Wags To Riches, page 27
“I went for the sat nav and heated seats option too” Adam says smiling and I beam up at him in wonder.
“Wow!” I say in amazement and look round at everything again. “Thank you so much Adam” I say and my eyes fill with happy tears. “I can’t believe you bought me this! Thank you!” I say and reach up to hug him, trying to stop snivelling because my nose will go red and smiling at the same time. I just can’t think straight at the minute.
“All your insurance is sorted – I’ve done all that as well” Adam says, “So we can take it for a spin if you like after breakfast”.
“I want to drive it now!” I say laughing. “I’m going to take it for a spin now!”
“Now?” Adam asks.
“Yeah – just round the fountain” I say. “I know I’ve got my slippers on, but I’ll be fine. Come on, get in!”
“What are you like?” he says laughing as he goes round to the other side of the car and gets in. I put the key in the ignition and turn it. The dashboard lights up like a Christmas tree.
“Look at that! Did you see that?” I say as the needles on the speedometer and the rev counter go all the way round and back again. “It’s like something from NASA! Can you hear that engine? Wow!” I say and Adam laughs. “Right, let’s try and go round the fountain” I say, carefully putting the car into first gear and slowly moving off. I drive round the fountain about three times and then reluctantly stop the car. “I suppose I’d better go and get dressed and then I can take it for a proper spin” I say, turning to Adam. “Thank you so much Adam – it’s wonderful!”
Adam smiles at me. “I’m glad you like it Gail!” he says, “You deserve a nice car after putting all that hard work in to pass your test. There’s some paperwork as well you might want to take a look at in the glove box”.
I reach over and open the compartment and inside are only two plane tickets to Rome for next weekend!!
“Sorry about the short notice” Adam says grinning. “I thought we could go to celebrate you passing your test before the season starts”.
I let out a massive scream and nearly squash Adam in a massive hug before kissing him. “ROME! Oh my God Adam! I don’t know what to say!” I squeal delightedly, looking first at him, then at the tickets. “This is too much – first the car and now this!”
“No it’s not – you deserve it!” Adam says and smiles at me. “I know we were talking about going on holiday, but I don’t think we’ll be able to go to Mick’s villa in Spain till September as there isn’t a week until then when we don’t have any matches on. But, in the meantime, I thought it would be nice to have a romantic weekend away before the season starts. It’s also a thank you for all the effort you put into organising my birthday party” he adds as I look at the tickets. “You’ve always wanted to go to Rome haven’t you?” he asks smiling and I nod my head, my eyes shining. “What do you say?”
I look at him and then back at the tickets and then at him once more.
“Yes please!” I squeal. Oh my God! Rome! I’m going to Rome! I think I might just burst with happiness! “You are so lovely Adam” I say, putting my arms round his neck, “I don’t know what to say!”
“Don’t say anything then and kiss me instead” Adam replies as he moves closer to me.
Chapter 25
“Bloody hell! It’s hot isn’t it?” I say to Adam as we step out of the aeroplane. It’s midday and the Italian sun is beating down. We both immediately put on our sunglasses and then Adam reaches for my hand as we walk to the shuttle bus that will take us to the terminal building. “Have you been here before Adam?” I ask as we step onto the bus and go to stand near one of the windows.
“Not on this particular bus, no” Adam says grinning at me.
“You know what I mean!” I say, smiling and smacking him lightly on the arm. “Have you ever been to Rome before?”
“You know what I mean!” I say smiling and smacking him lightly on the arm. “Have you ever been here – to Rome - before?”
“We played here last year” Adam replies, “but it was literally – plane – hotel - match, then back home. We didn’t have any time to look round or anything, so it will be nice to do some sightseeing” he says, adjusting the bag strap on his shoulder. The bus is filling up rapidly, so Adam and I shuffle closer together.
“Isn’t it hot on here?” I say to Adam, pulling at my new white gypsy top I’d treated myself to for the holiday. “I wish I’d put a skirt on instead of jeans. Mind you, it was so cold at the airport this morning, I was glad I’d got jeans on!”
