Peter Barlow awoke at around nine forty five on a very bright Tuesday morning.
At first he groaned when he realised that he was properly awake and he went to turn over and bury his head underneath his pillow so that he could get some more sleep but as he moved he felt just how soft the bed sheets he was currently laying in were and he quickly realised that he definitely wasn't in lying in his lonely and very boring bed back in Portsmouth.
He instantly opened his eyes because he suddenly remembered exactly where he had spent the night… and where he had spent last night was at Carla's house... In Carla's bed.
He had kept his promise and stayed right by her side for the entire night.
Neither one of them were exactly sure which one had fallen asleep first but somehow they had both fallen asleep with ease… and also... hand in hand.
Peter turned to the side after waking up and smiled, expecting to see Carla lying next to him but he soon realised that she wasn't there anymore.
He sat up and rubbed his eyes and as he did so he wondered if maybe she had made a quick exit because she was slightly embarrassed about their impromptu kiss last night. She had only meant to reach Peter's cheek but still, he couldn't help but wonder if she had got up and out of bed so early because she didn't want to face him.
There was the sound of faint music coming from downstairs as Peter climbed out of Carla's bed and he knew what song was playing from the moment he heard it.
He grinned widely from ear to ear and followed the all too familiar song all the way down the stairs and into the kitchen where Carla was sat on a stool at her kitchen counter with Justin Bieber's Company song playing in the background.
Carla's dog Bailey was stood at his bowl slurping up some water but as soon as he saw Peter he spun around and ran towards him with his tail wagging excitedly, he then barked loudly, which made Carla look up from the newspaper she was reading and smile.
She was already dressed and was wearing a pair of black leggings, a black sports vest, white trainers and a black hoodie. She had been busy reading the paper when she heard Bailey bark and saw that Peter had entered the room.
"Mornin." She beamed, looking over at Peter rather than down at the newspaper that had just been delivered that morning.
"Interesting song choice." Peter said, getting up from giving Bailey a soft stroke, he looked sheepish as Carla smiled at him in a tickled fashion. She then nodded as Peter walked towards the counter and said,
"I'm not gonna lie, Ive had it on repeat for the past ten minutes hoping you'd come down when it was on."
"Nice." Peter nodded, amused as he pulled a stool out and sat on it, Bailey returned to his water bowl as Carla smiled again, she closed the newspaper that was on her counter and then asked Peter,
"Do ya want a brew?"
"That would be great." He nodded as Carla got up off the stool she was sat on and walked over to her kettle to fill it up with water.
There was something in the air as she switched her kettle on and then as she turned back to face Peter was sat only a few feet away from her, she found herself smiling like an idiot again.
Neither one of them could explain exactly what it was but the atmosphere between Carla and Peter was tense... Tense in a positive way though… in a way that made them both grin at each other until the kettle boiled.
Carla turned around quickly and began making a cup of tea as Peter reached over and decided to read the paper so that he didn't keep smiling foolishly at Carla… not that she minded of course, she was more than happy to have him looking at her in such a pleasant way and as she brought a black and white polka dot mug over to Peter, he asked,
"Are you not having one?"
"Nah… I'm going to go for a run in a bit…" Carla replied, looking down at her running attire and grinning.
"I was gonna ask what's with the sports gear… I was wondering if you got your self a new style whilst down ere as well as a new house." Peter joked, taking the mug of Carla and smiling at her appreciatively. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." She nodded, walking towards her fridge. She opened it and pulled out a bottle of water as Peter took a sip of tea.
Neither one of them wanted to be the one to mention their little but oh so powerful kiss last night but it was definitely on both of their minds as they interacted with each other in Carla's kitchen.
"So…" He asked as Carla returned to the kitchen counter. "How did you sleep in the end?"
"Alright." She replied, sitting down on the stool next to Peter and reaching over for her phone, which she had connected to a speaker that was playing music. She changed the song from a Justin Bieber one to a James Bay one as Peter began to speak again.
"Just alright?" He asked. He had slept extremely well and hadn't woken up once but judging by Carla's slightly lack lustre response it didn't look as if she'd slept as well as he had done.
