The Assignation Interference.
Chapter 6.
Sheldon seemed distracted, even distant.
Amy snuggled up closer. She could never get enough of cuddling her snuggle bunny.
She twisted her head and looked up into his eyes. "What are you thinking about?
"Oh, nothing in particular". He was getting quite good at telling lies, provided, of course, they were white lies.
He casually glanced at the clock, hoping Amy didn't notice.
10 minutes later, he stretched, untangled himself from her, and stood up in a leisurely fashion.
"Going out?", she asked.
Acting as casual as he could, as though he was trying to make his mind up, he took a gently breath in, then let it out again, before saying "Yeah, I think I'll have a trip to the model train store". Glancing back, as though he'd had an afterthought, he asked "Fancy coming with me?"
Amy gave him a bored look, thinking "Him and his toy trains", then said "No thanks Sheldon".
He walked onto the street and, as it was a warm day, made his way on foot, to the model train store.
As he entered, he glanced around, checking there was nobody he recognized. Whatever else happened, Amy mustn't find out about this meeting.
Having satisfied himself there was nobody there he knew, he moved through to the back of the store, where Leonard was waiting, leaning against the wall.
Glancing around anxiously, Sheldon said, almost in a whisper, "There are some ground rules".
Leonard looked into Sheldon's eyes, and realized he was serious, the ground rules would be non-negotiable, a take it or leave it option.
Leonard thought for a second, "OK, what are they?"
Sheldon began, "Firstly, If they're to meet, it will be her choice, and her choice entirely". He stressed the word entirely.
Leonard nodded his agreement, and Sheldon continued, "Secondly, if she refuses, that's it, over, finished, permanently". He stressed the words over, finished and permanently.
Again, Leonard nodded his agreement. Sheldon continued, "And finally, you will not block her way, or try to stop her leaving. If she runs, she runs, and you will let her go".
Leonard thought "My God, he is serious. He just started a sentence with a conjecture". "Agreed".
Sheldon looked at Leonard, as though gauging if he could be trusted. Having decided he could be, he went on, "OK, what have you got?"
-o-o-o-o-
"OK, so it's agreed. Monday it is". Amy had a grin like a Cheshire cat.
They'd just agreed, that Sheldon would move into Amy's apartment in 5 day's time.
Sheldon hugged her, a huge grin on his face.
He snuggled his face into her hair, inhaling the sweet aroma of cherry and Amy, a heady mix that lifted his spirits and drove him wild with desire.
At that moment, all he wanted to do was smother her with kisses, while bathing in her intoxicating beauty.
He had to force himself to concentrate. He whispered in her ear, "Amy. Let's celebrate. Let me take you out to dinner".
Amy didn't believe it possible, that she could fall any deeper in love with this man, but, every once in a while, he would do something to prove her wrong.
With her mouth so close to his ear, that he could feel her breath, she whispered, "I'd love that. When?"
Sheldon paused, as if contemplating his answer. In fact, he already knew the when, and indeed the where. He was merely hesitating for effect.
He breathed in another deep lungful of cherry and Amy, "Saturday?"
She looked up, as if trying to decide, but she was just teasing. She'd already made up her mind. She playfully nibbled his ear, then whispered "Yes".
-o-o-o-o-
"Amy, are you ready? The limo is here"
Amy's voice drifted from the bedroom, "I'll be right with you Sheldon".
Sheldon turned round to see a vision of loveliness, sweeping gracefully from the bedroom.
The dress was exquisite, but not too revealing.
Pale blue and long, with half length sleeves. The front was just low enough, that it displayed an inch or so of cleavage and no more. The back was open, to just below her shoulder blades.
Her makeup was seductive but discrete. A touch of powder, a whisper of mascara, and pink lipstick, maybe a few shades darker than her lips.
Sheldon so wanted to bin the meal date, and whisk her off to the bedroom instead, but he couldn't. He had a plan to stick too.
He took her hand, gently kissed the back of it, then led her out of the door, down the stairs to the limo.
Without letting go of her hand, he used his other to open the car door, helped her in, only then letting go of her hand, before climbing in beside her.
-o-o-o-o-
The restaurant was very discrete, with low level room lighting, and candles on each table.
As they entered, Amy noticed that all the occupied tables seemed to be on one side of the room, leaving a group of about a dozen or do so tables which were empty.
She thought it odd, when they were seated at a table in the empty area.
The waiter brought a bottle of Champagne, and poured her a glass.
Next, he poured a glass for Sheldon. She was about to mention that Sheldon didn't drink alcohol, when he picked up the flute, raised it, and held it toward her.
Instinctively she held hers out, and they gently clinked the flutes together, before Sheldon took a drink. "Boy" she thought, "this man is full of surprises".
"Sheldon", she asked, "Why are all these tables empty?"
"Oh, I booked them all".
Amy paused, then asked "Why?"
"Because we have guests".
At that, Leonard entered, followed by Howard , Bernadette and Rajesh, all immaculately dressed.
Amy was ready to bolt, but then she realized Penny wasn't in the group.
She turned to Leonard, and asked "You're here alone?"
Leonard smiled gently and shrugged his shoulders.
Amy was filling up. "Thank you Leonard. I know it must've been hard for you".
Leonard shrugged his shoulders again. "Well, I couldn't not be here, to congratulate you, could I?".
He went on, "Don't worry, we won't be stopping all evening. We're just here to drink to your health and happiness".
With that, Leonard produced an Ipad from inside his jacket. "There's someone else who wants to congratulate you".
The Ipad came to life, and a pre-recorded video was on the screen, paused.
Penny's face looked out at them.
Amy turned to look at Sheldon, her face like thunder.
Sheldon held his breath. He knew this could go either way. Sometimes, in an experiment, there were unpredictable variables, and in this experiment, the variable was Amy.
He reached out and took her hand, "Please Amy, just give her 2 minutes. Hear her out, please".
Amy thought hard. She hadn't forgiven Penny, and she wasn't sure if she ever could, but she also desperately wanted to know what was on the recording.
"OK, but after this, it's finished, FOREVER! We NEVER discuss it again".
Sheldon answered instantly, "I agree. We'll never speak of it again".
Amy turned to Leonard, "OK, play it, but then you're leaving".
Leonard nodded his agreement, and the video began to play.
Penny's voice came from the speakers, and it was obvious she wasn't reading from a script.
"Amy, I know what I did was wrong, so very wrong, and I know you can't forgive me, but I want you to know that I love you, and I want so much for you to happy. I know we can't be besties any more, and I have to learn to accept that, but please Amy", she hesitated, then went on, stressing the final four words, "please don't hate me".
The screen went blank.
Amy sat in silence, staring at the screen for a long minute, then she slowly turned to look at her boyfriend.
She took a long, deep breath, held it, then released it.
She began, "Sheldon, I've changed my mind about dinner. Please take me home".