and pulls me towards the lifts. I don’t realise he doesn’t have hold of our cases until a very well dressed employee wheels them in behind us on a trolley. It all seems a little much for Jay’s duffle and my tiny suitcase but I go with it.

  Jay keeps a tight hold on my hand the entire ride to the top—yes, the top—of the hotel.

  “Jay?” I question, when the bellboy backs out of the lift.

  “Shhh…come on, you’re going to love it.”

  He’s not wrong, because from the second I step foot over the threshold, I’m in love. The room—or should I say suite—is incredible; totally over the top for the two of us, but still incredible.

  Jay thanks the bellboy and I watch as he smoothly slips him some money before he quickly leaves us to it.

  “Jay, this must be so expensive.”

  “Stop going on about the money. It’s fine. I’m usually stuck on base and spend nothing. I want to enjoy ourselves, make tonight special.”

  The question about this being our last night together is on the tip of my tongue, but I don’t want to know the answer so I snap my mouth shut and nod at him.

  “Just so you know, I’m not one of those girls you need to spend money on to make something special.”

  “I know you’re not, Skittles. I didn’t do this because I thought it was what you wanted. I’ve done it because it’s what you deserve.”

  My heart flutters and I know in that moment the last little bit I was holding on to has gone. I stare into his grey eyes and in one sense I can see my entire future, because I know he’s going to stay with me forever, but at the same time I feel like I’m looking at the end.

  “Don’t get upset.” His hands drop mine in favour of holding on to my cheeks. “I want to show you how much our time together has meant to me, how much you mean to me.”

  Thankfully, he doesn’t give me a chance to answer because I probably would have burst into tears. Instead, he lowers his lips to mine. We stay motionless for a long time with our lips connected. As nice as the connection is, I need more of him. Our hours are counting down and I’m desperate to spend them as close to him as possible.

  He must have the same thoughts because within seconds I feel his lips move against mine before his tongue sweeps in. He kisses me deeply, passionately, until my entire body is alight. My nipples peak and every time his chest presses against them, little bolts of lightning shoot off around my body. Jay’s hands slide down my neck before descending until he grabs on to my arse. He pulls my body tightly against his, allowing me to feel his hardness pressing into my stomach.

  When he pulls back, we’re both breathless. “Jay, I—” I start, but a phone ringing stops me.

  I stand and watch as he walks over to answer it. I can’t help but smile when I see him try to rearrange himself in his jeans—kissing me caused that! This man is gorgeous, strong, kind, brave, and he wants boring ol’ me. Even after all the time we’ve spent together, I still can’t quite get my head around it. He has the most exciting life, shipping off all around the world, saving people’s lives, yet he’s spent the last ten days or so being the kindest and sweetest guy.

  “Yes, she’s on her way,” he says, pulling me from my thoughts.

  “Where am I going?” I ask when he’s put the phone down.

  “I’ve booked a couple of surprises for you.”

  “Isn’t this enough?”

  “Nowhere near.” He’s in front of me again and before I realise he’s moved, he’s pulling me back to him for a short but amazing kiss. “I told you I wanted to show you how much our time has meant to me, how much you mean to me.”

  After grabbing his duffle bag, he takes my hand and together we head back into the lift—only this time, we descend to the basement.

  It’s obvious what he’s done when the lift doors open because we’re greeted by a giant spa and wellbeing centre sign.

  We just step out when he tugs my arm and pulls me up against him. “You go and relax, I’ll be in the gym next door. I’ll meet you back up in the room when you’re done.” He presses a second room key into my empty hand before giving me a slightly impropriate kiss and pushing me towards the spa entrance.

  “Erin?” the lady behind the desk asks.

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, if you head through that door you’ll find a robe to change into and some lockers to put your clothes in. When you’re ready, come back out and have a seat on one of the loungers. Kristy will come and get you.”

  I glance over to where she pointed and see a series of loungers in a garden room looking out over the grounds. “Okay, th…thank you,” I stutter. This has taken me by surprise and I feel totally out of place, having never stepped foot in a spa before. I need Frankie here; this kind of thing is a weekly occurrence for her. As I walk through to find the robe, I realise how much I miss my best friend. We’ve hardly spoken since I left with Jay, and the only thing I know about what’s going on with her is that she’s shagging Dean, Jay’s non-solider mate. Before getting undressed, I grab my phone from the back pocket of my jeans and write her a message.

  Erin: You would not believe where I am! Jay’s booked us a suite in this insane hotel in Cambridge and I’m currently stood in the spa. I’ve no idea what I’m doing. I think this is our last night.

  I’m surprised when I immediately see three little dots on my screen.

  Frankie: Make the most of it; you deserve it. Is tonight going to be the night?

  Butterflies erupt in my belly as I think about what’s in store for us tonight. That kiss earlier sure pointed towards more. The memory of him coming into my room in Inverness still haunts me, and I’d kind of hate to not have the chance to experience that again, only I’d like to be able to see him this time.

  Erin: Only time will tell.