"Yeah… alright." She nodded, but she smiled again and said, "Alright is good... I didn't ave the nightmare again if that's what you're worried about I just… woke up a couple of times… I was fine though…" Carla's smile grew larger and affectionate as she then said, "Cause you were there."
"Glad to be of service." Peter nodded, giving Carla a wink as he picked up his mug of tea and took another sip. "What time did you wake up?" He then casually asked, hoping and praying that Carla's absence from the bed wasn't because she had wanted to get away from being so close to him.
"About nine-ish." Carla said watching Peter and knowing exactly what he was thinking by the slightly anxious look on his face. "I couldn't get back to sleep n then I heard Bailey barking so loud he probably woke up the neighbours… didn't you hear it?"
"No." Peter said almost laughing because Carla was watching him with a raised eyebrow.
"Seriously…" Carla said as Peter nodded, "Anyway, I soon realised that his bowl was empty so he had nothing to eat n drink this morning… that's the only reason I got up and out of bed…" Carla then looked down and smiled to herself as she said, "I promise... I wasn't running away from you or out."
Peter looked slightly relieved as Carla looked up at him again and casually began opening her bottle of water to take a sip,
"I can't believe you didn't hear Bailey barking though… for a puppy he can be almost deafening at times… You must have been in a right deep sleep." Carla said after taking a sip of water.
"It's that bed of yours… I don't think I've slept somewhere so comfortable in me whole life." Peter said, nodding because he genuinely meant what he was saying.
"Wow… That's really saying something then…" Carla smirked as she put her water back down on the counter, "You ave been in a lot of beds after all." She then laughed out loud at Peter's slightly offended expression because he looked rather comical.
"Alright… I spose I deserve that one." He nodded as Carla gave him a sympathetic look and said,
"I shouldn't tease you… after all you've done for me over the past…" Carla looked down at her watch, "Twenty hours or so… I should be thanking you... I really appreciate you staying over last night Peter."
"Honestly Carla, don't mention it." Peter said, nodding modestly. "I wouldn't wanna be anywhere else right now."
"You sure?" Carla asked, pulling a face at him, "I mean as much as I've come to love it here, the weather could do with improving couldn't it?"
"I'm sure." Peter nodded again. "I really am, I love it here… and honestly… I love spending time with you too." Carla smiled at Peter for about the twentieth time that morning and then asked,
"So… do you fancy coming for a jog down the beach after your cup or tea then?" She picked up her bottle of water again as she then said, "I mean seeing as you love it so much you can come running with me n Bailey can't you?"
"Yeah… I dunno about that." Peter said and it was his turn to pull a face this time because he wasn't exactly known for love of exercise and Carla knew it, she grinned as he then said, "Besides, I don't actually have me running shoes with me so if I did go I'd end up doing some serious damage to me feet."
"Mmmhmm…" Carla nodded sarcastically, "Sure, I get it... Well, I hope you don't think me rude but I'm not avin you mess up me fitness routine so I'm still gonna go for a quick run."
"Good…" Peter chuckled as she got up off her stool and stretched her arms in the air above her. "N I swear, if I had a decent pair of trainers with me I would so be running along that beach with you…" Peter continued, as Carla walked over to Bailey and picked up his lead, which she'd left on her kitchen table yesterday.
"Yeah yeah." Carla nodded, "I know excuses when I hear em Barlow." She bent down and attached Bailey's lead to his collar as she said, "You can stay ere then n keep your self busy…" Carla stood up as she smirked at Peter again and said, "You can ave a shower… if you want."
"Hang on..." Peter exclaimed, with wide eyes. "Are you tryin to tell me somethin?" Peter comically gave his T-Shirt a sniff which made Carla laugh and say,
"Not at all… I'm just saying, you can ave a wash if you wanted to thats all." She walked slowly towards Peter who suddenly stood up of his stool for no real or apparent reason.
Carla looked amused as she slowly reached past him and took her phone off the kitchen counter, they almost touched as she stood upright again and knowing that she was having a slight reaction on Peter, she smirked at him and quietly said,
"I'll be back soon… Call me if you wanna know where anything is."
