Peter stood at the bar of the pub waiting for his drinks order. He had ordered himself an orange juice with a red wine for Carla.
Once Liz handed him the drinks he bought them over to the table where Carla was sat.
"Thank you" Carla said as she reached for her red wine. Peter smiled at her then took a sip of his orange juice.
"I wanted to talk to you about my new job" Peter started but was interrupted by an excited Carla.
"Oh Peter you got the job" Carla said excitedly throwing her arms around him.
"Yes I did" Peter smiled proudly at her returning her hug.
"That's great news, when do you start?" Carla asked.
"Three weeks' time, the man who is leaving isn't leaving until then so I have to wait" Peter said.
"Well that's good news for me because I wanted to ask you something" Carla started.
"What?" Peter asked curiously placing his orange juice on the table.
"Johnny has booked me, Kate and Aiden a holiday for family bonding" Carla said putting air quotes on the word family with her hands before continuing "he has said we can all bring someone" Carla took a sip of her wine.
"I was wondering if you would like to join me, nothing serious, just as friends." Carla asked.
"Carla I would love nothing more, but are you sure you want me to come" Peter asked.
"Of course otherwise I wouldn't have asked would I" Carla said placing her wine on the table and turning her whole body to face Peter.
"Look Peter I know we are nowhere near a relationship but we are friends and I would like to work on it, I need someone who knows me and knows when I want to avoid family situations" Carla told him.
"Well I'm your guy, I'd love to and I'd love to save you from family situations, shall they arrive" Peter giggled.
"Ok good, don't you want to know where we are going?" Carla smiled.
"Oh go on then, not that it matters I could go to the ends of the earth and be happy as long as it's with you" Peter said.
"You're so cheesy you know that" Carla told him.
"That's why you love me" Peter said before realizing he had said the word love.
"Mhmm" Carla said with a raised eyebrow.
"Where are we going then?" Peter asked quickly trying to change the subject.
"Tenerife, next week" Carla told him.
"Well that's a bit soon isn't it" Peter said.
"You don't have to come if you can't make it" Carla said.
"No I would love to come, I'll have to tell Simon that's all" Peter told her.
"Good I'll text Johnny and tell him it's you I've chosen to come" Carla said taking her phone out of her bag.
"He won't mind me coming will he?" Peter said doubting himself.
"I don't care if he did, it's my choice and if he has something to say about it I won't go" Carla stated before taking another sip of her wine.
"Well that's settled then isn't it" Peter smiled whilst taking a sip of his orange juice. He was so glad that Carla had chosen to take him with her. He was excited at the thought of building himself back up to relationship status with her as that was what she had just told him; although he acted calm he was doing cartwheels on the inside.
He couldn't believe his luck. Just as Peter was thinking about the conversation Johnny walked into the pub. He saw Carla was sat with him and made his way over.
"Hello can I join you two?" Johnny asked.
"Yeah sure I wanted to speak to you anyway" Carla told him.
"Ok this sounds good" Johnny said as Liz delivered his drink.
"You asked me to tell you who I wanted to bring on holiday and I have chosen Peter, I hope you're ok with that" Carla said sternly.
"Listen Carla I know you think I have a problem with Peter but I don't, I know you were hurt and some horrible things happened to you, but I was not here to see it or help you through it so I cannot judge or tell you not to be with him because of that" Johnny said.
"Well that is true but I get this feeling that you don't like him" Carla said looking at Peter smiling trying to make sure he was ok with this awkward situation.
"I don't not like him, I am just trying to make sure you don't get hurt again but since he has come back to the street for a new fresh start, then I can give him that fresh start, if it's what you want" Johnny told her.
Carla smiled at him thankfully. "Great this means we can go holiday shopping"
"Why do I need to go holiday shopping, I only need a couple pairs of shorts and trunks" Peter said knowing full well what was coming.
"I need you to hold my bags" Carla laughed to him.
After another drink with Johnny Carla left with Peter in the direction of the shops.
"Do I have to come?" Peter asked.
"Well I need a couple of bikinis, so if you don't come I'll have to ask a stranger what they look like" Carla smiled.
"Well in that case, ill drive" Peter smirked.
"Thought so" Carla giggled causing Peter to grab her hand.
They continued to walk down the street hand in hand before Carla saw Nick come around a corner and quickly let go of Peter's hand. Peter looked at her but she just looked at the ground. He knew why she did it and just wanted to let her know that it was ok with him.
Nick just walked past; he did see them but chose to just walk on by.
"Sorry" Carla turned to Peter.
"Don't be, I get it you're trying to be nice and not rub this in his face" Peter said "I admire that"
"Peter to be truthful I don't even know what this is" She pointed between herself and Peter many times. "I just want to take things slowly and build on it, ok?"
"Look Carla I'm just grateful that I can spend time with you, but now we are going on holiday with your family, it's more than I could have hoped for" Peter told her.
"You did hear the part where my family were coming along didn't you?" Carla said causing Peter to smile whilst giving her a small shove.
