Virtually Perfect (46 page)

'When you really love someone, you'll let them go if you have to, if that's what they want, if that's what's best for them, however much it hurts you.'

Eve sat with baited breath, hanging on every word.  She didn't know which way it was going - he could see the uncertainty in her eyes.

'Tutto o niente.' shrugged Ben.

'...What?'

'It means—'

'All or nothing,' nodded Eve.  'I know what it means.'

Ben raised his eyebrows and smiled. 

She'd been listening to Bocelli all week.  It didn't mean very much until she found the translation.

'Put your hand in my pocket.'

She blinked, finally.

'..Sorry?'

'Just do it.' smiled Ben.

Eve paused for a moment, then reached for his trousers. 

Ben laughed nervously.

'My jacket pocket, I mean.' 

He smirked, raising an eyebrow. 

'...But, you know, if you want to, I'm not going to stop you.'

She pursed her lips and gave a puzzled smile - the first real one she'd given him all night.  Eve leant back, feeling down the front of his jacket for a slit.  She delved inside, her fingers stroking the soft lining, closing around a tray of cold foil and plastic blisters.

'Here you are.' she said, holding out his nicotine gum.

Ben laughed again.

'Try the other one.'

He watched her fumbling around in the dark, the little crinkle in her brow deepening.  He undid the top button of his shirt.  His collar suddenly felt very tight.

Eve pulled out a little velvet pouch.  She stared down at it, nestled in the palm of her hand.  It was covered in dust.  She looked up at Ben. 

He smiled.

'Go on.  Open it.'

It didn't seem there could be anything inside.  The pouch was very light.  But she did feel something - a hard little bump.  She picked the ties open, tilting it into her hand.

A thin stream of sand slid from it, followed by a cold, hard thud.  Ben was watching intently.  He saw her lips part, eyes widen and flicker, heard a sharp little intake of breath. 

She tilted her hand gently, the diamond pivoting in her palm, gleaming up at them in a hundred sparkles of brilliant white.  She turned to him slowly, lips still parted, black eyes glistening, her skin bathed in amber light.

'Aziz has a theory,' Ben said with a faint smile. 

Eve watched him swallow. 

His mouth was bone dry. 

'He thinks we overcomplicate things, when really it's very straightforward.'

She stared into his gleaming eyes, robbed of colour by the night. 

'Find a girl, fall in love... ' She watched him swallow again, fixing her gaze.  'Marry them...  Provided, they'll have you, of course.

'Today has been... well, horrific, if I'm honest, but in spite of that... or maybe because of it, I have to admit that he does have a point.'

She just stared, for what seemed like forever.  Every second felt like an hour.  Ben ruffled his hair anxiously.  He couldn't stand it anymore.

'Say something...'

Eve opened her mouth to speak.  Ben waited.  He didn't dare breathe.  Her lips moved but there was no sound. 

Oh shit... she doesn't like it.

'Is it too small?' he asked nervously.

Eve still didn't blink.  She didn't seem to be breathing either.  He watched her head slowly shake.

'I should have had it set.' 
What kind of idiot proposes without a ring? 
'It's just...  well, I've never seen you wear gold - I didn't know what colour you liked.  I thought you might like to choose yourself...'

She still didn't say anything.  Ben's heart plummeted. 

She shook her head again.

She saw his brow furrow, watched him close his eyes, saw him visibly deflate.

'Oh...  Oh right.'

Niente it is then. 
Ben sighed. 
You shouldn't have pushed it, you dick. 

He eventually looked up, awkward, embarrassed.

'...Eve?  Eve!' 

Her face was contorted.  The sob she'd been fighting burst through her lips.

Oh shit...

'Sweetheart, don't cry!  It's OK!  I'll be alright—'

Ben's heart did a backflip.

'Eve...' he croaked.  'Eve!'

She was on top of him in a nanosecond, arms wrapped around his neck.  Still sobbing, laughing at the same time.

'Eve...' he croaked again.  'Eve!  I...  Can't...  Breathe.'

'...Sorry!' she cried.  She finally relinquished him from the headlock.  Ben gasped for air. 

And there she was.  The girl from the photo - that contagious smile. 

Her sobs turned to giggles as she planted a hundred excited kisses all over his face.  Relief washed over him in a warm fuzzy wave.

'I take it that's a yes then?' he smiled, wrapping his arms around her, stroking her back gently through his jacket.  She beamed again, quickly nodding back.

'I love you.' she whispered in his ear.  He felt her soft lips on his cheek.  Ben closed his eyes. 

'I love you!  I love you!  I love you!'

Ben smiled.

'Yes, well.  I'm very glad we've established that.'

Eve leant back to look at him, staring at his lips.

'I love you too.' she watched them say. 

Her fingers drifted to his prickly jaw, her thumb raising his chin.  Ben sat smiling up at her.

'...But there's something I need to tell you.'

Eve paused, her heart dangling over the precipice.  He watched her face drop.

'...Oh yes?'

'Yes.'

The smile was gone now.  Her stare bored into his.

'What is it?'

'...There's no easy way to say this.' said Ben. 

Fuck-fuck-fuck!

She nodded at him blankly.

'...Just tell me.'

'Well... there was this girl... on Friday night...'

Eve's mouth fell open.  It was as if he'd just punched her.

'Go on...'

'Nothing happened!' he said, eyes pleading.  '...But I really wanted it to.'

She couldn't believe it.  He was actually smirking.  Her stomach lurched. 

Eve started to wriggle.  Ben arms clamped around her.

'Why didn't you tell me you were Cat Woman?'

