‘Right,’ Alex says, taking the sledgehammer-subtle hint. ‘I’ll be off, then.’
‘Have fun in Godalming,’ Nathan says, and Alex wonders if there’s the trace of a glint in Nathan’s eyes. ‘Just not too much fun, okay?’
Alex feels his cheeks unexpectedly burn up. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Nothing,’ Nathan says. ‘Just try not to kill each other, that’s all.’
Alex is almost certain he can manage that.
Jess: I have some news
Lily: Good? Bad? Both?
Jess: Mostly bad.
Lily: ??
Jess: Remember Alex?
Lily: The arrogant Latin-deploying author you’re definitely not going to work with?
Jess: Except I am. Going to work with him. I’m being shipped off to Surrey to an Airbnb in the middle of nowhere with him to get this book done.
Lily: I don’t think you need a ship to get to Surrey from London.
Jess: Fine. I’m being trained off, then.
Lily: Love it.
Jess: Do not say forced proximity.
Lily: Forced proximity.
Jess:
Lily: You know what you haven’t mentioned?
Jess: What?
Lily: Whether he’s hot.
Jess: I said I wanted to make Magic Pasta for him. Draw your own conclusions.
Lily: Well, then. Forced proximity sounds like no bad thing.
Jess: There won’t be pasta.
Lily: There are other ways to win hot men over.
Jess: Great. Now you’ve got me thinking unthinkable thoughts.
Lily:
Chapter Thirteen
Jess
It’s been a few days since Jess called in to see her grandparents, and that seems like a worthy excuse to delay boarding the train for a weekend away with the man whom the universe had tantalisingly dangled in front of her as her potential soulmate and then cruelly whipped away. Or perhaps it was a mercy. Who can tell?
