Our rule of not eating until we get back to the car lasts all of five seconds.
‘I can’t believe you didn’t know about Luigi’s,’ I say, shovelling a slice in my mouth.
Minnie’s box remains untouched in her delicate hands. ‘You knew I wouldn’t, and you relished showing me somewhere in Monaco I didn’t know.’
‘Relished?Who knew I did something so fancy.’
‘Admit it. You loved it.’
I grin, face full of pizza. ‘Yeah, you’re right.’
She looks at me properly and recoils. ‘Why are you eating it like a caveman? Who rolls slices up like that?’
I glance down at my slice and back at her. ‘It’s the cleanest way!’
‘It’s psychopathic.’
‘If I didn’t, it’d be hanging all over the place and I’d get sauce around my mouth. This way, it’s contained. I’m a genius.’
‘Alright, Hannibal.’
I shove her off the pavement and wipe my smile with the back of my hand.
Pizza did the trick. She has more colour, more energy, more Minnie-ness. As I palm the wheel one-handed, I glimpse her from the corner of my eye and she’s watching me back. My junk stirs, pressing into my sweats. How can a girllookingat me turn me on? You’d think after the session I had in the shower this morning, I’d be sorted until at least tomorrow. The priority hereis Minnie. She’s a vulnerable woman in my car; I have a duty of care. Down, boy.
‘Do you want to talk about it?’ I ask so quietly she can pretend she didn’t hear it if she wants.
‘No.’
‘Do you… want to go back to Étienne’s?’ I hold my breath.
A pause. ‘No.’
It’s embarrassing how much I want towhoopright now. ‘Well buckle up because you’re about to be shown another place in Monaco you’ve never been.’
Ten minutes later, I’m driving straight towards an apartment block like I’m going to pass through it. At the last moment, I brake sharply and cut the ignition. I’m about to turn to her all smug when I remember, and instead thump my head against the rest. What a foolI am. ‘This would be a lot cooler if I hadn’t left the clicker in my other car,’ I mumble.
‘What do you?—’
I’m already out and jogging behind the Fiat to kick it off manually. Before she can find me in the darkness, I’m back.
‘What is it?’ she asks.
‘You’ll see.’
After a small snap, we start descending, car and all. This right here is why I do what I do. Part of it, at least.
She seizes my arm. ‘Jack, what the fu?—’
‘Trust,’ I chuckle. ‘Just trust.’
The street gives way to brushed steel and LED strip lighting, and we sink further and further into the hill. I don’t stop watching her face, waiting for that glimmer of amazement. And if she’s so impressed she feels like climbing on top of me and going for round two, I wouldn’t be mad about it.
She looks at me, completely poker-faced. ‘All this. For a Fiat.’
I throw my head back and laugh.
‘Why can’t you just drive into a car park like a normal person?’ she mutters.
