Page 37 of From LA to London, With Love

“It’s a small crush, which I just need to get over so I can enjoy hanging out with him without these distracting thoughts. Anyway, I’m sure there’s something going on between him and Clare. You can’t fake that kind of chemistry.”

“You’re overreacting. You said you felt real chemistry between you two on the chaise lounge as well, right? So why do you assume the chemistry in the scene with Clare was real and not his chemistry with you? Perhaps you’re underestimating his acting skills.” Josh, bouncing Elliot on his knee, was getting so riled up that poor Elliot looked like he was a jockey in the Royal Ascot Races.

“Elliot’s going to vomit if you keep that up! You didn’t see them together. I mean, even Alfie picked up on it. I’m pretty sure that’s why he ruined their take.”

A lump in my throat, I looked up at the painting above the mantelpiece. The vibrant still life of gerbera daisies in a decorative red vase, striking blue and green wallpaper behind it, had always had a calming effect on me—although recently, not so much. Trying to relax, I focused on the thick brush strokes of paint.

“Earth to Sophie! Hello? Are you okay?” Josh’s voice sounded soft with concern.

“Yeah, sorry. This whole Chris thing is just messing with my head. And lately, I can’t stop staring at the painting and wondering if I’ll ever have something as special as what my parents have.”

I didn’t need to explain it to Josh. My mum had told him the story of the painting many times before.

Mum, a twenty-year-old art history student, had been walking down Queen Street in Oxford when a sudden downpour forced her to take shelter in an art gallery. The painting—a warm, colorful, welcoming contrast to the wet, cold, and dreary weather outside—was the first thing she’d seen on entering. She’d wandered around the gallery multiple times, waiting for the rain to stop, but kept being drawn back to the painting of the gerberas. The price was well beyond what she could afford, but after the rain subsided and she left the gallery, she couldn’t stop thinking about it—or talking about it, according to Dad—who usually piped up at this point, patting her affectionately as he rolled his eyes.

Dad had saved up to buy it as a surprise first anniversary present, sacrificing his weekly cinema habit for months and taking on extra tutoring jobs. According to Mum, it had made her fall even more in love with Dad. Dad jokingly claimed he regretted setting the bar so high for their first anniversary present and that nothing he had given her since had been so well received.

To their surprise, the artist’s career skyrocketed a few years later—their works now hung on the walls of The National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. While the painting was worth a lot these days, Mum had no interest in selling it. It had too much sentimental value. I’d always loved the painting, but recently it had been a bittersweet reminder of what I was potentially missing out on. As much as I told myself I was happily single, it would be amazing to have the sort of relationship my parents had.

“Well, I hate to break it to you, but if you continue with your ‘no dating’ policy, then you definitely won’t have a relationship as special as your parents. Or any relationship, for that matter.”

“I know, I know.” I sighed. “I can’t handle having any more emotional rollercoaster rides at the moment. I need to stamp out this crush. That Sophie at the set isn’t me, or, at least, isn’t who I want to be.”

“Uh huh. And how are you planning to do that?”

“Well, I’ve done some research…”

Josh raised an eyebrow.

“Fine, by research I mean just Googled ‘How to stop being attracted to someone.’”

“Okay, and what did Doctor Google say?”

“I didn’t like most of the suggestions. But…you’ll be happy to hear that they did say dating other people might help…So, I was thinking of putting my no dating policy aside for a while and dipping my toes back into the dating pool again, women only. I’ll test out if I can date while still keeping Elliot and the new business as my priority. Maybe it won’t be as hard as I think. I mean, I saw Chris all the time before he started filming, and it didn’t interfere with that other stuff, so it might be doable. And you’re right—if I want a happily ever after like my parents, I need to actually put myself out there.”

“Dating other people, hey? Well, while I still think you and Chris would be super cute together, if you’re not willing to pursue it, then I may have a potential suitor for you.” Josh looked thrilled. Was he just desperate for me to couple up? “Do you remember my friend Pete?”

I looked at him, surprised. “Um, yeah. Isn’t he married?”

Yikes. Josh must be super desperate if he’s trying to set me up with a married man.

“Yes, but I met his sister, Nicole, at his birthday party on the weekend, and she was saying she found it hard to meet women. She’s a doctor around our age. She loves kids and seems really nice. If you’re considering jumping back into the dating pool, she would be perfect for you! I’d been thinking about setting her up with Rose, but I’ll give you first dibs.”

“You’re too kind,” I said sarcastically.

Josh, ignoring my comment, unlocked his phone. “Let me see if I can find a photo.” Thirty seconds later, he shoved a photo of a smiling brunette in hiking gear in my face. “So, what do you think? Should I set you guys up on a date?”

I paused. A date with a cute doctor might be just what I needed to move on from Chris.

“Sure, I’m in.”

* * *

That was how I found myself sitting at my favorite local wine bar a week later, waiting for Nicole to arrive. In winter, I loved sitting in the wooden booths near the cozy fireplace, but it didn’t hold the same attraction in summer, so I’d secured a spot on bar stools by the front window, looking out over the busy main street in Hampstead. It was a perfect place for people-watching if we ran out of conversation. I hadn’t been to the bar since I’d gotten pregnant. It was strange to be back here again, even stranger to be back here for a date. I kept nervously checking my phone in case Nicole had texted me to cancel at the last minute. To be honest, I was sort of hoping she would cancel so I could go back home and hang out with my parents, as sad as that sounded. This suddenly seemed like a really stupid idea.

I’d casually mentioned to Chris I was going on a date when we’d been hanging out over the weekend, not giving any details. I’d studied his face, trying to work out how he felt about me dating, but I couldn’t tell. Maybe he’d seemed surprised but not, to my disappointment, devastated. At least on the weekend, I’d been more like my usual self with him again—back to lusting after him, but without the jealousy and disapproval. While relieved those feelings had vanished, I was still desperately waiting for the lust bit to vanish as well.

As I checked my messages for the fifteenth time, Nicole walked through the front door of the bar. I hurriedly put my phone back in my handbag and stood up to greet her. She was dressed in tight black jeans, ankle boots, and a cute leather jacket that perfectly fitted her petite frame. Her brown hair fell in waves around her face. She was gorgeous. My stomach fluttered.