Stuck with You: the perfect feel-good romantic comedy!

Daniel’s jaw clenched and he spoke through gritted teeth. ‘She’s not my girlfriend. We just happened to be in the same lift at the same time.’

The manager took a step back at Daniel’s tone of voice. His glasses had misted up slightly and he blinked nervously. ‘I see. I’m so sorry.’

‘We rang the bell for ages before anyone answered. We kicked the doors and made loads of noise. Nobody came. How long have we been in there for? More than an hour? Didn’t anyone think, “Oh, lift number two isn’t working”?’

‘I’m very sorry, sir. Rest assured there will be a full investigation.’

‘I should think so too.’

‘If I could just take your names and addresses, I’d be most grateful.’

Daniel snatched the clipboard off him and scribbled down his details, and then passed it to me. My hand was shaking as I wrote down my name and address, together with a brief description of what had happened.

‘Thank you so much. I can only say how sorry I am.’ Mr Jones did a little bow before scurrying away towards the firemen. Daniel took hold of my arm. ‘I think you might be in shock,’ he said, quietly. ‘Can I take you home?’

‘No, I’m fine, honestly.’

‘Are you sure?’ He frowned down at me. ‘I don’t like the look of you; you’re shaking like a leaf.’ He looked around and raised his voice. ‘Can someone get us a hot sweet drink from somewhere, please?’ Steering me towards a low wall, he made me sit down.

‘I’m fine,’ I protested. ‘It’s not like you didn’t go through the same thing I did, is it?’

‘Yeah, but I didn’t almost knock myself out by throwing myself bodily at the doors.’ He smiled at me and I felt my cheeks flush with mortification. A staff member brought us two takeaway cups of tea.

‘Thank you.’ Daniel took them and passed one to me.

I took a sip of the hot liquid and winced. There were probably about three sugars in it. ‘It’s too sweet.’

‘Good for shock though.’

We sat in silence, sipping our drinks, looking around the car park. The onlookers had dispersed and the fire crew were packing up to leave. They’d cordoned off the elevator with bright yellow tape. Daniel sat close, his body turned slightly towards mine, his knee touching my thigh. I kept wanting to lean against him and rest my head on his chest.

‘What a nightmare,’ I said.

‘I know. Are you feeling any better?’

‘Yes, I am actually.’ I was pleased that my voice sounded stronger than I physically felt.

‘Good.’

I looked across at him and smiled. ‘Thank you for being there.’

He raised an eyebrow and shrugged. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed the remainder of his tea and he stared into the bottom of the cup before placing it on the floor by his feet.

‘You should go,’ I said. ‘You’ve spent enough time with me already tonight.’

He looked away across the car park and shook his head. ‘I’ll see you to your car.’

‘It will be just my luck to find I’ve left my lights on and the battery’s dead.’ I gave a nervous laugh, wishing I could stop saying stupid things.

‘Then I’ll give you a lift.’

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I sat quietly until I’d finished my tea. I didn’t rush; I didn’t want this to end. I wanted to stay here with Daniel. He was watching me; I could feel his eyes on my face. When I glanced up, he didn’t look away; he just smiled. I felt a blush forming and swallowed the last of my tea. Taking my cup, he put it with his and got up to put it in the bin.

‘Erm, I’m parked over here,’ I said, feeling awkward as he followed me towards my small white car, which was parked in the far corner of the car park. There were still plenty of people around and I breathed in the smell of exhaust fumes and warm rubber. Daniel walked beside me, our arms brushing occasionally, and we reached my car too soon. I turned to him with a smile.

‘Well, thanks again for getting stuck with me. You know, just for… being there.’

‘You’re welcome. I’m glad I jumped in there at the last moment, otherwise you’d have been alone.’

I nodded and unlocked my car with an electronic beep. ‘You don’t need a lift anywhere, do you?’

‘No, I’m good, thanks.’ He smiled, and I stared at him for a moment, trying to commit his features to memory. What was I doing, staring at him like that! I turned away quickly and opened my car door.

‘Can I have your number?’ he said, suddenly. I turned and blinked at him. ‘Just so I can check you’re all right tomorrow.’

‘Oh! Okay.’ I slipped into the driver’s seat and fished out my phone from my bag. ‘I don’t know it off by heart, I’m sorry.’

‘No problem.’

I reeled off the number to him as he programmed it into his phone, then my phone beeped with an incoming text message.

‘That’s my number,’ he said. ‘Call me if you need anything.’

My cheeks grew hot and my heart speeded up. ‘Thank you.’

He nodded and stepped away and I reached out to close the door.

‘It was nice to see you again, Elena,’ he said, and then he smiled and walked away.

Chapter Three (#ulink_505d5d99-3fce-5d18-9348-baf00b096e90)

I took a deep breath as I started my car and pulled out of the parking space. I could see Daniel across the car park, walking towards a white pick-up truck. He turned as he reached his door, gave a wave, then disappeared inside. My heart thumped and my skin tingled. I felt more alive than I had in months. Exultant. I’d seen Daniel Moore again, and he hadn’t ruined my memories of him. In fact, he’d made them better, because he was so nice and he’d remembered our kiss. I couldn’t believe it. Surely I had been one of many.

I probably wasn’t in the best frame of mind to be driving. My head was up in the clouds somewhere and my hands were shaking. Rachel’s house was closer than my flat, so I drove to hers instead of going home. I could phone Alex from there and tell him where I was.

Rachel had to undo three bolts and unlock the door with a key before she finally opened it. She peered out into the darkness suspiciously before realising it was me. ‘Oh! Hello! What’s up?’

‘I just got stuck in a lift!’ I said, rocking forward on my tiptoes.

‘Really? Oh no! Are you all right? That sounds horrific. Come in, come in.’

‘I’m okay,’ I said, stepping into her brightly lit hall as she rebolted the front door. ‘I’m not interrupting anything, am I?’ I said, taking in her pink silk pyjamas and heeled feather mules. ‘You’re not expecting Patrick?’

‘Oh no. You know I always dress like this. Are you hurt? You’re bleeding!’ Rachel peered at my leg before herding me towards her sitting room.

‘It’s just a graze,’ I said, sitting down on her pink sofa. Everything about Rachel was bright, from her red hair and vintage clothes, to her flamboyant taste in home decor. Going back to my flat after being in her house was like stepping into a black and white movie. Alex thought she was crazy, but I loved her. ‘You’ll never guess who I got stuck in the lift with,’ I said.

‘Who?’