"I will." Peter replied softly. Carla gave him a playful nudge with her elbow before walking away from him slowly and as she tugged on Bailey's lead a little to get him to follow her, she smiled and said,
"Say Goodbye Bailey." Peter waved at them both and let out a little chuckle as he said,
"Bye Bailey… ave fun."
"We will… n feel free to snoop about… I won't judge ya..." Carla called behind her, walking down her hallway and then opening her front door.
As she closed it behind her, Peter took a deep breath and smiled to himself with vast relief because it looked as if Carla didn't regret their kiss last night after all.
He had been worried that they had maybe crossed the line last night but since it seemed that Carla wasn't worried, Peter took another breath and decided he wasn't going to be concerned about it anymore. He then went ahead and took Carla's advice and decided he'd take a shower and get changed.
It was an peculiar yet wonderful feeling for Peter to be walking around Carla's home all by himself, he was honoured that she trusted him in her home on his own and even though he knew that she was being honest with him when she told him to snoop about, he didn't do so.
Instead he walked straight up to her bathroom and after marvelling at its beauty one more time, he took his shower.
As he showered he wondered how long Carla might take whilst on this jog, he really hoped that she wouldn't be gone for too long because he wanted to talk to her and see how she was doing.
Yes they had spoken this morning but Peter still wanted to ask Carla how she was feeling now that the anniversary of her attack was over.
Peter had eventually gotten dressed in the clothes that he'd arrived in Devon with yesterday seeing as they were obviously clean and dry by now and as he walked down Carla's stairs he took another look at the many pictures on her wall.
Peter especially paid close attention to the photo that he had taken of Carla and Michelle on his and her wedding day. As he stared at the beautiful photograph, He felt that undeniable pang of utter regret he always felt whenever he thought about his wedding day to Carla.
The smile on her face as she clung onto Michelle tightly made him almost well up and so he continued walking down the stairs before he got too upset and started crying for real.
He walked into Carla's living room and for a moment he thought about watching some television but then, he suddenly realised that he hadn't had a cigarette since yesterday afternoon. He'd been so caught up in spending time with Carla and supporting her through yesterday that he hadn't had a single craving… until now of course.
Just thinking about smoking was enough to make Peter go into his coat pocket and pull out a box of cigarettes and a lighter.
Of course he wasn't rude enough to light up in Carla's house, which smelt of a mixture of her expensive YSL perfume and some sort of vanilla smell, so Peter let himself into her back garden from a large glass door which was in her kitchen.
Carla's back garden was quite simple, yet somehow it still managed to take Peter's breath away. He guessed it was because he'd never dreamed that Carla would live in such a picturesque place.
He looked at the very neat grass, which looked as if it had been meticulously mowed and then his eyes travelled over to a large wooden canapé, which underneath had a black table and two very stylish and very comfortable looking black armchairs to match.
This shelter which Peter was currently walking towards, really wouldn't have looked out of place in a hotel somewhere but as he walked he was mighty glad that Carla did live somewhere like this… because ultimately, Peter knew that she deserved it.
He was glad that she seemed to be happy and that she had really made a home for herself here in Devon and as he sat down on one of her black arm chairs, which had white cushions on it, he wondered just how many times Carla had sat out here just like he had done.
It was a beautiful day out, the kind of day Peter loved. Sunny but not too hot, the kind of day when you just needed a little jacket to stay comfortable.
He lit a cigarette and had just started to take a drag when his phone started to ring. Peter went into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out his phone to see that his son Simon was calling him.
"Ello…" He said quickly, answering it in such haste because he wasn't expecting a call from Simon at half past ten in the morning.
"Hi Dad… just calling for a chat." Simon said.
"A chat?" Peter repeated as he blew smoke from his lips.
"Yeah why not? Is this not a good time or something?" Simon said, sounding slightly worried.
"No it's an absolutely fine time for me… I'm just wondering why you're not at school young man." Peter said, speaking in a fatherly tone.
"Ohhh, I'm off sick." Simon said his voice sounding croaky as he explained that he'd been up half the night with a cough and sore throat and also explaining that his Mum said that he could stay off today.
