Later, when we finish the drinks he got us, Charlie grabs my hand and nods towards the door.
“You want to go?”
He shakes his head. “Not yet, but I need a bit of fresh air.”
I let him lead me outside and to the picnic bench where I first met him.
We both take the same seats we did last time.
I laugh when he pulls out the gloves I gave him and tugs them on.
“Can’t believe it’s been a year since I met you.” He blows out a breath that fogs in the chill night air. “I’m so glad Dan fucked off and left me.”
“Me too.” I wince. “I mean, it was a dick move on his part, but it meant I got to meet you.”
He leans in and kisses me. “Worth being stranded.”
I slip my arm around him and tug him into my side. It’s a cold night, not sure how much longer we can stay out here without freezing, but it’s nice to have a bit of peace and quiet after the chaos inside. “Did you hear back from the estate agent?”
“Fuck’s sake!” He shifts to face me, excitement written all over his face. “Can’t believe I forgot to tell you! They want it.”
“That’s amazing.” I pull him tight again, wrapping my arms around him. “I’m so happy for you.”
“I mean, it’s still early stages, and it might fall through, but fingers crossed, in a few months it’ll all be sorted.”
And then he’ll need somewhere to live.
I swallow down the words desperate to spill out. He still has a job in Bristol. That hasn’t changed. “What will you do then?” I’m not sure how well I hide where my mind just went, because Charlie studies me closely, bottom lip between his teeth.
“Well...” He swallows, and it hits me that he’s nervous. I try not to get too excited. “There’s talk at work of downsizing and moving more towards part office-based/part home-based working. If it happens, it probably won’t be for a few months.”
“Maybe it’ll coincide with your flat sale going through?”
“Maybe.”
I laugh and run a cold hand through my hair. Wish I’d rememberedmybloody gloves. “Put me out of my misery, Charlie. What are you saying, exactly?”
“Potentially, I could move to either three weeks at home and a week in the office, or a split week. Something that lets me stay with Seb or a hotel for the time I’m needed in Bristol and allow me to live elsewhere for the rest of it.”
“Somewhere like here?” I hold my breath, not daring to hope that everything I’ve ever wanted is about to fall into my lap.
“Yeah. If that’s something we both want in a few months.”
I get what he’s saying. It’s way too soon yet to make a decision like that. Even though I’d happily move in with him right now, it’s probably not the best idea. But the fact that it’s even an option has me so filled with hope that it’s an effort to sound calm when I speak. “Okay. So between now and then?”
He sighs. “We split our time? Would you be willing to come to me some weekends?”
“Of course I would. I’ll work something out with Sadie, don’t worry.” I rub my hands together, trying to get some feeling back in them. Charlie notices and grabs them with his gloved ones. “Come on, let’s go back in before you freeze.”
I shudder thinking about all that lovely heat. “Okay.”
He tugs me to a stop just outside the door, then hits me with that smile again. The small, soft, but oh-so-warm one that makes my belly swoop every single time. “Are we doing this then?”
I wrap my arms around him. “Yeah. We are.”
He looks up and grins. “Perfect.”
I follow his gaze and chuckle. “Of course.”
