The car screeches and everybody lurches forward. Dev slams into me and I lose my grip on the bar. I throw my arms out, pushing into a middle-aged man.
“Oi, watch it!” the guy yells, and Dev grabs my waist, pulling me back against him before I topple anyone else over.
“Sorry!”
“That was my fault,” Dev says to him. “I wasn’t paying enough attention and bumped into her. I’m really sorry.”
The man mutters something about tourists and straightens his coat.
“Are you okay?” Dev whispers. My back is still pressed against his chest and his arms are wound so tightly against my stomach that the heat from his fingers burns through my shirt. “I’m sorry, I—”
I look over my shoulder at him and his mouth clamps shut. We’re only millimeters apart now. His eyes are fever bright and for a moment his grasp tightens against my waist. My heart does a stutter step. How did I never notice how beautiful Dev’s eyes are up close?
His arms go rigid and he lets go, his gaze shifting to an advertisement to my left. I take an unsteady half step away. I look behind me, but Sage is staring at the ground. Did she see Dev grab me? Hopefully she knows better than to think anything could be going on between us. I should have stood by Huan instead to give her and Dev more time together, just in case there’s still any potential there.
We stand in awkward silence as the train zooms along. Then something occurs to me and I elbow Dev. “Now we’re even.”
“What?”
“From when I stopped on the stairs and made you fall over.” I stand up straighter. “Now I’m not the only klutz.”
“No way.” His expression clears and he smirks at me. “That was much worse. I could have broken my neck. You just bumped into someone.”
“Someone who is probably cussing me out right now,” I whisper, nodding to the man in front of me.
“Yeah, well, that guy’s an asshole.”
I laugh and try to ignore the fact that we’re still standing close enough that I can feel his breath on my skin. I rush off the train as soon as the doors slide open. I can’t make eye contact with Dev the whole way to the square and I’m grateful when he starts debating museums with Sage.
“The National Gallery has some of the most famous artwork in the world.”
“So does the Portrait Gallery,” Sage replies. “Don’t you want to see the paintings of the royal line?”
I perk up. “Ooh, do they have any paintings of Prince Harry?”
“They do!” Sage says, nodding at me. “See?”
Dev gives me the evil eye. “You don’t get a vote.”
“Fine, I’m going to enjoy the ambiance next to the lions while you fight this out.”
Huan comes up beside me. “That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.”
We head to the enormous column that sits in the middle of the popular square. Four massive iron lions surround the column. There are lots of signs reminding visitors not to climb on them, so Huan and I find a seat close by.
“So, you excited to see Will?”
“I am.” My stomach flutters at the idea that he’ll be here to pick me up soon. I hope we can get over what happened last time and have a fun afternoon together.
Huan rubs a hand through his hair, making it stick up even straighter. “So... you and Dev...”
“Are friends,” I say quickly. Did he see Dev and me on the Tube earlier? “I hope. Mostly I think I piss him off.”
“You certainly know how to drive him crazy.”
“What about you? I’m not the only one who knows a cute British boy living in London.”
Huan grins but doesn’t reply.