"Ahhh I'm sorry to hear that Si, I hope you get better soon." Peter said, feeling bad for not being there for his son when he was will… still soon he would be there for him.
"Me too… Although I don't mind being off school of course." Simon said, sounding a little brighter in that instance. "Anyway Dad how are you?"
"Me? Yeah… can't complain… I was actually gonna call you later..." Peter began, putting his cigarette back into his mouth as Simon said,
"Hang on… I've just realised, Why are you not working right now?"
"Well that was what I was gonna call you about actually…" Peter said, smiling as he blew smoke from his lips once again. "I've taken a few days off…"
"Oh yeah…" Came Simon's reply through Peter's phone. "To do what?"
"Well…" Peter said, "That address you gave a couple of months back…"
"Carla's address…" Simon said, sounding brighter again.
"Yes." Peter nodded even though Simon couldn't actually see him. "Let's just say I've finally used it."
"No way…" Simon said sounding shocked he then coughed and said, "So you're in Devon right now?"
"I am." Peter nodded again, unable to refrain from smiling foolishly to himself. "I'm actually at Carla's house right now… I take it your Granddad didn't tell you."
"No he didn't." Simon said sniffing hard, "When did you get there?"
"Yesterday…" Peter said, knowing this would make Simon even more animated.
"Yesterday huh?" Simon said, sounding like he was very amused on the other side of the phone.
"Yes yesterday and no, it's not like that, I'm ere as a mate... nothing happened." Peter replied smoothly, knowing that his teenage son's mind must be running wild by now.
"Nothing happened, yeah right Dad. I'm not a kid y'know." Simon replied, coughing again but still sounding as if he didn't believe his Dad for one moment.
"I'm serious Simon, nothing happened…" Peter repeated although he soon realised that he was lying because something had happened.
Something pretty beautiful had happened between him and Carla since he had arrived in Devon but of course, he wasn't going to sit here and give Simon a minute-by-minute account... not right now anyway.
"So what made you go to Devon then Dad?" Simon asked hoarsely.
"Yesterday... well it was the anniversary of something really… horrible that happened to Carla a few years back… something she'll never… ever forget. So I just came to Devon to check that she was okay... that's it." Peter explained, finishing his cigarette and carefully putting it out on the ground.
"And is she? Is she okay?" Simon asked, not teasing his Dad anymore and sounding a little worried now after hearing part of the real reason his Dad had gone to Devon.
"Yeah… I think so, I really do." Peter said nodding again, looking up at the blue skies and around Carla's pristine garden. "There were some downright upsetting moments yesterday but honestly Carla's doing really well ere, she's got a good business, some new friends… I think she's genuinely happy here Si... She's out for a jog right now with her dog… Yes you heard right, Carla's got a dog, can you believe that?"
"Yeah... I knew Carla had a dog, he's dead cute, She sent me a picture of him last month." Simon said, he then paused for a moment as if he was thinking things over. He then coughed and cleared his throat before saying, "Nah I still don't believe nothing has happened between you two." Peter chuckled at the sound of his Son's sceptical tone and as Simon laughed too, Peter then said,
"Simon… men n women can be friends you know."
"Yeah yeah I know…" Simon said still sounding amused, "So where d'ya sleep last night then Dad?" It was Peter's turn to pause this time and he paused for too long because sure enough, Simon started to laugh again.
"Alright I slept in Carla's bed… but I did start out on the sofa, I promise." Peter began, rolling his eyes at how bad he was at trying to convince Simon that last night was spent between him and Carla platonically.
"Dad you are fooling no one with this nothing happened malarkey." Simon said, making his Dad laugh once again at his tone of voice. "I mean you're honestly sitting there n telling me that you n Carla spent the night together n you didn't even kiss?"
"Well…" Peter began.
"I knew it." Simon said triumphantly.
"But that was it Simon, a kiss n anyways it was more of an accident if anything else." Peter said with a grin as he thought about the kiss last night.
"An accident?" Simon repeated, "Yeah right."
