“Make sure you do.” Amusement sparks in his eyes. “And then tell me all about it. I bet Pete’s hung like a?—”
“Bye, Seb!” I end the call, laughing, but it soon dies away as I think about what he said.
One bit of it in particular. Not about Dan—I’m not giving that arsehole anymore of my headspace. No, I’m stuck on what he said before that, because it’s what I’ve been thinking for the past day or so. Ever since Pete kissed me.
Will I regret not getting to do that again before I leave?
Yeah. I really fucking will.
PETE
As much asI wanted to start Charlie’s book last night, I was knackered. Fell asleep after the first page. I didn’t tell him that, though, obviously. And thankfully, he doesn’t ask over breakfast, even though I can tell he’s dying to.
“That was great, thank you.”
“No problem.” He stands when I do, and we take our plates over to the sink. “Are you around tonight?”
“Yeah, should be, why?”
“I wondered if you’d like to eat together?” His eyes meet mine, and I don’t think I’m imagining the invitation in them.
“I’d like that. But you know you don’t have to, right?” I feel like I need to add that in case he feels like he owes me. I don’t think that’s what this is, but I need to be sure.
“I know.”
He doesn’t say anything else.
“Okay, I guess I’ll see you tonight.”
“Yeah, I’ll go shopping later—shit. I don’t have my car.” He runs a hand through his hair. “Totally forgot about that.”
“Yeah, me too.” I glance at my phone. It’ll make me a bit late, but whatever. Sadie can deal with things until I get there. “Want me to drop you off now?” I offer.
“You sure?”
“Yeah, come on.”
It takes him five minutes to get ready, and then we’re on our way to the pub.
“So... um...” he starts, and I know what’s coming. “Did you start my book last night?”
I laugh, can’t help it. “How long have you been holding that in?”
He blows out a breath, but he’s smiling. “Hours.”
“Thought so.”
When I don’t say anything else, he shifts in his seat to see me better. “Really? You’re not gonna say anything else. If you hated it, you can say so. I won’t mind.”
I raise an eyebrow and he huffs out a laugh. “I’ll be disappointed, obviously, but I promise not to hold it against you.”
I grimace because I know he’s going to take this the wrong way. “I only read the first page before I fell asleep.”
“Oh. That good, eh?” he mumbles as I pull into the pub car park alongside his car.
“In my defence, I was up at five o’clock yesterday morning. It was an epically long day, and I was knackered. It’s not a reflection on your book in any way. Please don’t think it is.” I turn the engine off and face him. “It was a great opening page.”
That makes him laugh. “Fuck, sorry. I promised myself I wouldn’t hassle you about it, and yet here I am...”
