“This is much better, don’t you think?” Gwen said as Crispinstood up and shook his uncle’s hand. “Honest communication, it’s sorefreshing.”
“Agreed,” Piers affirmed as he then held out his hand for her.“Forgive me, Gwen.”
“Forgiven,” she replied, returning the gesture. “Just don’tmess with me again.” At her side, Crispin chuckled and noddedapprovingly at her spirited retort.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Piers said. “I’ve learned my lesson.”He then turned to his nephew. “I respect your decision, Crispin.I’ll have the lawyers update your information. Crispin Clover,correct? Or will you be changing your name now? You could go withHewson, or you could go with Harlow? Personally, I recommendHarlow.”
With his armaround Gwen, Crispin announced with confidence, “My name is CrispinClover, thank you very much.”
Chapter 38
Before long,Crispin and Gwen made it to the airport. While waiting for theirflight to commence boarding, they stood at the window by their gatewatching planes take off and land. So much had happened on thistrip and now it was coming to an end and Gwen sighed, resting herhead on his chest. Both lost in thought, they said nothing for thelongest time.
The familiarbuzz of Crispin’s cell phone stirred them from their reflections.“You should call her,” Gwen said, seeing that familiar melancholysmile on Crispin’s face when he checked the message.
“Call who?” he teased.
“Becky.” She poked him in the chest. “While you do that, Ishould call Stacy back too. I’ll tell her not to bother picking meup at the airport.”
“Yes, of course, I’ll drive you home,” Crispin said. “Hmmm….perhaps I should have a word with Stacy.”
“Why?” she quipped. “Are you going to let her have it for herpart in my hijacking of your trip?”
“Actually, I want to thank her for working her magic.” On theway to the airport, Gwen had told him all about Stacy and hermatchmaking skills. “Never mind, scratch that. I know who the realmastermind behind it is,” he said, stroking his thumb over thebracelet on her wrist.
“Your mother?” she asked.
“I’m sure she had her part in all this,” he said pensively.“But it is you I hold accountable.”
“Me?” She stood back and blinked at him.
“Oh, you know I didn’t stand a chance against those beguilingeyes of blue-grey.”
“You’re not going to hold it against me forever, are you?” Sheplayfully batted her lashes at him.
“Are you kidding me?” He dragged her back into his embrace andpressed his lips to her ear. “You’ll be paying for your trickerythe rest of your life!” He gave her lobe borderline painful bite.“On your back and strapped to my bed.”
“Bring it on, Master Crispin.” She giggled and squirmed away afew steps to call Stacy. “Now call Becky!” she ordered over hershoulder.
“Yes, Mistress Gwen,” Crispin said with a smirk. Taking hiscell phone in hand, he smiled as he started to reply to the latesttext message from Dorian. He chuckled at the angry message,demanding he call Becky and put them all out of their misery. Hestarted to text but decided a call would be best. He had purposelyavoided returning their messages to test his fortitude, to see howlong he could go without caving in. At times it had been puretorture, especially, all those messages from Becky. He had provenhe could survive without his friends. He simply realized he nolonger wanted to. In fact, he couldn’t wait to see them, andnothing short of a familiar voice would do at thatmoment.
“Hello?” Sure enough, after only one ring, Dorian answered andthe mere sound of his friend’s voice sent Crispin’s heartracing.
“Hey, how are you, Dorian?”
“Well, fuck!” Dorian laughed on the other end. “Finally, youbastard! Where the hell are you?”
“On my way home,” Crispin answered, tucking Gwen into his sideat her return. “Why? Did you miss me?”
“Of course, you dolt!” Gwen smiled, overhearing the friendlybanter. She started to pull away, thinking Crispin needed privacy,but he held her firmly in place and even held the phone close forher to overhear. “But not as much as Becky. Hold on, they’re in thebackyard. Yeah, poor little thing’s been inconsolable this wholetime.”
“Is that so?” Crispin winked at Gwen. He could tell Dorian waswalking as he spoke, and he tensed in anticipation at the familiarsound of the back door slamming on his way out.
“By the way, Kell’s gonna kill you for ruining spring break,”Dorian added. “You’re all she talked about.”
“Well, you better put her on then,” Crispin said.
“Sure thing, Crisp. Hold on, she’s right here.”
ExpectingBecky’s voice, Kell’s growl caught Crispin off guard. “You’d betterexplain yourself, you bloody bastard!”
“I miss you too, Kell.” Crispin chuckled in response. “Listen,I’m sorry. I had to get away for a short time. I’m glad I did. I’mbetter for it and I’m coming back to stay. Plus, I have a surprise.Lots of them, actually. Oh, and I had a fantastic springbreak.”
“Well, is that right? How nice for you,” Kell saidsarcastically. “Wish I could say the same. Too bad you had to fuckup my break.”
“You can kick my ass when I get there. I’ll be home in a fewhours.” Crispin’s smile couldn’t be helped. “Go on, let me speak toher.”
“Yeah, you’d better. Here she is.” Without further ado, Kellhanded Becky the phone.
“Crispin?” Becky said. “Crispin, where are you?” The excitementin her voice was unmistakable and nearly brought tears to hiseyes.
“Aww… dormouse, I’m in England.”
“England! How in the world?”
“Never mind that now. I just called to say hello,” Crispinresponded cheerfully.
“Well, hello…” Contagious giggles followed and Gweninvoluntarily joined in.
“I hear you’ve been missing me, sweetheart.” Crispin smiled andkissed Gwen’s temple.
“Yes, very much!”
“Do me a favour…” He paused.
“Yes?”
“Cheer up, I don’t want Kell giving me grief when I getback.”
“You’re coming back then?” she said.
“Of course, I am. Told you I would. Besides, we have aplan.”
“A plan?”
“Our summer tour, or have you forgotten?”
“Yay! Crispin!” More contagious giggles followed.
“Now, promise me something else.” Crispin pulled himselftogether.
“Yes, anything!”
“Quit pining after me! Get into bed with Kell and rock hisworld. He sounds a tad tense. I don’t want to have to deal withthat when I get back.” He broke down and laughed, ignoring Gwen’sjab in his ribs. “Right then, I’m
