Leeds is where my heart is.
I gather my things and stand ready to exit the train when it stops. Kyle is waiting for me on the other side of the barrier. The moment I reach him, he hugs and kisses me and then takes my things.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Hi, Sir.” I keep my voice low so no one can hear us.
“Let’s go home.”
He means his flat. It’s not my home, but there’s nowhere I’d rather be tonight than with him.
We’re halfway home when my phone beeps with an incoming email. I open it with a trembling hand, my heart pattering as I read the contents.
“What is it, gorgeous?” Kyle asks.
“A job offer.”
“That’s wonderful. Do I get to say I told you so?” The happiness in his voice is tempered by an uneven delivery.
“You can if you want.” I tap the edge of my phone against my thigh as I stare out the window. “I’m not sure I’m going to accept it.”
“What? Why not? It’s your dream job.”
“Dreams change.”
He glances at me. “Don’t change your dreams because you think I don’t want to move to London.”
“I’m not. Hayley gave me an idea. I want to ask your advice before I accept or decline this offer.”
“Tell me more.”
“When we get ho—” I shake my head. “When we get to yours. I’m going to want your big strong arms around me while we talk.”
Kyle puts two pre-made meals in the oven to heat up, and then I sit on his lap on the sofa.
He loops his arms around my waist. “What was Hayley’s idea?”
I take a deep breath and tell him her suggestion and the research we did between my interviews.
“Wow.”
“What do you think? Is it a bad idea? Too risky? Should I accept the job offer instead?”
“Slow down.” He puts a hand on my thigh.
“Sorry.”
“I think you should look into it. I don’t know whether it’s a good or a bad idea. It depends on how many of these small companies need to employ freelancers. Some might have in-house designers.”
I dip my chin. “True.”
“It’s likely to be the smaller ones which don’t.”
“But they’ll also have tiny budgets.”
“Maybe.”
“It’s too risky, isn’t it?”
