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‘You got a new shirt,’ I whisper, arms looped around his neck, inhaling everything I’ve missed over the past few months.
His mouth curls up when he says, ‘You got a new dress.’
He runs a hand down my hip and I’m about to close the distance between us again when the door opens and light from the gallery spills in. We both squint against the onslaught, then Finn plants one last kiss on my temple and stands, reaching out a hand to pull me up.
I keep hold of his hand once I’m upright, testing out the feeling of it in mine as we walk towards the door, and his smile is barely contained when he realises I’m not letting go.
We step out into the gallery and are almost bowled over by a tiny redhead and her dog.
‘I was so close to locking you in there,’ Josie says, slurring slightly but clearly delighted. ‘But I thought that might’ve been a bit much.’
‘Also against health and safety regulations,’ Alina adds helpfully.
‘Did you two know about this?’ I ask, catching the suspicious glances dancing between everyone.
‘Josie invited me months ago when I was still here, but I never RSVPed,’ Finn explains. ‘As soon as I realised I’d be in London today I asked if she could put me on the guest list last minute.’
‘He’s actually my plus-one,’ Josie offers smugly, tucking her hair behind her ears before losing her balance and bumping into Alina, who surreptitiously curves an arm around her waist to help out.
‘Thank you both so much for coming.’ Alina’s eyebrows pull together in earnest. ‘I think we’re gonna head back to mine. As soon as we find some water for this one.’
‘I’m just resting my eyes,’ Josie says.
Finn and I head to the exit after we’ve all said our goodbyes, and that’s when I realise we haven’t really addressed what’s going to happen next.
‘You didn’t technically answer my question,’ I say. We still have far too muchground to cover, and I don’t even know how long he’s here in London. I need to cram in as much time as possible. ‘Whatexactlyare you doing here, right now?’
‘Shit, I didn’t even get around to that.’ He runs a hand through his hair and then his eyes pass over me, sending heat smoking across my skin. ‘I was busy.’
‘We should talk about it.’ He catches the way I’ve stolen his line and smiles. For a second I falter, but then out spills the easiest question in the world. ‘Will you go out with me?’
‘Like, on a date?’ He pauses just before the doorway, stepping aside to let me go through first.
I take his shoulders and gently push him through, following behind into the winter air, where our breath comes out in wispy puffs. ‘Yeah. Tonight.’
I don’t often feel small, but there’s something to be said about being wrapped in Finn’s blazer, its weight trapping the warmth he left behind. Unfortunately, his chivalry has left him freezing in the December night, so we end up in a kebab shop only a few doors down from the gallery to avoid imminent hypothermia. I appreciate the gesture nonetheless.
So, under the ugly fluorescent lighting of Dave’s Kebabs Dulwich, Finn and I share a massive portion of chips, and we talk.
‘I connected with Sage on LinkedIn a couple of months ago, and they messaged me recently to let me know there was a marketing manager role going at the Natural History Museum.’ He dips a chip in the ketchup at the edge of the carton. ‘I applied and got an interview. The guys said I could do my interview virtually, but I wanted an excuse to come back here.’
My own chip freezes midway to my mouth. ‘And? Did you getit?’
‘I don’t know yet. It was this afternoon. That’s technically why I’m in London. But I’ve already made a decision.’ He cleans the salt from his hands on his trousers. ‘I handed in my notice before I left. I told my manager I’d stay and work through the rest of my probation, or until they find a replacement. But whether I get the museum job or not, I’m coming back. Permanently.’
I let the hope in, and it comes out as a breathy, ‘Really?’
‘Really. This city just works for me. All of it.’ He studies me. ‘Some parts more than others.’
It’s unfair someone can look this good under the lights of a kebab shop, but here sits Finn O’Callaghan; sleeves rolled up, tie discarded on the table, and a teasing grin that creases the corners of his eyes.
I drop my gaze, feeling my own smile threaten to do some serious damage to my cheek muscles. ‘I have news too,’ I say at last, giving him my hands to look at. His eyebrows draw together in confusion but he tilts my hands this way and that, clearly unsure what he’s supposed to be looking at. ‘No coffee grounds, no burns. No more City Roast. I’m working as an assistant to one of the executives at their head office. I get to wear my own clothes, I don’t have to wake up at the asscrack of dawn, andI don’t have to make much small talk. I know it’s anincrediblylow bar, but at least I’m finally over it.’
‘Ava, that’s amazing.’ He places my hands on the table but keeps holding them, trailing delicate swirls over my skin. But after a few moments, guilt leeches into his expression. ‘Sorry, I have a confession. I already knew you had a new job because I stalked you on LinkedIn the other day.’
‘I really didn’t know you were such a fiend for LinkedIn. This is your second mention of it in two minutes.Is this a new thing for you?’
A grin pulls up one side of his mouth, and god, I’ve missed this back-and-forth, the way nothing I say ever seems to get under his skin.