“I know – it was cold this morning,” Adam agrees. “It certainly isn’t now though!” he adds lifting his bag off his shoulder. “Just hold my bag a moment would you?” he asks, holding it out to me, “I’ve got to take my jacket off”.
“Of course” I reply, taking hold of the bag as Adam slips off his coat. Underneath he is wearing a fitted black T-shirt that shows off his muscular arms.
“Thanks Gail” he says, taking the bag from me. “What?” he asks, noticing me looking at him.
“Nothing” I reply airily. “If you must know,” I say grinning, “I was just thinking that T-shirt shows off your muscles”.
“Oh thanks Gail - you’ve made me blush now!” Adam replies laughing and moves even closer to me as a party of five men squash themselves next to us and I end up with some bloke’s armpit in my face as they reach up to hold onto one of the overhead rails. Ugh! I think, moving my head away hastily.
“It’s cosy on here isn’t it mate?” the bloke in question says to Adam.
“Certainly is” Adam replies. “Never mind – it won’t be for long”.
“Good!” I growl and Adam, noticing my predicament, moves to switch places with me. I stand in front of him pressed up against his chest, as the bus is now full to bursting. He smiles at me as the doors close and the driver starts the engine.
“Do you know - I can see straight down your top” he murmurs into my hair.
“Oh can you now?” I say casually, looking up at him.
“Uh-huh – it’s quite distracting” Adam goes on and smiles his sexy lopsided smile at me.
“Stop looking then!” I whisper back, smiling as I slide my hand into one of the back pockets on his jeans.
The bus moves off and after a few moments, we arrive at the terminal building. After going through passport control, we go to wait for their suitcases. “I hope they don’t take too long” I say to Adam “I am boiling hot and my shoes are killing me”.
“Well - you will wear heels” Adam says, rolling his eyes. “I told you to put trainers on or something, but you wouldn’t listen!”
“I know I know!” I say, “I know silver strappy sandals with four inch heels aren’t the most practical footwear for travelling in Adam, but as Gina said they do go beautifully with these jeans”.
Adam shakes his head and laughs. “Oh great here’s our case” he says and lifts it off the carousel. “Why you had to bring so much stuff I don’t know!”
“Er – excuse me Adam Finchley! It’s not just my stuff you know” I say defensively as Adam hides a smile. “Now let’s go and find our taxi because I have got to sit down and take the weight off my feet pretty soon”.
“Do you want me to give you a fireman’s lift?” Adam says, “I don’t mind you know”.
“I’d rather you didn’t” I say and laugh as we walk through the front of the airport to find our taxi. Why did I put these shoes on? It seemed a great idea this morning, but now my feet feel like they’re on fire and wrapped in cheese wire. The shoes do look nice though.
Just then, Adam sees a man holding up a hastily written card with his name on. “There’s ours Gailey” Adam says. We walk over to the man and follow him to the taxi. The air conditioning is on full blast and we climb in thankfully out of the scorching heat.
“I am so looking forward to seeing Rome for the first time!” I say to Adam as I settle back into my seat. “And I’m looking forward to a nice relaxing journey in this lovely cool taxi”.
Famous last words. The taxi driver drives like a bloody maniac! He’s doing at least eighty miles an hour all the way, is constantly weaving in and out of lanes and to top it all off, has his mobile phone clamped to his ear and proceeds to shout in Italian for the entire bloody journey! Nothing though, can take away the thrill of seeing the colosseum for the very first time. It’s amazing! It’s huge! And it’s in the centre of a massive roundabout! I look up at it out of the taxi window as we zoom past, just marvelling at this fantastic structure, and then beam at Adam. He grins back at me and squeezes my hand. I can’t believe I’m here! I can’t believe I’m in Rome!
