All Summer Long
Chapter 21: Breaking and Mending
Kerry slipped out of Antonio's bed silently while he was still sleeping. She gathered together her clothes, changed into the them in the bathroom and left as quickly and quietly as possible. Wracked with guilt she returned to her room, arriving in time just in time to see a tired but happy Phil exiting.
"Morning Kerry," He greeted a little too cheerfully for her liking.
She muttered something back and headed inside. She hoped that Sam was in the shower, she really wasn't in the mood for talking.
As soon as Sam was finished in the bathroom they exchanged a few words and Kerry went in to the use the shower. Washing away the previous night and shedding a few tears as the water cascaded over her, Kerry began to feel a little better. She wasn't looking forward to telling Smithy would happened, but she knew it was wrong to keep it from him. He was the best man she had ever known, that was why she was so scared to be in a relationship with him. Was she really worthy of the love of someone as wonderful and kind as Dale Smith?
"Morning," Nate greeted sleepily, wrapping his arms around Jessica and pulling her closer to him.
She smiled, leaning over to press a sloppy kiss against his lips. "Morning." She replied, settling her head against his chest.
Jessica didn't normally do this. She was usually measured and cautious in her relationships but with Nate she just wanted to dive in head first. Last night they had done exactly that and she had no regrets. She hoped Nate felt the same.
"Can I use your shower?" She asked. "I've got to be at work soon."
"Of course." Nate pressed a kiss to her forehead and loosened his grip on her. He watched her walk to the bathroom and wondered if it really could be possible that he was in love with her.
After dinner the previous evening, Andrea and Neil had headed back to their room without saying much to each other. They had slept as far apart as the double bed would allow, not touching or talking. Andrea slept badly, her heart aching in her chest. She and Neil had dealt with her past before and she thought they had put it behind them but when it had reared its ugly head last night all their hard work had come undone. It didn't help matters that it had happened in front of Gina; her boss.
Andrea hated that this had had to happen just at the time when things between her and Neil were going so well. Neil was ready to leave his wife and child to be with her but now they were barely communicating. It took all of Andrea's strength not to cry.
Kayla and Zain spent most of the day in bed. It was cool with the air conditioning and they had most things they could possibly need stocked in the minibar. Kayla needed plenty of rest and curling up in bed with Zain seemed like the perfect kind of medicine to her. She rested her head against his chest, the material of his cotton shirt soft against her cheek and she could hear the steady beating of his heart underneath.
Zain was lost in thought, happy to just have Kayla laying in his arms. There was something he had wanted to ask her for a while, but he was afraid she would ridicule him or hate his idea.
"Have you been doing anymore thinking about baby names, Kay?" He asked, stroking her soft blonde hair.
"A little." She said, shifting a little so she could look at him. "Have you?"
He nodded seriously, keeping his gaze locked on her's. "You know I've told you about my sister; my sister who was killed?" Kayla nodded, taking his hand. "I...I wondered, if we had a daughter, if perhaps we could name our baby after my sister?"
Kayla's face broke into a smile. "Of course baby, what was her name?"
"Jessica." Zain replied, a wistful faraway look in his dark eyes.
"That's a lovely name." Kayla replied. "And even if we have a boy, we could call him Jesse."
Zain grinned, leaning in to kiss her and wondering why he had been so afraid to tell her in the first place.
Jo was frustrated and paced her hotel room, grateful that the air conditioning stopped her from getting too hot. Her feelings for Millie were driving her insane and she wished she could go back to being oblivious to the younger woman. It was easier said than done though. She and Millie had danced together the previous night after the redhead had spotted Jo with Francesca, her dance partner from the night before that. Dancing was all they had done though, no touching and definitely no kissing. When Jo had suggested that they spend the night together, Millie had laughed and shook her head, moving off to dance with a man standing nearby.
Gina had been doing a lot of thinking since the rather disastrous double date the previous night. There was no way she could become involved with a journalist. She had dated lawyers and other officers before, but they were all on the same side. She wasn't sure she could have an honest, open relationship with a man if she couldn't trust his profession. She finally made her decision and headed to Gil's room, intent on ending things between them before they went any further.
Diane had successfully managed to avoid Nikki since she had moved out of the room they had been sharing. She hadn't been so lucky when it came to Callum though. She had been for a long swim in the pool, completing thirty lengths before deciding to go and find some lunch. What she had not been expecting was to run into Callum as he was leaving the gym.
"Sorry," She mumbled, pushing her bag back onto her shoulder.
"Have lunch with me." It seemed more of an order than an invitation and Diane was about to remind him that he wasn't her superior officer here, when his expression softened.
"Okay, I'll eat lunch with you." She finally agreed.
Sam was surprised to find that she wanted to spend the rest of the next day with Phil too. Her feelings for him had changed drastically over the last few days and it left her wondering if they had been hiding beneath the surface all the time. The previous night had been amazing, making love with Phil had been amazing. There was definitely something to be said of sleeping with a reformed womaniser, he knew all the tricks of the trade. They spent the day together lazily and happily, in a similar way to the previous day. Once again Sam was reminded how grateful she was that she had finally given in to Phil's attentions.
Libby had been doing a lot of thinking and she could tell that Stuart was dying for an answer, even if it was a negative one. It was the not knowing that was killing him. Libby had wanted this; had been so jealous of what Kayla and Zain shared but now that it could be her's too, she was scared. She loved Stuart and she wanted to marry him, it just seemed like a big step. The thought of losing him was just too much though.
"Stuart," She called out to him. "You know that question you asked me last night? Could you maybe ask me again?"
Stuart raised an eyebrow but took out the small jewellery box, bent so he was on one knee and took her hand.
"Elizabeth Barnaby, will you marry me?"
Libby chuckled. "Of course, I'd love to marry you. Just never call me Elizabeth again, okay?"
Stuart laughed too, slipping the ring onto Libby's finger and kissing her. The look of pure happiness on her face had been worth waiting for.
While Libby and Stuart were celebrating the best moment in their relationship, Kerry was making her way to Smithy's hotel room. Her guilt was almost unbearable but she knew she'd feel worse if she lied to him. She had showered under hot water and put on a fresh set of clothes, but Kerry still felt sullied by the previous night's encounter. She tapped softly on Smithy's door, foolishly and cowardly wishing that he wasn't there.
"Come in," He called, his voice seemed a little rough, perhaps because he'd just woken up? Kerry hesitated for a second before pushing the door open and entering the room.
"Hi babe," Smithy smiled, green eyes lighting up when he saw her.
"Hi," Kerry sat awkward at the end of the double bed, as far away from him as she could manage. When she finally tried to meet his eye, she saw that he looked surprised that she hadn't kissed him or asked how he was feeling. "I have to tell you something."
"What's wrong?" Smithy always had a way of sensing when something was the matter. It was one of the things she loved and hated about him.
"I..." God, she hated how much concern she could see in his green eyes because she knew that expression would change in a moment. She wanted to bask in it for a moment longer, but she owed it to Smithy to be honest. "I slept with someone else last night."
