Gorgeous. Nice. Normal.
Here.
The warmth and chatter of the pub seeped back in. I felt wide awake. Maybe it was the adrenaline finally catching up with me. Or possibly the sherry.
Whatever.
If I’d known blocking Rudy would feel this good, I’d have done it weeks ago.
I felt lighter, like I’d clawed back an inch of myself I didn’t know I’d lost.
I didn’t have to bend to my ex-boyfriend’s self-centeredness and justifications.
I. Was. Free.
And I felt free. No more guilt. Rudy had shown his true colors—I was better off without him.
Maybe the amp might even accidentally fall out of the window when I got home…
The door opened, and Liam stepped in, the wind behind him. Napkins fluttered, and a menu slapped onto the floor.
A man who’d just wanted to have lunch with me to make sure I was all right.ThisI could do.
He slid into his seat.
“Sorry,” he said. “Didn’t mean to vanish.”
I straightened and put my phone in my bag.
“No problem,” I said with a smile. “Where were we?”
“I think we were drinking to our second disaster. Although I’d be surprised if it topped this one.”
I looked down and smiled. Considering we’d almost died and I’d just blocked my ex, today wasn’t turning out so bad after all.
*
A warm gust rushed down Battersea Rise, flicking hair across my mouth. I pushed it behind my ear and watched the Uber pull away. It was still hot, but the breeze was fresh, like someone had opened a window in a stuffy room.
Liam stood on the pavement next to me. We’d chatted for another hour at the pub. Stupid stuff—I couldn’t even remember half of it—and then for some reason he’d insisted he see me home, like it wasn’t up for debate.
I hadn’t minded at all.
“So. This is me.” I cast my gaze up to the top floor of my building. The curtains were still drawn—no one was home. Just Mr. Darcy and whatever might be growing in the dishes Eliza had left in the sink.
“Looks nice,” he said.
“It’s not.”
“No?”
“The downstairs neighbor plays the recorder.”
“That’s unfortunate.” His gaze followed mine. “They rarely respond to negotiation.”
“Yeah. I just avoid eye contact now.”
“Sensible.”