I can’t believe we are still in one piece either as the taxi driver still doesn’t slow down now we are in the city centre and we hurtle down narrow cobbled streets, only just missing numerous parked cars and several pedestrians. I have to put my hands over my eyes at one point as we nearly hit some people sat a table outside a restaurant and even the unflappable Adam takes a sharp intake of breath. “Bloody hell!” he mutters, “That was close!” I move my hands away from my eyes and turn to look out the back window, just to check that those people are okay and they are still quite happily eating lunch, as though nothing has happened. I shake my head and hold Adam’s hand tightly as the driver decides to take a sharp left turn without slowing down one bit.
“Adam – I don’t want to die!” I moan, squeezing my eyes tight shut and not daring to look.
“I don’t neither!” Adam says firmly, “I’m paying a lot of money for this hotel!” I look at him and we both start to laugh.
Eventually we pull up outside our hotel and I breathe a deep sigh of relief. “Hurray! We are both still alive!” I say before getting out of the car and back into the relentless heat. The driver gets out, lifts the cases out of the car and then screeches off.
“Are you alright?” Adam asked as he picks up his bag and reaches for the case.
“I am now I’ve got out of that taxi!” I reply as we walk into the hotel. The reception area feels beautifully cool - all air-conditioned with gorgeous solid white marble tiles on the floor. “Those tiles look lovely and cold” I say to Adam and slip off my shoes. The floor feels like heaven to my hot, aching feet. “Oh that’s good!” I say with relief as I stand on the wonderfully cold floor in front of the reception desk. “Hey Adam,” I say laughing, “Do you think the staff would mind if I lay on this floor?”
“Well I would because I have paid for a suite!” Adam replies smiling as he signs a couple of forms. “Come on – let’s get upstairs and we can get changed. I’m boiling.”
We walk to the lift, me carrying my shoes in my hand – I can’t face putting them back on again.
“Tim did warn me that summers in Rome can be incredibly hot” Adam says as the lift doors close.
“Yes, I remember you saying” I say. “I’m glad I packed loads of summery things to wear”.
“You did pack some flat shoes didn’t you?” Adam asks, looking worried.
“Yes of course!” I say. “I’m not a complete ditz you know!”
“Oh that’s good” Adam replies, “I was just going to say if you hadn’t, we could go in Prada and buy you some shoes, but if you’ve packed some...”
“Oh – well I could always throw the others away” I say hastily and Adam laughs. “What room are we in anyway?” I ask him, looking at the key ring attached to the room key that Adam was holding. It’s a huge brass thing, shaped like a bow and arrow.
“The Cupid suite” Adam replies, “Can’t you tell from the key ring?” he adds and I laugh.
The lift arrives at the top floor of the hotel and we make our way down the corridor to find our suite. “This is ours” Adam says and opens the door. “After you!” he says. I step inside and my mouth falls open. The room is absolutely beautiful. The walls are a delicate pale blue colour with gilt-edged panelling and there is a huge chandelier hanging down from the ceiling. A large statue of Cupid with his bow and arrow stands in one corner of the room and in another corner there is a little gilt edged marble topped table, on which stands a huge vase of flowers and an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne in. There are two gilt edged, crimson padded armchairs near to the glass doors that lead to the balcony and in the centre of the room is a massive bed with a fabulously ornate gilt headboard and footboard.
“Adam – this is fantastic!” I say, pressing my fingers to my lips, before walking across the room to open the bathroom door. “Just look at this!” I gasp, trying to take in the marble floor, huge sunken bath and beautiful statue of Venus stood at the far side of the room, “It’s incredible!”
Adam walks into the bathroom behind me. “Can we take that home for our bathroom?” I ask, pointing at the Venus statue.
Adam laughs. “Don’t think so Gail – I’m not carrying that through the bloody airport!”
“Can you imagine the excess baggage charge?” I say laughing, as we walk back into the main room.
“Ah! Champagne! Excellent!” Adam says, spotting the ice bucket on the table. He goes over and lifts the bottle out of the bucket. “I could do with a drink after that taxi ride here! Yes,” he continues, wiping the bottle with a linen towel that was helpfully left next to the champagne, “I certainly don’t remember a death defying and frankly terrifying ride through the streets of Rome being on my holiday itinerary!”