"You know what kid, If you carry on taking the mick out of your old Dad I might ave to get you to put your Mum on n tell her to send you to school." Peter joked, earning another laugh from his Son.
"I'm just messing..." Simon said, "But seriously... you sound happy Dad." Simon sincerely added.
"I am happy." Peter replied, nodding and smiling again. "And I wanted to call n say thanks to you for giving me Carla's address because without you I wouldn't be here right now."
"You're welcome." Simon said, coughing once more and then saying, "I just thought you'd need it one day."
"Well you thought right didn't ya?" Peter said, leaning back on the black chair he was sat on in the garden. Simon began coughing loudly again and he sounded so ill that Peter then said, "Now I don't mean to rush you off the phone but I really think you get some rest, son."
"I am getting rest…" Simon said, his voice croakier than ever now.
"Give your voice a rest I mean." Peter said, laughing silently. "I'll call you later okay, see how you're doing."
"Alright Dad, I'm gonna try to get some sleep in a bit…" Simon said, "I've got doctors later, Mum made an appointment."
"Good…" Peter said, nodding and sighing in a way he always did when he was about to hang up on his son. "I miss you Si."
"I miss you too Dad, loads… when are we going to see each other again?" Simon asked.
"Soon… really soon. I promise… I'm hoping I can come n visit you in the next month or so…" Peter said, knowing that he really would be seeing Simon soon given his plans to move back to Manchester soon.
"Good… I can't wait… maybe you can bring Carla back with ya eh?" Simon joked and Peter could swear that it sounded as if Simon was grinning. "Did you say she's gone out?"
"Yes…" Peter said suspiciously, "Why?"
"No reason… Just tell her I said Hi will ya?" Simon said quickly.
"I will." Peter nodded, "I love you Kid."
"Love you too Dad." Simon said and after he and Peter said goodbye to each other, they both hung up their phones.
As Peter put his phone down on the table, he felt extremely pleased that Simon had called him and that they had spoken this morning.
He hoped that Simon had got back into bed properly and put his phone down but he had a feeling that his son was currently doing otherwise and he was right.
Instead of laying in bed and trying to get some sleep, Simon was typing away on his phone. He was smirking as typed out a message and he didn't put his phone down until he'd pressed send.
The message he'd written had reached the recipient's phone within seconds and she had just finished her run when she received it.
Carla had headphones plugged into her phone, listening to music as she pulled it out of her pocket, she had began walking along the beach with Bailey running ahead of her and she smiled from ear to ear when she saw that she had a message from Simon on her phone.
Carla knew in that instant that he must have spoken to his Dad this morning as she clicked on the message and read it whilst she walked slowly across the sand after her workout.
"Hey Carla… just spoke to me Dad n he says that he's in Devon! Hope you don't mind me giving him your address, I just thought you two might need each other again one day. He also said that yesterday was a really sad day for you but he didn't say why. I just wanted to let you know that for whatever reason you were feeling down yesterday I hope you're doing much better today. Love Simon x"
"Awww…" Carla gushed as she read the message on her screen. She went to start typing out her own message when her phone started to ring and Michelle's name appeared on screen. "Hello." Carla said as she answered it by pressing a button on her headphones. She was pleasantly surprised to see her best friend calling her at this very moment in time.
"Hi Carla…" Said Michelle sounding pained, "I am so sorry I didn't call you yesterday..."
"Oh…" Carla breathed knowing that Michelle hadn't forgotten what day yesterday was after all. "It's... okay."
"No… it's not okay, I'm your best friend Carla I should ave been there for you." Michelle said sighing into the phone. "I'm so sorry."
"Chelle honestly, it's alright… you've got enough on your plate with Steve n the baby." Carla said as she walked down the beach with a bottle of water tucked underneath an arm and Baileys lead in her free hand.
"Carla don't make excuses for me, I feel so awful." Michelle said, "I feel terrible thinking that you went through yesterday alone."
"Actually… I wasn't alone…" Carla said, unable to not smile as she thought about what had happened yesterday and she never thought she'd be smiling whilst thinking about the nineteenth of September... ever.
"No?" Michelle replied sounding confused.
