Page 25 of Always on My Mind
“What got you into collecting vintage?” Skylar asked from her seat beside Tessa.
“Ach, I dunno,” Tessa answered with a shrug. “I suppose it helps me feel connected. To the past, and to people.”
“I find it hard to believe a beautiful girl like you struggles to connect.”
Tessa flushed. “You’d be surprised.”
Skylar carried on. “I love your accent, by the way. Where are you from?”
“Derry, but don’t hold it against me,” Tessa joked.
Skylar’s brow furrowed. “I could never. That must have been a tense childhood. I’m surprised you even wanted to come to England.”
“I was just a wee girl when it was really bad,” Tessa said, looking at her hands. “The tension lingered even after peace was official, but compared to what my parents lived through, I don’t have the right to complain.”
“How old were you when the Troubles ended?”
“Four, but as I said, it wasn’t quite over. People don’t just turn off hate.”
One of her earliest memories, when her da was teaching her to read, and she was practicing on the signs along the road as they drove to Portnoo for a holiday. She spotted the fresh paint on the brick side of a building that saidALL TAIGS ARE TARGETSand she asked him what that meant. She would never forget the way he swallowed and told her—it was a nasty word for Catholics—and he pressed his foot further onto the gas. Her mother crossed herself and gripped Da’s hand. That was three months after theGood Friday Agreement. Jamie was the only person who knew that story. And a couple others she remembered from that time, things she never even told Billie about.
“Is that why you came to England, then?” Skylar asked. “To get away from the violence?”
“That, and to go to university,” Tessa answered, grateful for the shift in subject. “I was particularly drawn to London because of the diversity. I wanted to be somewhere I knew I’d meet people from all walks of life.”
“No shortage of that here, especially with the massive amount of tourists each year.”
She dug into her purse and retrieved a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She lit up and took a long drag, turning her face to blow the smoke away from Tessa.
“I suppose a similar thing took me to Germany,” Skylar said. “Growing up in London, it lost its appeal for me. I wanted to be somewhere I could walk around and truly not know anyone. Leave it up to fate to decide who would cross my path.”
“Did it work?”
“Like a charm,” she said with a wink. “I met loads of people, and I loved it.”
“But you’re back in London.”
“Not for long.” Smoke billowed out from between her lips. “I know I’ll be traveling again soon.”
“Where to?”
“Not sure yet. I’ve never been to Ireland before. Perhaps there’s somewhere you can recommend.”
“Oh, aye, but I’m not as familiar with the Free State, so—”
“Actually,” Skylar cut across her with a smirk. “I think I’ve found what I’m looking for right here.”
Tessa’s back hit the corridor wall, Skylar’s lips pressed into hers, moans in the backs of their throats, their shopping bags abandoned on the floor. The flat door was only feet away, but they couldn’t wait. After lunch at the café, the group continued shopping. As they did, Skylar kept brushing her hand against Tessa’s, she wrapped a warm scarf around Tessa’s neck, and she tucked a flyaway piece of hair behind Tessa’s ear.
At first, Tessa resisted the advances. She didn’t do casual sex anymore after getting that wild streak out of her system in the immediate aftermath of her breakup with Jamie. But Skylar was flirty and cute, with the prettiest pink lips, and Tessa wanted to kiss her. And, she told herself, moving on was the only way to get rid of her thoughts of Jamie. So, she asked Skylar back to hers, and there they were, making out in the hallway.
“God, you’re gorgeous,” Skylar said breathlessly between kisses.
“You should see yourself,” Tessa replied.
Skylar, with flushed cheeks and kiss-swollen lips, standing in the dim hallway, was like a shot from an indie movie. She grinned and pulled Tessa back in for another heated kiss, this time slipping her tongue into Tessa’s mouth. Tessa whimpered, her hands flying to Skylar’s hair and gripping it between her fingers.
A sound from behind the door made Tessa stop, drawing back from Skylar, whose brows furrowed.