Heat rolls over me at his beautiful voice.
“I wasn’t expecting to hear from you until Monday.” I step over Huan’s and Dev’s legs and walk down the center aisle of the train. I don’t like having everyone staring at me. “How are you? How’s Belgium?”
“Horrible. We’re on our way home.” His voice is grim. “The whole trip was rubbish. It never stopped raining and the hotel messed up our reservation. We had to stay in one room and we’re about ready to rip each other to pieces.”
I muffle a surprised laugh. “I’m sorry you had a bad time,” I say, even though it doesn’t seem that weird for Will and his sister to stay in the same room as his mom. From what I know of Will, I’m sure they weren’t slumming it at some hole-in-the-wall hotel.
“At least now I’m back sooner so we can talk in person. I couldn’t stop thinking about you in Belgium.”
“You couldn’t?”
“I—” He pauses. “I know I didn’t leave it in the best way and I’ve been gutted about it. Can I pop over this afternoon so we can talk?”
I look around the train in confusion and realize he doesn’t know about our trip today. I think I mentioned it once in a text, but we haven’t exactly been in close contact this past week.
“Um, actually I’m not at Emberton. A couple of us are heading down to London for the day.”
“You are?” He laughs. “Then we have to see each other! I’ll be getting back into London in a few hours’ time. One at the latest. And now I can put off that godforsaken drive back to Northampton for another day.”
“Um...”
Will in London? Today? I’m simultaneously thrilled and horrified. I’m not sure I’m mentally prepared to have atalkwith him today, if that’s what he’s hoping for. But he did say that he felt bad about how he left things. If he didn’t want to date me anymore, he wouldn’t have called. I glance down at my jeans and London Tube shirt. Ugh, why couldn’t I have worn something that didn’t screamdorky tourist?
Will keeps talking, undeterred by my hesitation. “This is brilliant. I really have wanted to talk to you. I’m not happy that you lied about going to university, but I get it. I used to lie about my age all the time to get into clubs with my friends. And it’s not like you’re that much younger than me. I’m sorry I acted like a wanker about it. Can I make it up to you?”
“I—I mean, seeing you sounds amazing. It’s just... Well, I feel kind of bad. We made plans to see all the sights. There’s, like, a color-coded itinerary and—”
“Oh. I’d forgotten about your friends. What sights? Not those bloody tourist traps, I hope.”
My stomach tightens. “Well...”
“I understand. You weren’t expecting this. Would you rather spend the day with them?”
I only hesitate a moment. “No! I’d love to spend the day with you. Text me when you get in and I’ll tell you where to pick me up.”
I put my phone in my pocket and peer down the train car at my friends. Huan cocks his head like he’s asking if I’m okay. I give him a thumbs-up, but my stomach sinks thinking aboutexplaining this to them. They’re going to kill me, but I can’t pass up the chance to see Will today. He sounded good on the phone, but I won’t be able to relax about us until we’re together in person.
“Was that Willoughby?” Dev asks when I return.
“Yeah.”
I must have a horrible poker face because he immediately blows out a breath and leans back in his seat. “Please tell me you aren’t about to tell us what I think you’re about to tell us.”
“That was an overly complicated sentence,” Sage says.
I cringe.
“Ellie, no!” Huan looks between Dev and me. “You aren’t ditching us, right? You said Will was in Belgium.”
“He was—but his family is getting back early into London and—”
“You can’t ditch us!” Huan repeats. “We spent forever planning this trip. We’re supposed to see King’s Cross station, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral... if you aren’t here, these two are going to drop the fun stuff altogether and spend the whole time in museums.”
“We’re still going to the Globe Theatre,” Sage says. “Dr. Florence said she’ll give us extra credit if we do.”
Huan rolls his eyes. “You don’t need extra credit.”
“But I still want it.”
