Will jumps off the car and spreads his arms wide. “Can’t a guy miss his girlfriend? Come here!”
I hurry to him and he wraps me in a big hug. He smells just like the duty-free cologne.
“Did you miss me?” he whispers in my ear.
I nod and he kisses me. It does feel good to be in his arms again, despite everything, but I’m also aware that the others are staring at us.
“How long were you planning to stay? Do you need to get back or—”
“I cleared my schedule.” Will’s smile is blinding. “I thought we could spend the evening together. It feels like I haven’t seen you inan age.” He drops his voice. “You didn’t exactly keep your promise to send me constant photos at the end there.”
I flush. Different emotions fight for control. It’s so sweet of him to surprise me and bring me flowers... but I wish he would have texted me first. I need more time to think about our relationship and these last few weeks.
Dev, Huan, and Sage linger, clearly unsure whether they should wait for me or not. Sage is holding one of my bags and Dev has another. I hate feeling so torn.
“So, um, I think Will and I are going to get some dinner. Do you all want to join us?” I raise my eyebrows to Dev, hoping he can read the apology in my expression.
“No, I’m going to drop onto my bed and not wake up until tomorrow,” Huan says. “Good to see you, Will.”
Sage declines, but Dev pauses and for a second I think he might actually agree. I try to imagine the three of us sitting together at a small table, Dev and me regaling Will with stories from Venice and talking about life at Emberton. It sounds unbearable.
“I’ll pass.” Dev jerks his head in Will’s direction. “Looks like you’ve got your hands full.”
I blink, thinking that was a snarky comment about Will and me, but then I realize he’s talking about the flower arrangement.
“Too right, mate. It was rather rough getting it into the front seat.”
I inspect the arrangement for the first time. It’s the type of thing you’d see in the lobby of a fancy hotel or at a wedding. There must be at least fifty red roses, plus hydrangeas and green berries. It’s wider than I am and probably half my height. I don’t even wantto think about how much it cost. Dev’s words about why Will spends so much money on me return.
I turn back to him, but he’s gone.
“You really didn’t have to buy me flowers,” I tell Will.
He waves away the words. “I left you stranded at an airport. It still wouldn’t be enough if I delivered one to you every day for a year.”
“But the mone—”
“Don’t bother about it. I put it on my father’s business account. He should be the one sending you flowers anyway.”
I smile, but his words make me twitchy. Does his father even know he spent all this money? Or is it so little money to them that they don’t notice the expense? Either way, I’m not sure I like it.
Will carries the arrangement into the front hall, managing to wobble only a few times from the weight and size, and then we head toward Northampton. Will flies past the fields and hedgerows even faster than usual.
“I got us reservations at the best steakhouse in Northampton—the one I was telling you about.”
I raise my eyebrows. If I’m thinking of the same one, then it’s crazy expensive. “Do I need to change clothes?”
“No, it’s fine.” Of course Will looks impeccable while I’m once again in my travel clothes. I’m getting used to looking slovenly in comparison to him. “I have amazing news and I thought it deserved the right atmosphere.”
“You do?” I swivel toward him. “What is it? Did you hear something about UCL already?”
He waves my words away. “No spoilers! We’ll be there soon andthen I’ll tell you the whole thing.”
I sit back in my seat, excited for him but tense at the same time. This must be related to him getting away from his dad—there’s not much that would make him happier. What am I going to say if he tells me he’s going to college at UCL? Or that he’s found some other job, possibly one in London? I mean, I’ll be absolutely thrilled for him, of course, but it makes it even more obvious that his life is just beginning in England when I’m a few weeks out from leaving. Maybe it’s not worth bringing up the possibility of long distance at all. Maybe he always assumed we were temporary and I just didn’t get the memo.
The restaurant is rustic, with lots of stone and barn-wood paneling. It’s also packed for a Sunday night. We practically have to yell to hear each other.
“Do you like it?” His eyes are wide and he’s practically bouncing in his seat.
