My Dinosaur Era Chapter 27
By beanzie
- 19 reads
I think I am going to have a coffee, it’s too early to be hammered, I say
what time even is it, says ginny
five, patrycja finishes now, she said she’s going swimming, I say
why can’t we go swimming too, she says
because we are full of food and booze, I say
I guess, she says
she said she is going to the beach tomorrow and we should come along, I say
there’s a beach here, she says
no, in san sebastian, about an hour away, I say
oh, ok, she says
don’t worry, I’m sure we shall see her later, I say
I’m not worried, why would I be, she says
we move outside, low sun hitting the square
I sit with my coffee, ginny sits with a beer
we’re all talked out, I see myself reflected in her shades
people are on the move all around us
locals flitting in and out of the shadows
going home, going out
tourists like us walk differently
time is not an enemy, they wander
look at menus, stare into phones
my head clears quickly, coffee express
ginny looks slumped in her chair
we’ve missed a sensible nap window
power on through to whatever is on the other side
just going for a piss, I say
ginny nods, barely, sucks her cigarette
I go to the bar, order two espresso martinis
nip to the toilet, pick them up on the way back
sit down at the table
fucking hell, she says
well, you won’t have a coffee and you’re dying there, I say
do you know what, timmy, she says
what, I say
you are my favourite person right now, she says
oh yeah, not patrycja, I say
hmm, no you win, for the time being, don’t get complacent though, she says
we touch glasses, drink
after the martinis, walking back to the hotel, ginny still barefoot
me carrying her giant boots
the river feels still, no boats on this stretch
walk across the bridge, stop halfway
look back down towards the museum
it’s hard to say why it is nice here, says ginny
yeah, when I tried to explain it to you I never had the words, I say
it feels kinda calm and exciting, at once, you know, she says
hmm, yeah, that and the pintxos, I say
never forget the pintxos, she says
in our room, it’s six in the evening
what do you want to do tonight, I say
ginny is taking her clothes off, another shower beckons
nothing crazy, like just some more food and drink, she says
sure, shall I see if patrycja want to come along, I say
you can do but I really don’t want to be on her case you know, I mean she had a life here before we came along, she says
the water starts in the bathroom, she is still talking
words muffled
I can’t hear you, I say
no reply, the shower hisses on
I take off my tee shirt, it smells
can’t remember when I changed it last
I chuck it into a corner, then go pick it up
squeeze it into a corner of my rucksack
my phone buzzes, my sister again
she’s in brighton now, sorry that she missed me
recommend a pub please
one that does decent food
who are you away with
is it a girlfriend
mum had her scan, nothing tangible showed up
I read the messages a few times over
try to imagine her typing them
always asking about girlfriends, worse than mum
thinks I am going to die alone
she doesn’t know about jane
that we were married, then she died
there was no reason to tell her
ginny appears from the bathroom
steaming, shiny, towel tight around her torso
are you having one, she says
hmm, I say
a shower, are you having one, she says
yeah, I stink, I say
in the bathroom, the steam clearing
fumble for the control
blasts on hot, how can she have it like that
fuck, shoulder burning, caught the sun
annoyed at the water, rub my face, armpits, balls
soap up all the important bits
rinse, flick the control off
an angry shower, just what I needed
back in the room, ginny in the bed, sheet up to her chin
timmy, she says
yeah, I say
would it be ok if we like, lay here for a while, she says
it’s too late for a nap, isn’t it, I say
no, not a nap, I mean, I guess, like a cuddle, she says
are you ok, I say
yes, I just would like a hug, in bed, with you, she says
machine gunning the words out
sure, yeah, I say
I mean, naked, like you said you did with jane, not that I’m jane of course, god, no, why did I say it like that, she says
it’s ok, I know what you mean, I say
I drop my towel and slide in next to her
we are warm, still damp in patches
we lie next to each other, just our shoulders touching
put your arm up, she says
I do, she slips into the crook, head on my chest
mmm, she says
I shuffle on my arse a little to get comfortable
hold me properly, please, she says
I wrap my other arm around her, bring her to me
we lie there, just like this, our breathing coming together
she wraps a leg over mine, her knee touches my balls
oh, sorry, she says
it’s ok, I say
I’m so awkward, I don’t think I have just ever lay with someone like this, she says
do you like it, I say
yes, I do like it, she says
good, me too, I say
you don’t feel strange doing this, like, with me, she says
a bit but I dunno, it’s like it is you but also not you, a kinda abstracted ginny, not ginny from home, I say
yeah, I know what you mean, she says
I’m looking forward to going to the beach tomorrow, I say
have you been there before, what’s the place called again, she says
san sebastian, no, I have always thought I would go there but never got around to it, silly given that it is so close, I say
is it a sandy beach, she says
yes, a huge sandy beach, I say
thank fuck, I am sick of pebbles, she says
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