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“I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t like being called Penny,” I say to him.
“I know. That’s why I call her it.” His phone rings, and he looks at it, then turns it off. “What did she ask you?”
“She told more than asked,” I admit. “Wanted to make sure I know that if I’m interested in Theo then I’d better be prepared to push out tiny barons by the boatload.”
Caleb chokes out a cough. “Jesus, she went full Penny on you. The first time I met her she asked me if I understood how the class system works.”
“And what did you say?”
“I was eleven and didn’t give a damn. So I asked her if she knew how new money is better than no money.”
I bite down a smile. “I bet she loves you.”
“She likes the discounts she gets from me when she wants to fly,” he says, deadpan. “Anyway, back to you and Theo.”
But I was quite enjoying pulling Lady Hunt apart. “What about us?” I ask him.
He blinks. “I don’t know. It’s just…” He shakes his head. “You’re a bit of a novelty.”
I’m not sure how to take that. “How so?”
“Theo doesn’t usually bring women to parties. And he definitely doesn’t introduce them to his mother.”
“To be fair, she barged in on me trying dresses on at Harrods.”
“Okay then, he doesn’t usually take women to try dresses on at Harrods. Or bring them to kids’ birthday parties.”
“Are you trying to tell me I’m special?” I tease.
“I’m just trying to work it out.” He looks serious again. “Is it serious, you two?”
An image of us tangled together last night flashes into my brain. “You’re starting to sound like his mom.” I let out a breath. “And honestly, I don’t know. I’m heading home soon. I have a job, a life.”
And he hasn’t mentioned what happens next.
“He likes you,” Caleb says. “I know that much.”
My throat tightens. “I hope so. I like him too.”
He nods, then he tips his head to the side. “When do you go back to New York?”
“The twenty-seventh.”
“Not much longer then.” He lifts a brow. “And I guess you can’t stay for longer?”
“Nope. I took every bit of PTO I had to make this trip happen.” I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. Though I know what he’s trying to get at.
Do Theo and I have plans?
The answer is, no we do not. And I don’t like that thought.
“You said you like him,” Caleb says. “What does that mean?”
Oh god, this is actually worse than Penny. Even though I don’t think Caleb is trying to scare me off.
It’s more that he’s worried about Theo. Which is kind of sweet because he’s Theo’s friend after all.
He must clock the expression on my face, because he grimaces. “Sorry, I’m asking too many questions. I’ve always been a bit of a bulldozer.”
