There were several texts and voice notes from Skyler, all of which filled me with a rush of homesickness.
Skyler:hi so you wanted me to tell you when we made it to seattle in one piece so here’s proof of life
He’d also sent a selfie: Skyler in the foreground looking as photogenic as he did on The End is Neigh’s website, care of my expert photographer’s eye.I recognized Robin in the background, sitting cross-legged on a couch and midreach for what looked like a charcuterie board on the coffee table.On the same couch but some distance away was another young man who I assumed was Matt, Skyler’s brother.
If I’d calculated time zones correctly, it was midafternoon back home; he’d be at work with our horses.I left him a voice note in response, quiet though Armand surely wouldn’t wake up.Then I finished in the bathroom, got dressed, and remembered it was still the middle of the damned night.
I sat down for some internet research on the London area: best places to eat, touristy-spots I could trap Armand into a photoshoot ...The rabbit hole bought me a few hours, and the moment lightfinallybegan to peek into the apartment, I ordered a smorgasbord of emergency groceries to fill Armand’s abandoned fridge.
They arrived with a loud knock a half hour later.Armand, bless him, remained asleep.
I looped as many bags as I could onto my forearms, because multiple trips were for losers.Across the hall, another apartment door opened, and a cute old lady with gently faded purple hair gave me a gummy smile.
“Oh, hello dear!I heard a commotion at Armand’s door, and he doesn’t tend to have visitors.”Her eyes lit up behind very round (also purple) glasses.“Especially handsome ones.You his new fella?”
I returned the grin, my cheeks heating up.“Um.Sort of.I’ll be staying with Armand for a bit.”I extended what I could of my arm.“I’m Lucas.”
“Ooh, American!”She delicately shook my hand.“Winifred, but do call me Winnie.”She took in the mountain of groceries I’d confiscated.“And what a nice lad to do the shopping!Certainly nicer than his last fella, is what I heard, poor darling.”
The gossip in me was begging for details, but I was losing circulation in my arms.“Thank you,” I said.“I’m so glad he has such lovely neighbors.”
Winnie blushed, waving away the compliment.“Ooh, since you’re here, would you mind giving Armand—just a tick—” She disappeared back inside for a minute, then reemerged with an enormous pair of pants.“Would you pass these along?”
I let her drape the mysterious pants that definitely wouldn’t fit Armand over my shoulder.“Sure.Uh, thanks.It was nice meeting you.”
“Have a good one, dearie!”
After bidding her adieu, I shuffled back into Armand’s kitchen and attempted to free my arms from the bag straps.Unsurprisingly, there was nothing in the fridge that needed rearranging, so I set to work organizing everything by shelf and expiration date.I crouched to place the newly purchased cleaning supplies under the sink.It was even emptier in there—a half-empty dish soap and a generic “multi-purpose surface cleaner,” and that was it.No extra sponges, no plunger, nogloves.It felt like staring at an empty armory.As if I was going to,unprotected, tackle the gargantuan task of making this apartment habitable.
I spent a moment admiring my handiwork before embarking on the process of persuading Armand to wake up.Lakshmi had texted me about an hour ago, wanting to sit us both down for a business brunch to discuss much-needed marketing plans, and Armand did in fact need to be both there and conscious.
“Armand?”I poked his shoulder, to no avail.Then I shook it.Then I shook itagain.Still nothing.He was probably dead.
This called for drastic measures.It was a bold move, one that would’ve never flown with Darren.But if I was going to start being brave by going on this trip, then I could be brave with this.And Armand was nothing like my ex.
I sank onto the mattress beside him and kissed his neck, my fingers brushing the shell of his ear, my heart slamming in my throat.It felt forbidden, like I shouldn’t be able to touch him whenever I wanted.
His eyes fluttered open as he grumbled into wakefulness.“Wha?”he managed, then as his long-lashed dark eyes focused, “Lucas?”
“In the flesh.”I swallowed past the thundering in my ears.This time I remained still, our lips a breath apart.I lingered in the purgatory of waiting for him to decide.Seeing if this would be the moment he changed his mind about me.
But in a second he’d closed the distance, lips sweet and shy against mine.
“You’re here,” he whispered, like he couldn’t believe it.
“Uh, yeah.”
“You’re in my flat.”
“I hope that’s okay.”
His thumb traced my cheekbone, lightly, as if I was breakable.“Thought maybe I dreamt it.It doesn’t ...”He shook his head and didn’t finish.Instead, he squinted at the sunlight fighting its way in.“What time is it?”
“Time for you to rise and shine so we can meet with Lakshmi about your future.”I got to my feet, hoping that removing myself might inspire him to follow.“Come on, up and at ’em.I’ll make breakfast.”
The confusion on his face graduated into full bewilderment.“But ...I don’t have food.”
“Correction: Youdidn’thave food.I ordered groceries.Also here—” I tossed him the mysterious neighbor pants.