"Don't sound like that..." Carla said almost laughing. "I ave got friends down ere y'know... I'm not a complete billy no mates."
"I know... I didn't mean it like that..." Michelle said, "So does this mean you spent yesterday with people who didn't really know what it was… unless you've told your new friends of course..."
"No I aven't told any of them..." Carla said walking closer to the shore and smiling at Bailey who had met up with another dog in the distance. "I spent yesterday with someone else… that's all... an old friend."
"Who?" Michelle asked, clearly racking her brains and trying to think of someone who Carla could have spent yesterday with.
"Peter..." Carla replied slightly nervously and she was sure that she almost heard Michelle's jaw drop open all the way from Weatherfield.
"Seriously." Michelle asked quietly.
"Yes seriously." Carla said, still unable to believe it herself.
"Well how did that happen?" Michelle asked.
"He came ere… to see me… to check if I were okay. He knew what yesterday was... course he did... n he just turned up ere." Carla explained and she began telling Michelle all about her day and night with Peter.
As she spoke and explained all about her and Peter's fun on the beach and also how she'd taken him to the restaurant Carla couldn't quite shake off how good it felt to speak to Michelle about all of this.
Normally she'd just hear stories about how life in Weatherfield was going and she'd tell Michelle bits and bobs about her life, but their conversations always seemed to be about how Carla was adjusting to life in Devon and not about how she was actually living life in Devon.
"So yeah… I've left him at my place whilst I go for a run… how weird is that?" Carla said, as Bailey ran towards her and stopped at her feet. Carla was sure her best friend was ready to start sounding off about how silly it was for Carla to have let Peter stay over and she waited patiently for her friend to speak her mind. "So… go on then… say something Chelle… What do you think about everything I've said?"
"Honestly…" Michelle began which made Carla swallow and prepare herself for a bit of a bashing. "I think... it's lovely."
"Lovely?" Carla exclaimed, bending down and reattaching Bailey's lead to his collar. "Really? I were expecting you to have a lot more to say than lovely… I mean it's Peter we're talking about n you're hardly known for praising the bloke are ya?"
"You can say that again." Michelle said dryly but then her tone of voice changed and she said, "Look I may not be the world's biggest Peter Barlow fan but if after everything he's driven all the way to Devon just to support you, look after you and if he's really made you feel safe… then I honestly aven't got a bad word to say about him."
"Wow…" Carla said, giving Bailey a stroke before standing up right again. "Wait till I tell Peter what you just said… he'll ave a field day."
"Yeah I bet he will, we all know how much that man loves people talking about him." Michelle said, Carla chuckled lightly as she began walking towards a hill, which led up to a road path as Michelle curiously asked, "And you're sure that you just kissed right?"
"Yes I'm sure." Carla said truthfully, "As unrealistic as it sounds me n Peter just shared a quick and very accidental snog before going to sleep… that's it."
"Mmmm alright, I believe you... even though thousands wouldn't." Michelle joked on the other side of Carla's phone. "So… what's happening next then? With you n Peter I mean? Is he staying another night? Is he going home?"
"I errr… ave no idea." Carla said, "We aven't talked about it really."
"We eh?" Came Michelle's reply.
"He hasn't talked about it." Carla sighed, smiling as she and Bailey began walking up the hill, which led them towards town.
"Okay... well what do you want him to do?" Michelle asked her best friend curiously.
"I dunno…" Carla said, sounding a little nervous and she and Bailey started to make their way towards home. She knew full well what she wanted Peter to do but she wasn't about ti admit that to anyone... even her best friend. "I mean… I've loved having him ere… we've had a lot of fun together."
"Yeah I bet." Michelle teased.
"Shut up Chelle." Carla groaned, "I mean I'm not gonna lie… I would like a bit more time with Peter… but he's got plans… things he's in the middle of doing…"
"Yeah but I bet he'd drop them plans for you in a heartbeat." Michelle said but Carla shook her head and said,
"Not if those plans involve being with Simon… not that I'd ave it any other way of course… Oh speaking of Si, he sent me the cutest text before you called."
"Ahhh did he? What did it say?" Michelle asked curiously.
