My phone lights up a moment later in the dark.
I hope this doesn’t seem like too much, but I miss you
Well, shit.
Grimacing, I stare out the window at the traffic as we weave through Copenhagen at night. Streetlamps glow over the snake of red taillights in front of us, and the first drops of rain fall against the passenger window. Copenhagen’s a world very far away from those couple of days in Greece with Stefanos.
Think, Theo. Ignore this. It’s not helping.
I type and retype several times before I hit Send.
I miss you too x
Nothing more comes before I reach my destination, which is my friend Miguel’s flat in the heart of the city, where he’s having several of the old gang over to catch up over drinks. I’m excited to see them all, but I can’t escape the bittersweet feeling that lingers. Because, in short order, I’m going to be King, and I won’t have the time to be able to indulge in escapist fantasies like this one about Stefanos.
* * *
When I’m home again a few hours later, after visiting at Miguel’s flat, I sit in the dark and stare out the window of my bedroom from the window seat. I’ve changed into my pajamas, but I’m not ready for sleep yet. There’s nothing here to distract me from my thoughts. Which is a real shame because distraction is my life’s true calling. I fidget with my phone.
As I promised Mamma, I’ve avoided any sort of scandal tonight. We all stayed in, well away from the public and any off chance of the paparazzi. It was great to catch up with friends from school. Plus, it was a few hours away from my worries, but they’ve returned tonight in full force. Why is Freja the only one allowed to live her life the way she wants, without consequence?
Which is when I unlock my phone and message Stefanos again. Thank God for the beer earlier—otherwise, I wouldn’t have the nerve. Also, caring too much about what someone else thinks about me is what got me in trouble with Aidan, I remind myself. If I hadn’t cared about Aidan, his betrayal wouldn’t have hurt so much. Rookie mistake. I’ll need to make sure I don’t make that mistake twice in a row.
Yet, I type.
I’d love to see you again. Meet in Berlin maybe?
It’s definitely after midnight in Greece, that much I know. He’s an hour ahead. And I’m not sure if he’s in Athens or Kerkyra. It doesn’t really matter. At any rate, if he’s going to respond, it’ll be tomorrow. I set my phone down on the table.
When my phone buzzes to life a moment later, I snatch it up to see Stefanos’ response.
I can change my flight next week to go through London on my way back to New York, instead of Frankfurt.
Whatever I expected to say, this is definitely not it—it’s so much better than I could have hoped. My heart thuds. I force myself to take a deep breath and act like I have some chill as I hop up to pace in bare feet. I stare at my phone for a long moment, then tap out a message.
You’d do that?
But just as quickly, I delete the message before sending. Too desperate-sounding. With a shake of my head to clear it, I need to rally with something more levelheaded. More suave. More come and get it. There was a time when I was totally suave, but there’s something about Stefanos that makes me lose my composure.
Yes please x
See you then x
Now I’m far, far too awake for any chance at sleep. So much for that plan. I fling myself down onto the bed and settle against the mountain of pillows along the headboard. I fold my arms under my head. There’s only space for thinking about what it would be like to see Stefanos again. Something far more fantasy than reality. And, more importantly, I imagine the warmth of Stefanos’ skin soft under my fingers and the sweet taste of his lips yielding against mine.
Remember, this doesn’t mean anything at all.
Chapter Thirty-One
The good thing is that my quick Copenhagen trip helps provide a distraction from thinking about Stefanos as much or obsessing over press coverage like a far-gone narcissist. Back in London, I keep busy with work and the gym—but not so busy I can’t check my phone every five minutes in case I don’t hear the chime. By the time Wednesday rolls around, every time there’s a message, I dive for my phone to the point that even Ethan wants to know what the hell’s wrong with me.
“Nothing more than usual, I promise.” I shrug nonchalantly as we wrap things up for the day and tidy up the worktable. My phone chimes again, and my gaze flickers over to my phone where it sits beside my laptop.
“Something is very wrong with you.” Ethan laughs. “Something serious, whatever it is. I haven’t seen you act like this for ages. And last time, it was over a man.”
I snort. “Yeah, sure. No man. My media alerts are going overtime, that’s all. You can never be too careful.” Scrolling through my phone, I read Stefanos’ message, expecting it to disappear like a proper mirage.
Staying at The Ritz
