He shrugs. ‘Not particularly. Why?’
I sigh. ‘Finn and Brit fell in love while writing her album. They’re a couple now – their pictures have been everywhere.’
He gives me a sympathetic look. ‘It wouldn’t be easy seeing your ex with anyone else, let alone someone who’s famous.’
‘He’s not really my ex.’ I hope I don’t sound as hurt or as bitter as I feel.
He takes a sip of his whisky and leans back against the sofa, his gaze calmly trained on my face.
‘Michael said he comes back every summer.’
Goddammit. Why did he commit to memory every word my brother said?
I nod slowly. ‘He’s come back every summer for the past six years. And somehow, I found myself putting my life on ice for him,’ I confide wryly.
My head didn’t want me to, but my heart’s been running this god-awful shitshow.
‘But I’ve stopped now. I’ve moved on,’ I state firmly.
Just like Finn has.
‘Thanks for telling me,’ Tom says quietly.
‘I mean, itisstarting to feel alittleoff balance between us,’ I say with a small laugh, but my words are pointed.
‘I’m sorry,’ he replies awkwardly. ‘I came here trying to get away from my life.’
‘Whereas you’ve crashed headlong into mine.’
‘Is that a problem?’ he asks cautiously.
‘No, I like it.’
He smiles. ‘I love how honest and open you are.’
‘I’m embarrassed now.’
‘No, please, it’s refreshing. Cara was so closed off.’
‘You can talk.’ I’m only half teasing.
‘I’m not usually.’ He sits up straighter. ‘Cara and I had talked ourselves to death. I thought I was done with relationships. I wasn’t expecting this.’
‘What?’
‘This.’ He indicates the two of us.
He maintains eye contact for a few seconds before looking away towards the kitchen.
‘What do you want from life?’ he asks, turning back to me.
His out-of-the-blue question momentarily stumps me.
‘I guess I’d like to carry on doing what I’m doing, working here through the summer so that I can sculpt in the winter. Maybe one day I’ll have so many commissions, I’ll need to sculpt full-time, but I like the balance of the way it is now.’
I take a sip of my rosé and smile across at him. He’s still gazing at me.
‘What about family?’ he asks.
