The quiet was nice. Not much noise from the street below, no city hum constantly buzzing in the background. Just the soft rustle of the wind in the trees and the occasional bird call. For the first time in a while, I felt myself start to relax.
I unzipped my bag and pulled out a few things, setting them on the dresser to make the space feel less temporary. Once I'd unpacked enough to feel settled, I flipped on the telly and let it play quietly. The local news was running some feel-good story about a charity bake sale, but I couldn't focus on it.
Eventually, I gave up and wandered back downstairs. The hotel had a small lounge area near the lobby with a couple of worn armchairs and a shelf of dog-eared paperbacks. I grabbed a random book and sat near the window, thumbing through the pages without really taking in the words.
I didn't notice how much time had passed until the sunlight started to dip. When I pulled out my phone to check the time, I saw more than three hours had gone by. It shouldn't be weird to text Rowan now.
I typed out a quick message:Found a room. Let's grab breakfast tomorrow.
It didn't take long for him to reply:Sounds good. 9 at theusual place?
I sent back:Perfect. See you then.
I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes. London felt miles away, and I had to admit that being here was a relief. I'd needed this change of pace more than I realised.
Rowan
6
I watched Eli disappear down the street through the café window. My mind struggled to catch up to the fact that he was actually here. I usually made the trip to London, not the other way around, and then it would be months before he reached out again. He did sometimes pop in without warning, but to do it this soon –
Marcus's voice pulled me back. "Everything okay?"
I tried to shake off any lingering thoughts of Eli. "Yeah, I'm fine."
He tilted his head slightly as he studied me. "You've gone quiet."
I had to force a smile. "I ... just wasn't expecting to see him. It's been a while since he's come around."
Marcus leaned back with his usual easy expression, but it looked a little strained this time. "He didn't even tell you he was coming?"
"No. But that's just Eli. He's spontaneous. Always has been."
"Right. I guess that's how it is with friends who go way back, eh?"
"Yeah, pretty much." I picked up my pen and fiddled with it, trying to shake the weird tension. "It's not a big deal. He'll be busy with his own stuff while he's here, anyway."
His gaze lingered on me just a bit too long before he spoke again. His voice stayed casual, though there was something underneath it that I couldn't quite place. "Funny how that works, isn't it? Makes you think about how much has changed."
I frowned a little. "What do you mean?"
He shrugged. "Someone shows up out of the blue, and you're reminded of a different version of yourself. A version you've moved on from."
A flicker of panic shot through me. Did Marcus think there was something between me and Eli? Had I given myself away?
I felt my shoulders tense, but I forced myself to stay calm. Even so, my smile came out a little tight. "It's not like that. He'll be here for a few days, maybe a week, and then he'll go about his business. Like he was never here."
His face softened as he reached out to squeeze my hand. He almost looked amused. "Relax. I trust you. I just want you to be careful, okay?"
That was close.
The adrenaline made my stomach twist, but I did my best to push the anxiety back down.
* * *
The next morning, I woke up to bright sunlight stabbing through the curtains – right into my eyes. I groaned and turned over to bury my face in the pillow and block it out. Typical. Even the sun was conspiring to force me out of bed earlier than I wanted. After a little while, I gave in and sat up, blinking away the haziness of sleep.
I reached for my phone and squinted at the screen. Not quite 7:30. I still had some time. I could probably sneak in fifteen more minutes–