Eve paused, blinking back.  Ben's face exploded in a grin.

'...You saw me?'

'Saw you?' laughed Ben.  'I nearly crashed the fucking car!'

'Well why didn't you say something?'

'I had a girlfriend,' he shrugged.  'But fucking hell... I wish I'd known it was you.  Last night could have had a very different ending.'

She punched his shoulder.  He watched the smile burst across her face.

'You're a crap superhero though.' he said.  'You need to be more discreet.  I saw the mask when I was looking through your letterbox tonight.'

'...Stalker!' she whispered, through a smile.

Ben shrugged, fighting a grin.

'Have you still got the outfit?' he murmured against her lips.

'...It's got to go back.'

He drew his head back.  He shook it furiously.

'I don't fucking think so!' he grinned.

His eyes were burning, mouth soon straight.  Eve smiled embarrassedly, cheeks alight.  He tightened his hold, kissing her roughly. 

Eve sat astride him, melting into him in the driver's seat, one fist clenched around the diamond, the other gently tugging his hair. 

Eve's heart surged.  They were bathed in blinding white light. 

'...Fuck!' he gasped, pulling away from her lips.

'What's the matter?' she panted.

'...Eve, get back in your seat.'

She glanced outside; saw the headlights.

'Shit!' she squealed clambering over the gearstick, flipping back to her side.  'Oh my God!  The doggers are here!'

'...Eve,' Ben frowned, suppressing a smirk.  'I only said that you wouldn't run off.'

'Come on!' she squealed.  'Let's go!'

'...Better not.' said Ben.  'They'll only come after us.'

Her eyes settled on the neon yellow and blue stripes as they pulled alongside.  The diesel fell silent.  Eve swallowed. 

Oh shit! 

'You've been drinking!' she scowled at him.

'It's not that I'm worried about,' Ben said back through his teeth. 

She heard the clunk of them getting out. 

'What I'm more concerned about now is the forty grand's worth of diamond you've got in your hand that I didn't bother declaring at customs.'

...Fuck!

Her bulging eyes flickered around the car.

'...Shall I swallow it?'

Ben smirked.

'I don't think that'll be necessary.  Just don't go showing it off to them, eh?'

The point of the diamond dug into her sweaty palm.  She heard the heavy footsteps, saw them stepping towards the car.  Eve flinched as Ben waved a napkin in front of her face. 

'Here...  Um...  Your mascara is smudged.'

Eve took it, quickly blotting her eyes on the sharp paper, peering back at Ben.

'Did I get it?'

'Not exactly...' he said. 

He leant across her, flipping the sun visor down, sliding the cover across, revealing a mirror.  A little light came on.  Eve peered up.

'Oh my God!'

She looked like Alice Cooper.

She licked the napkin, furiously scrubbing her cheeks.  She heard a muffled burst from a walkie talkie.  Eve frantically rubbed at the black lines streaking down to her jaw. 

She heard a tap on the window and froze.

Ben clicked a button.  Eve flipped back the sun visor, slinking back in her seat as she watched Ben's window slide down.

'Evening officer.'

'Evening sir.'

'Nice night, isn't it?'

It wasn't.  Weather-wise, it was anything but. 

Eve's eyes rolled to Ben.  She saw him peering up at them, draw his hand up, frantically ruffling his hair. 

'What are you doing out here?' the officer said. 

She heard his hands clunk on the roof.  He leant down, peering through the driver's window. 

He looked her straight in the eye.

Fucking hell...

Eve looked at Ben.  Ben looked at her.

'Listening to music!' 'Talking!' they said in unison. 

Eve cringed.  Why the hell did she say that?  The stereo wasn't even on.

The officer raised an eyebrow.

'I see.'

He pulled back, muttering something to his sidekick.  Eve balked.  He was coming around to her side. 

Her eyes darted wildly. 

'It's alright.' Ben nodded at her.  He clicked a button.  She heard a whir.  She watched her window slide down. 

The officer's huge hand came through it, squeezing the black leather as he squatted down.

'Is everything alright, madam?'

His words were tinged with concern.  She stared into his plump face, eyes flickering across it. 

Moustaches - did anyone but the police wear them these days?

'Yes, officer,' she said feebly, forcing a smile.  'Everything's fine.'

He stared at her for what seemed like forever.

'Right.' he nodded.  She fidgeted under his gaze, saw his nose twitch, the bald spot on his neatly clipped head as he lowered his face.

He felt around in his top pocket, glancing at her briefly.  Eve watched him take out a pen out, fumbling on the ground. 

He looked back to her, grimacing, eyebrow raised.

'Are these yours, madam?' he asked through a twisted mouth.

Eve turned her head slowly, saw the trainers dangling from his pen by the laces, saw him turning away in disgust. 

God, they stank.  What she would have given to be able to say no.

'Yes!' she said, grasping them quickly, throwing down at her feet.  'Thank you!' 

Eve closed her eyes.  Her cheeks were on fire. 

The officer nodded, stared for a moment.  Finally, he stood up, returning to the driver's side.

'Driving license please, sir.' came another voice.

'Eve?  ...Eve!  You've got it.  My wallet's in my jacket pocket.'

Her hands were shaking.  She thrust one in.  Pulled out the gum.

'No!'  Ben shook his head, fighting a smirk.  'Inside pocket!'

She rummaged around, finally pulling it out and presenting it to him.

Ben flipped it open, sliding the license out.  The officer took it.  They muttered between themselves.  They muttered into the walkie talkie.  The walkie talkie muttered back.