Chapter 4

Back at my apartment, Lucas nudged my slippers toward my feet.

He hung up my bag, put a glass of water on the table, then went into the bathroom to get the shower running. The hot water took forever in that building. He knew exactly how far to turn the tap.

He had learned all my little inconveniences. When I came home exhausted, he washed my delicates in the sink and hung them over the shower rail.

When the heater broke, he let me tuck my frozen feet against his stomach. Two days later, he had a new unit installed.

“I bought it for me,” he'd told Connor. “You try sleeping in a freezer.”

I stood in the bathroom doorway, holding a towel. I would miss being cared for like that. It still didn't make it acceptable for him to laugh about me with his friends.

The apartment was too small for a bigger bed. He'd measured once, then shoved the tape into a drawer. Paying for another apartment would have spoiled the experiment, so we learned to sleep pressed together.

That night, he curled around me as usual.

His palm settled at my waist. His breath warmed the back of my neck.

“Evie.”

He kissed the place beneath my ear.

For a moment, I went rigid. Then I gently moved his hand from my waist.

“I'm tired,” I whispered.

I shifted toward the edge of the bed, leaving a little space between us. His warmth was familiar. For a moment, I wanted to turn back and rest against him.

Instead, I pulled the blanket over my shoulder and stayed facing away.

Later, he fell asleep.

I slipped onto the little balcony and pulled the door almost shut. Through the glass, I could still see him, one arm stretched across the empty place I'd left.

I opened the London offer again.

Earlier that week, I'd tried to discuss it with Lucas. He'd kissed my forehead and said we'd talk later.

I wasn't waiting for that conversation anymore.

I checked the funding details and the start date once more.

Behind the glass, Lucas stirred, then rolled over.

I tapped Accept.