"I heard" he said with a giggle "but I could be anywhere with you and still be the happiest man on earth"
"Wow you really do get soppy in your old age" Carla said "Come on old man let's get shopping"
About three hours and quite a few shops later Carla and Peter had finished holiday shopping. Carla had bought a few bikinis and some more summer clothes like dresses and playsuits. Peter had bought some more trunks and some nice shirts and shorts to go out in the evening with.
They had decided to stop for lunch at an Italian in town. Carla and Peter were sat around the table when Peter looked up from his menu to say "You could have come out and shown me those bikinis you know"
"Well Peter that would be ruining the surprise wouldn't it" Carla told him not looking away from her menu.
"What surprise Carla we were married, I've seen you in many bikinis, in fact I've seen you without a bikini on" Peter smirked at the idea and the memories coming back into his head. Carla and him had been on holidays where Carla would come into the pool without a bikini on, of course that was in their own private pool.
"That Peter was the past, my body may have changed since the last time you saw it" Carla told him confidently.
"Well in that case I look forward to inspecting it the next chance I get" Peter said with a wink but before Carla could reply the waiter came over for their orders. Carla blushed. Peter just smirked to himself much to Carla's annoyance.
Carla loved that they could get back to this. As much as Carla would hate to admit it, she had missed Peter and this jokey side of him that made her crumble into his hands. The thought of getting back with him was less of a scary one and more of an exciting one, but of course she would never tell him.
There was also the small subject of Nick. She has left it open for Nick although she has told him she doesn't want to be with him, there will always be hope in Nicks eyes.
The afternoon shot by and within no time at all Peter was back at number one. Carla walked over to the rovers in search of Michelle. She needed to tell her about her holiday plans and her day out with Peter.
The two women went through to the back with a bottle of red. Once Michelle had poured them out she said "ok spill"
"Ok so I spent the day with Peter today" Carla started "well it started in the office with the newly found family"
"Right go on, what do they have to do with Peter?" Michelle asked.
"Well I walked into the office to the discussions of holidays; Johnny wants us all to go on holiday"
"What, aren't you all a bit old for a family holiday?" Michelle rolled her eyes.
"Johnny wants some family bonding between us all" Carla explained.
"Right ok I understand"
"So I refused to go as you know I would" Carla said.
"Yes I thought you would"
"But then he said you can all bring someone and Kate was looking at me like a lost puppy, she said she really wanted me there so I said yes"
"Right and please tell me who you are taking with you"
Carla shot Michelle a look to say as if you didn't know which caused Michelle to say "you're taking Peter aren't you"
"Yes I asked him today and he said yes"
"Oh don't worry about your best friend that's always been by your side"
"Michelle you're already a Connor you can't count as a special guest" Carla scoffed.
"I suppose" Michelle took a sip of her wine acting all sad.
"Oh behave Michelle" Carla gave her a gentle push.
"I am only playing, I'm glad you feel comfortable enough with peter to invite him along although are you sure it's what you want?" Michelle asked gently.
"Look I'm going to tell you again that I know I got hurt by him and I'm not going to forget what he did to me so easily but he's changed and I think I owe it to myself to at least try otherwise I'll be thinking what if?" Carla explained.
"Ok I get that Carla I really do" Michelle said "If you're getting along as well as you say you are then I'm surprised that you're not back in each other's bed already. I know what you two are like" Michelle laughed.
"I know but I've told him we are taking it slowly" Carla told her.
"What about when you're on holiday are you going to have separate bedrooms?" Michelle asked.
"That's a very good point I will have to ask, although this is Johnny who booked it and I'm sure he's less than happy Peter is coming so I'm sure he wouldn't of put us in the same room" Carla said before continuing "I'll have to ask him"
Over at number one Peter was hanging some new shelves for Ken. Simon had finished school so came straight over to spend some time with his dad.
"How was your day son?" Peter asked Simon with a nail in his mouth. He was stood on a step ladder with a shelf in his hand trying to attach the bracket.
"It was ok I guess" Simon answered watching his dad struggle "dad do you want me to hold the shelf?"
"No I'm ok I almost have it" Peter said.
Simon watched for five more minutes when eventually Peter said "there done" Simon just laughed at his dad.
"Right Simon I need to talk to you about something" Peter took a seat next to Simon.
"Oh no" Simon rolled his eyes.
"No it's not bad it's a good thing" Peter said.
"Ok" Simon replied.
"I'm going on holiday for a week" Peter started "I'm going away with Carla"
"What do you mean you're not with Carla anymore?" Simon said confused. He had hated his dad for what he had done to Carla. He did like her after a while and liked that they had a little family unit. He did see Carla a couple of times after but then she got with Nick. He found that a bit strange.
"I know we are not together but I think we might be trying again slowly and I wanted to see how you felt about that?" Peter asked.
"I like Carla now, I've grown up a lot but I didn't like what you did to her dad, so if getting with her is going to cause you to go back to your old ways then I don't think it's a good idea" Simon said honestly.
"I get that son, but If anything being with Carla will keep me like this, I love her son and I screwed up big time but I have learnt my lesson and I will be a better man for you and her" Peter told him.
"If you're sure then I'm happy for you, if you do get another chance, I hope you do" Simon said.
"That means a lot to me son" Peter said "I hope so to"
