Broken Rainbows by Catrin Collier

back softly. Leaning across Liza he opened the door for her, starting back nervously when he accidentally brushed his arm against her breast. ‘I’m sorry,’ he apologised, glad of the darkness that concealed his burning cheeks.
    â€˜That’s all right. You didn’t mean to do it.’
    â€˜No.’ The silence closed in on them, tense and suffocating despite the chill in the air. He tried to distinguish Manny and Maisie’s shadows in the darkness that shrouded the front door, but it was impossible. They had merged into the grey-black mass of the house.
    â€˜Thank you for coming to the dance with me.’
    â€˜I enjoyed myself.’
    â€˜So did I.’
    â€˜It’s the first real dance I’ve gone to,’ Liza confided shyly.
    He reached out and touched her hand. ‘I don’t suppose …’
    â€˜What?’ she asked, his diffidence lending her confidence.
    â€˜That I could kiss you?’ he blurted out uneasily.
    â€˜I haven’t had much practice at that sort of thing.’
    â€˜Truth be told, neither have I. Have you got a boyfriend?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Neither have I. A girlfriend I mean,’ he amended hastily as she smothered her laughter. Leaning forward, he gripped her arms, held her close and pressed his lips against hers for an embarrassing instant. ‘I don’t suppose you’d consider being my girl while we’re here?’ he asked as he released her.
    â€˜What would that mean?’
    â€˜Coming out with me once in a while. To dances. Perhaps the movies …’
    â€˜I’d like that.’
    â€˜Really. You mean it?’ He bent his head to hers again. The pressure of his lips was harder, more confident now; then he remembered the time. Releasing her abruptly he pressed the ignition. ‘The colonel’s going to be madder than hell if I don’t get back into town to pick him up in the next few minutes … begging your pardon, Liza.’
    â€˜That’s all right.’ She swung her legs out of the car.
    â€˜Manny?’ he hissed as Liza walked towards the house.
    â€˜I’ve been waiting for you.’ Manny slammed the back doors and climbed into the front seat.
    â€˜Goodnight, Maurice,’ Liza called as she opened the front door.
    â€˜Goodnight, Liza.’ He reversed the car carefully, trying to recall the exact location of the trees and bushes that bordered the drive.
    â€˜Looks like you got a bad case of the hots there, boy.’ Manny reached for his cigarettes, pushed two into his mouth and lit them.
    â€˜Liza’s a nice girl.’
    â€˜And may the good Lord protect me from nice girls. Me, I’m far from home and out for all I can get.’
    â€˜With Maisie?’
    â€˜Word is she’s got a kid and no wedding ring. She might be playing hard to get now, but she’ll come round. A girl like that knows the score, and that’s the sort I like.’
    â€˜Who told you she has a kid?’ Maurice asked sharply as they headed back down the hill.
    â€˜I heard. Man, the boys are right. The only thing cheap in Britain is the women.’
    â€˜Maybe that was true back at base …’
    â€˜Back at base nothing. A pair of nylons, a couple of cigarettes or a Baker’s chocolate bar, and they’re anyone’s.’ He handed Maurice a cigarette before leaning back in his seat. ‘It sure does feel like I’ve landed in a bargain-priced whorehouse, and as I don’t have my mother or the local priest peering over my shoulder, and money in my pockets for the first time in my life, I intend to make the most of my good fortune.’
    â€˜What about the girls?’
    â€˜I’m a democrat. I don’t mind sharing my pleasure with them.’
    â€˜Maisie might have a kid, but she’s a decent girl.’
    â€˜Who says?’
    â€˜I know, I live in the same house as her.’
    â€˜Have you asked her