It wasn’t a long taxi ride back to her house. I’d managed to call in a favour and three cabs had shown up to help the last stragglers home.

We sat quietly together for a while, hand-in-hand, the peace punctuated only by the pounding of my heart.
“H, I…”
“No,” I said gently, “I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect night. Your family…” Unsure of how to continue, I simply smiled.
“Even Phil?” I froze and she squeezed my hand. “My big brother talks without thinking. He’s not my keeper any more.” Sorrow from the depths of Hell flashed across her beautiful face and it was my turn, “Pauline, I…”
“No, not tonight.”

I walked her to her door and leaned towards her, stopping an inch short of her lips. She came to meet me and we kissed long and deep, trying to express the perfection we had shared, trying to convince the other that we meant it.

Breathless, I pressed a piece of paper into her hand and said “call me tomorrow.”
“H,” she said quietly, “thank you for tonight.” She smiled at me and was gone.