Page 86 of In the Frame

“Hey,” I say as nonchalantly as I can manage. The usual riot of emotions pummels me, as it seems to happen whenever Florian’s around me.

“Hey,” he echoes, gazing at me for a long moment. “You look stunning. Ready?”

“Ready.”

He smiles, and my heart jump-starts, and it’s terrible feeling so mixed up, and yet I know what I want. Which is him. And it makes me so upset. I work my jaw, gazing out the window as Mozart plays on our way to see Tosca tonight. Heat rises in my face.

We don’t talk on the short drive from my parents’ house to Glyndebourne. When we park, Florian looks at me. “Alright?”

I bristle, my tone sharp. “I’m well past alright.”

Florian looks taken aback. He takes off his sunglasses. “What do you mean?”

“I mean…” I gesture at him. “You have some nerve looking all… I don’t know—gorgeous and sexy, and I’m all mixed up over you, and I don’t know how to sort out my feelings. You’re buying a place I care deeply about, and it’s important to me and my friends, and you want to knock it down and build some luxury flats—I’ve seen the council notes in the listing. But every time I see you, all I want is to kiss you and pull you tight and, frankly, do very bad things to you. And I’m fucking furious about it all.” I scowl deeply at him.

Florian’s wide-eyed. “I see…”

“You’re still buying the Rose? Even after all of this?”

“Yes…”

“Are you aware there’s a community rally coming up to save the Rose?”

He blinks. “A rally?”

“Well, I don’t know if it’s an actual rally. But an event to raise funds to try to buy the Rose. Which is probably like trying to climb Everest in swim trunks. Apparently, my friend Ellie is spearheading the movement with my other friend Caden. You were at his wedding.”

“Of course I remember him, yes.”

Satisfied, I lean back in my seat. “Good.”

Florian’s quiet, giving me side-eye.

“I’m going to go to that rally, Florian, to support my friends. Because otherwise, it feels like betrayal.”

He swallows hard and nods. “I understand.”

“And you know what really fucks me off?”

“Tell me.”

“I hate you. And—I’ve—I’ve fucking fallen in love with you, Florian, and it’s stupid and impossible, and I’m so fucking upset about it all. I don’t know which way is up. Or down. And all I can think of is you. Even though it hasn’t been that long since we first met. But I feel like I’ve lived a lifetime since then.” I’m trembling in my seat, gripping the door handle. “Because I want you so badly. Except you insist on breaking my fucking heart. And the worst part is, I don’t know how you feel about me—” I choke out.

Florian reaches over tentatively to touch my arm. “Matty.”

I’m apparently having a meltdown in the car park at the opera. Great. I’ve obviously lost the plot here. And I can’t shove all those words back in my mouth and unsay them. Mortified, I slouch in my seat, resting my head back against the headrest. My face is on fire. I stare at the roof. He reaches up to stroke my cheek and runs his fingers along my jaw. Gently, he tilts my head to face him.

Tearfully, I look at him. “This is so, so fucked up.”

“Matty. I love you too,” he whispers. “Believe me. So much. And it’s killing me to see you like this⁠—”

“Well, fuck.” And I promptly burst into tears, squeezing my eyes shut.

And Florian’s back to looking alarmed.

“I’m sorry.” My voice is muffled. I press my fingers against my eyes as if that will push the tears back in or Florian won’t notice I’m crying. When his fingers gently massage the back of my neck, I shudder and lower my hands. I open my eyes to look at him.

Florian’s stricken, pale, and his eyes are bright with tears too. “The last thing I want to do is upset you.”