  Frankie: If he’s half as good my soldier, you’re in for a good night.

  I still don’t have the heart to tell her over the phone that Dean’s a liar, but I’m going to have to as soon as I get back.

  Erin: See you soon. Love you x

  Frankie: You’re not going to get away that easily without telling me the details once you’re back. Love you too x

  I stare down at my phone and let out a sigh. Sharing what Jay and I have done together seems weird somehow. It’s been about us, and part of me wants to keep it that way. I feel like we’ve experience something no one else is going to understand. I know most people are going to think I’m crazy for going with him in the first place, let alone falling for him when I don’t really know much about him, but I have, and I think it’s time I stopped denying how much. I try not to think about it because then it leads to me thinking about him leaving. I really want to ask about where he’s based, what he’s going to be doing and when his next leave is, but it makes everything too real.

  I’m stood there with my phone in my hand staring at the blank screen for so long that eventually there’s a knock on the door.

  “Are you okay in there?”

  “Shit,” I whisper. “Yes sorry, I had a call. I’ll be two minutes.”

  I quickly strip out of my clothes and stuff them and my phone into the locker before slipping into the thickest, softest robe I think I’ve ever worn.

  When I step out, two women are chatting at the reception desk. The door shutting behind me alerts them to my presence and they both turn to look at me. I feel my face heat. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t worry. Come this way.” I follow Kristy down a short corridor, spending the whole time wondering how she gets her blonde hair quite so perfect, before heading into a softly lit room full of candles and the same relaxing music filtered throughout the spa.

  “Have you had a massage before?”

  I shake my head, too busy looking around the room at everything to answer.

  “Okay, well in a minute I’ll leave you to get comfortable. You c
an remove your robe and lie face down on the bed, and cover yourself with the towel here.”

  “Okay,” I whisper.

  “We’ll do your facial afterward.”

  Kristy does as she said and disappears out of the room and I stand there feeling totally overwhelmed. She may have only given me a couple of instructions but I have no idea what I should be doing.

  I follow my instincts and get onto the bed.

  “Are you ready?” I hear asked in a soft voice.

  “Yes.”

  I’m face down and it kills me not to be able to see what Kristy’s doing. I’m too damn nosey for this.

  It’s only a minute or two before she softly starts telling me what she’s going to do, and then I feel her warm hands on my feet; I all but jump from the bed.

  “Sorry, are you ticklish?”

  “Yes,” I say, trying to squirm out of her hands.

  Thankfully, she changes her technique before swiftly moving on to my legs. It takes a while but eventually the soft music and her repetitive actions relax me.

  “Erin?”

  “Huh?” I ask, lifting my head from the hole.

  “We’re done.”

  I blink a couple of times as I try to figure out where I am. Kristy looks at me with an amused but knowing smile. Clearly, I’m not her only client to fall asleep on her table.

  “I’ll give you a couple of minutes to relax and then we can start your facial. You’ll need to be on your back for that one so you can again cover yourself with a towel. I’ve put a clean one over there. I’ve left you a glass of water but would you like anything else?”

  “That’s perfect, thank you.”

  I just about manage to stay awake to enjoy the facial and I soon realise why Frankie does this kind of thing regularly. By the time Kristy has finished, I feel amazing. I swear my face has never been so clean.

  “Thank you so much; that was incredible.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Is that it?” I ask, seeing as she hasn’t talked about anything else.

  “No, you have appointments with Charlie and Ronnie, but you need to go and get showered first as I’m sure you won’t want to once Charlie’s done your hair.”

  “My hair?”

  “Yes. If you go back to where you got the robe, you’ll find showers. All the products you need will be in there. Then, just wait out on the loungers.”

  I follow her instructions and in a couple of minutes I find myself stood under a waterfall shower, silently thanking Jay for organising this for me. As much as I want my hair done, I’m also desperate to see him. Is it crazy that I miss him? I’m also kind of desperate to see him working out in the gym. I’ve loved waking up in the mornings to find him doing his sit ups next to the bed.

  My thoughts run away with me and I once again find myself rushing to get back out before someone has to knock for me.

  I’ve barely sat my arse on the lounger before I hear my name being called. When I look over my shoulder, there’s a young slim guy with the silkiest locks I think I’ve ever seen stood smiling at me.

  “Are you ready, darlin’?”

  “Sure am.”

  Charlie leads me to a hair salon at the end of the corridor, sits me down and hands me a glass of bubbles. I could get used to this!

  “So, darlin’, what are we doing?”

  “It could do with a trim.”

  “Okay, what else? How do you want it for your big night?”

  “My big night?” My mind runs away with me and all I see is Jay and I in a huge bed. Embarrassment flushes my neck and face.

  “Yes, I’m presuming you have dinner reservations with a sexy young man, and if your blush tells me anything it’s that the plans don’t end there,” he whispers, making me flush more. “Just as I thought.”

  I change the subject and explain to Charlie how my hair doesn’t do anything so it’s not worth his effort, but he tells me that’s rubbish because he can work magic. I give him permission to do whatever he wants and sit back with my bubbles.

