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I don’t know why his lie touches me, but it does. I press my lips together, giving him a grateful half-smile.

Silence crackles through the speaker.

“Is she okay?” Theo asks.

His voice sounds rough. Tired. For a second I wish everything could be different.

Caleb glances at me again before answering.

“Not really, no. But then nobody is alright now, are they?”

There’s another pause. I imagine Theo in his father’s office. Pacing. “Barbara told me you’d left. Where are you now?” he asks.

“About halfway to London,” Caleb replies.

“You heading for the hotel?” he asks.

“That’s right.” Caleb’s voice is even. He sounds like a man walking a tightrope.

“Okay.” Theo breaths out. “That could be a good thing. Tell Georgia I’ll drive down first thing. Explain everything. Just… I don’t know. Tell her I’m sorry.”

Silence fills the car for a moment. Caleb looks at me with a question in his eyes. I shake my head slightly.

I don’t want Theo knowing I’m going back to New York, not until I’m on that plane. Even if I wasn’t upset I wouldn’t. He has enough to deal with, he doesn’t need to be worrying about me.

Caleb shifts one hand on the wheel. “Yeah, okay mate. I’ll let her know.”

“Thanks,” Theo says. “I appreciate you taking care of her. I’ll call you in the morning.”

“Yeah. Let’s talk then,” Caleb agrees.

He leans forward to press end call on the dashboard screen, then resumes his hold on the wheel. He looks as miserable as I feel.

“I’m sorry you had to lie to him,” I say. “I know he’s your best friend.”

“I don’t want him jumping in his car upset and driving these fucking roads tonight,” Caleb tells me. He clears his throat. “Are you sure you want to leave without talking to him?” he asks.

The headlights carve a pale tunnel through the dark road ahead. Somewhere out in the fields a single farmhouse window glows against the black.

I stare out into the night, watching the shrubs rush past.

“Yes, I’m sure,” I whisper, trying to keep my voice even. Because falling in love with Theo Hunt wasn’t my biggest mistake.

Believing I could be part of his world was.

24

THEO

Caleb ends the call and I let out a long breath of air. My head is so full of thoughts I don’t know which one to connect with first.

Okay, so she left Ravensmere, but on the plus side she’s going to the hotel. I messed up, I should have been available to talk to her, to say goodbye. Thank God Caleb stepped in. And as soon as the sun comes up, I’ll head down to London and straight to her.

I promised we’d spend Christmas Eve together. I intend to honor that.

Without pausing a beat, I dial the number of the night desk. The call connects immediately.

“Good evening, Mr. Hunt,” Mateo answers smoothly, like it’s absolutely normal for me to be calling at this hour. “How can I help you?”