"Just that Peter had told him that yesterday was difficult for me and that he hoped that I were okay." Carla said as she crossed a road and made her way towards her home, "I should text him back really…"
"Alright Alright…" Michelle laughed, "I can take a hint, I'll let you go shall I?"
"No I'm not saying that…" Carla laughed back, shaking her head happily, "I think I can manage to text him back n talk to you as well." Carla began typing out a reply to Simon's text whilst talking to Michelle and holding onto Bailey's lead, which was a bit of a job but in the end she had managed it and sent Simon a message, which said,
"Hi Si… thanks for your text it were dead sweet.
Yesterday was difficult but your pretty amazing Dad helped me through it & I am doing so much better. Hope you're okay too, I miss you lots, Maybe I'll give you a call later? Love Carla xx
P.S I don't mind that you gave your Dad my address… I'm actually really grateful x
Carla stayed on the phone to Michelle for the rest of her journey home, they chatted some more as she walked down the quiet streets towards her house, mainly about Peter and as Carla walked up her drive, she took a deep breath and said,
"Right, well I've just got home Chelle, so I'll give you a text in a little while n let you know what's gone on yeah?"
"Make sure you." Michelle said sternly but also excitedly. "I'm going to be on tenterhooks waiting to hear what you n Peter ave been up to all day... n all alone."
"Mmmmhmmm just don't get any dirty ideas in that head of yours…" Carla grinned as she pulled her keys out of her pocket. "I know just what you're like Michelle McDonald." Carla heard Michelle laugh down the phone and as she put her key in the door she said, "I'll speak to you later alright?"
"Alright…" Michelle laughed, "I miss you n I love you."
"I miss you too Chelle..." Carla replied as she opened her front door, she let Bailey run straight into her house as Michelle said goodbye and after hanging up the phone, Carla closed the door behind her.
As she walked down the hallway of her house, she couldn't help but wonder what Peter had been doing to keep himself occupied since she had gone and she also wondered if he really had taken a shower like she had suggested earlier on.
"I'm back!" Carla called as she entered her kitchen, she laughed silently to herself as she saw that Bailey had run straight over to Peter who still was sat outside in her garden reading the paper she'd got delivered earlier on.
"Hey…" He smiled, looking up from the paper as Carla made her way into the garden. "How was your run?" Peter asked as Bailey stood wagging his tail at his feet.
"Great." Carla nodded, bending down and taking Bailey's lead off his collar, not at all surprised that her puppy had already become so used to Peter already. "You loved it too didn't ya Bailey." Carla gave Bailey a rub before standing upright. "I got a text from Simon when I was out."
"Now why doesn't that surprise me." Peter said, nodding and smiling as Carla sat down on the black chair opposite him. "What did he ave to say for himself then?"
"Never you mind." Carla said mysteriously, as Bailey sat down and her and Peter's feet. Peter chuckled at Carla who looked him up and down twice in a way that made him, swallow nervously.
"What?" He asked.
"You had that shower then?" She replied, nodding towards his new outfit slowly.
"Yes I did…" Peter nodded with a smirk, looking Carla up and down like she had done to him. "You look a little disappointed… did you want me to wait for you or..."
"Cheek." She said, kicking Peter playfully underneath the table. "What happened to you being a gentleman eh?" Peter laughed out loud and looked around him before he smiled back at Carla who said, "But as you mention it I am going to go n ave that shower..." Carla got up and pulled her hoodie off and looked up towards the sun which was shining bright and she decided that today was too good of a day to waste sat at home even if it was with Peter. "When I'm done… how about I continue giving you that tour we started yesterday?"
"Absolutely." Peter nodded, smiling at Carla who was stood in front of him, "I'd really like that."
"Alright then…" Carla cheerfully replied, "Well I'll be back down soon okay."
"Okay." Peter said with another nod, then he gave Carla a suggestive smirk that she'd seen many times before and even though he knew that he shouldn't, he couldn't help but call after her and say, "Gimme a shout if you need a hand..."
Carla, who had already started walking away from Peter, just turned around and gave him a shameless nod before saying, "Oh... I will."