  “Tell me about this sexy man, then,” Charlie says, once I’m back from the basin.

  I hesitate for a second but when I meet his soft, kind eyes in the mirror, I find our story falling from my mouth. I tell him everything about meeting Jay in the nightclub to our road trip that has found us here.

  “OMG, that’s so romantic,” he coos as he cuts a few millimetres off my ends. “A two week road trip with a sexy solider. Sounds like my kind of week,” he adds with a wink.

  I find it way too easy to talk to Charlie, because without realising it, my fears seem to fall from my lips. “What’s going to happen next, though? We never talked about what would happen when our time was over.”

  “You’ve fallen in love with him, haven’t you?”

  I avert my gaze because Charlie’s stare is too intense. It’s as if he’s reading my thoughts.

  “Yes,” I whisper. “What am I meant to do now?”

  “You need to talk to him, darlin’. See if he feels the same way.”

  “What if he doesn’t? I mean, he says all the right things, but what if this really was just two weeks of fun for him whilst he’s on leave? What if this is it?”

  “From what you’ve said, I don’t think that’s the case.”

  “I don’t even know where he’s based,” I huff, thinking of all the times I’ve tried to bring the subject of his work up only to have him side step it.

  “What do you think?” Charlie asks when he holds up a mirror behind me.

  “It’s gorgeous. I don’t know how you did it.”

  “Pure genius.”

  I stare at my reflection with perfect curls framing my face. Charlie’s not only cut and curled my hair to perfection, but he also added some highlights that give it a real sun kissed look. It’s stunning, it really is. “You are. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, darlin’. I hope it knocks his socks off.”

  Charlie has just walked off when a slightly older woman approaches. “Erin, I’m Ronnie, I’m going to do your nails and make up for you.”

  “Okay.” I get up and follow her to her station at the other side of the room.

  “Nails are to be red,” she states. “Let’s see your hands then, love.”

  I do as I’m told and lift my hands so she can inspect my nails. They’re not in bad condition per se; I don’t chew them or anything but I don’t exactly look after them. “Why have they got to be red?” I ask.

  “That’s what I’ve been told.”

  “By whom?”

  She shrugs, but it’s kind of obvious, really.

  Ronnie’s easy to chat as well—not as easy as Charlie mind you, and thankfully she steers clear of any talk of relationships. By the time she’s finished with me, my fingers and toes are fire engine red and my face is flawless. I thought Frankie had a way with make-up, but this woman seriously has skills. As I stare at myself in the mirror, looking better than I ever have in my life, I have the sudden desire to take a selfie, which is very unlike me.

  “Do I need to pay for all of this?” I ask before leaving the spa.

  “Nope, it’s all sorted.” I’m torn between being really grateful for what Jay’s done and annoyed that he’s spent even more money on me.

  As I make my way to the lift, I see the frosted windows hiding the view of the gym goers behind. Something tells me he’s right there on the other side of the glass, and I wish I could see him. I’d love to watch him putting everything he has into his exercise, watching his muscles bulge and the sweat pour from him. I shake my head to clear the thoughts. Who is this woman I’m turning into? I’ve never before even considered what a guy would look like working out.

  I hit the button in the lift for the top floor with frustration, although I’m not sure if it’s fuelled by my straying thoughts or still lingering after our kiss earlier.

  I let myself into our room and just as I expected, I’m alone. I take the opportunity to explore the suite, as the only t
hing I explored before was Jay. I walk through the living area to find a bedroom with the biggest bed I’ve ever seen in my life. Seriously I think about ten people would be able to sleep in it. It seems totally over the top for two; we’re gonna have to shout at each other, we’ll be so far apart. Through a door on the other side of the bedroom there is one impressive bathroom with a two-man Jacuzzi bath in the centre. I may have just had the most relaxing couple of hours of my life but still, my body aches to be laid out in that with the jets massaging my muscles.

  Regretfully, I turn and walk back into the bedroom. Something catches my eye that I didn’t see before. Hanging in front of the mirrored wardrobe door is a black dress. I walk over and run my fingertips down over the satin fabric. It’s plain, simple, and way too slinky for my liking. It’s more like something Frankie would pick, not me.

  I lift it from the wardrobe and turn it around, and not only do I find that it’s almost backless, but there’s a label hanging from it.

  “Wear me.”

  I put it back and take a step away. I look at the dress before looking down at myself. It’s going to look awful clinging to all my lumpy bits. I glance in the mirror at my perfectly done hair and make-up, and the sight gives me some courage.

  After quickly stripping out of my clothes and changing into a fresh pair of knickers, I pull the dress on. Thankfully, it doesn’t cling like I was expecting it to; it skims over my skin perfectly.

  I spin to look at my back and notice the most horrendous VPL. “Shit.”

  I rummage through my small case but only find what I was expecting: more cotton knickers. Fuck.

  I lift the skirt and regretfully pull my knickers down my legs before smoothing the fabric back into place. It looks much better but I’m hyperaware of my bare skin.