I burst out laughing. “Mine neither!” I reply. “I think everybody drives like that here though – did you actually see anyone driving slow?”
“No - I know what you mean - I thought Tony was a nutter behind the wheel, but he’d fit in well here!” Adam says. “Anyway, we made it here in one piece and that’s the important thing”. He goes to open the champagne. “Need to keep hold of this cork” he says, “I don’t want it to knock the head off that statue over there!” and he nods towards the Cupid in the corner.
“Well – quite!” I say and smile as Adam opens the champagne and pours out two glasses, passing one to me.
“To you Gail” he says, “Well done on passing your driving test!”
“To you!” I say, “For all your help and also for whisking me away to Rome for the weekend!” I add grinning and we both take a drink. “Mmmm, that tastes marvellous” I say, smacking my lips appreciatively. It tastes even better after my near death experience in that bloody taxi.
“Let’s drink this on the balcony” Adam suggests, “It’s far too nice a day to sit in here”.
“Yes lets!” I say enthusiastically and we step out of the doors onto the balcony. I can’t help but gasp at the view. Rome is spread out below - a heady mix of heat, traffic noise, gorgeous architecture and a surprising amount of trees reaching for the sky. As I look round to the left, I can see the roof of the Vatican in the distance. Wow. I turn back to see Adam stood resting his forearms on the railing, also taking in the view.
“Adam - this is amazing!” I say in wonder, going to stand next to him.
“Yeah – it’s not bad is it?” Adam says casually and grins at me.
After changing and having lunch in a lovely bar just down the road from the hotel, we decide to go and have a look round the colosseum. We stand at the side of the road and wonder how to get across to it, as the traffic seems to pay no attention to the crossing signs and just keeps moving.
“Oooh quick!” Adam says, “there’s a nun there – let’s cross the road when she does!”
“What?” I reply, looking at him baffled.
“It’s something Tim said” Adam replies. “When he and Gina came here a few years ago – they found that a lot of Italian drivers will only slow down for nuns so if you can, try and cross the road with one of them” and we hurry across the road, behind the nun, along with a lot of other people who seem to have had the same idea. We make it finally across the road and after queuing for a while, go inside the colosseum where we have to trudge up tons of steps.
“I hope it’s worth it when we get to the top” I say, panting slightly. Eventually the space opens out and I look round wide eyed in wonder. It’s absolutely amazing. You can see clearly what it must have been like to be there in ancient times. “The noise must have been tremendous, with thousands of people all shouting and cheering” I say to Adam who nods in agreement in between taking photographs.
Afterwards, we potter round the centre of Rome and it’s my turn to take loads of pictures, including a really nice one of Adam sat on the Spanish Steps, just before this giggling teenage girl who’s blushing furiously comes up to ask him for his autograph and if she could take a picture of him.
“I’ll take it if you like” I offer.
“Oh no - oh well - erm - that would be great” the girl says blushing even more deeply. Adam puts his arm round her and I take the picture.
“Thanks ever so much!” the girl says to us both.
“No problem” Adam says.
“Do you ever get used to that?” I ask him as we walk down the steps and go down the street opposite.
Adam shrugs. “I don’t mind that – it’s people throwing coins at me on the pitch I can’t stand” he says. “That’s only happened once though” he says in response to my raised eyebrows, “And luckily none of them hit me. Oh look – we’re outside Gucci” he says grinning, “Let’s go in and treat ourselves shall we?”
After Adam has bought a gorgeous new handbag for me, which is very kind of him and a new belt and wallet for himself, we have a drink in a bar nearby and then saunter back to the hotel to drop off the shopping and get changed for dinner.
“I’m really tired,” I say yawning and flopping into one of the padded armchairs. “It must be the early flight”.
“I am as well Gailey to be honest,” Adam says. “Shall we just grab some pizza or something and have an early night tonight? We’ve still got Friday and Saturday night to paint the town red”.
