Page 67 of Midnight Wishes

‘So you’re falling for someone. And this preternaturally beautiful man’—Zoe began counting on her fingers—‘is gentle with you, except when you don’t want him to be; could talk to you for hours about art, your favourite thing to talk about; isincredible in bed;cooksfor you; loves his dog… I’m struggling to see the problem here.’

‘The problem is he’s the one man I can’t risk it not working out with. I mean,god,lookat him. He could have anyone he wants.’

‘Exactly.’

Sarah couldn’t remember Zoe being this blunt. She wasn’t sure she liked it. ‘Uh, did we skip over the part where you’re supposed to be making me feel better? Is this the level of pep talk you give to your authors?’

Zoe rolled her eyes. ‘He could have anyone he wants. And for the past few weeks, he’schosenyou.’

‘And what about when he stops choosing me? And one of my best friends has to choose between me and her brother-in-law?’

When Zoe spoke again, her voice was gentler. ‘Who says he’s going to stop?’

Sarah plucked at her dress. ‘Past experience.’

‘Well you’ve dated shitty people.’ Zoe lifted an arm, clearly exasperated. ‘Which by your own account, he is not.’

Sarah didn’t know how to respond to that. So she moved to a not entirely disconnected topic. ‘There’s another snag. I have a job interview next week. Assistant gallery curator. In Barcelona.’

‘Barcelona,’ Zoe said flatly. ‘You’re so afraid of your feelings, you want to run away toSpain? And didn’t you quit your job like five minutes ago so you’d be able to paint full time?’

‘I applied for it ages ago. Before painting full time was a possibility. I don’t know if their admin is that bad, or if the first person they hired left, or— At any rate, they want to interview me. And it’s great that I can make a living painting, but the petportraits don’t exactly set my soul on fire. You know I have a commission for a goldfish next week? I wish I was joking.

‘This would get me into the art world. I’d meet dealers and collectors. I— I know I’m good. I just can’t get my work in front of the people who matter. This gives me access. And there are other perks!’ Sarah attempted to inject more enthusiasm into her voice. ‘I’ve never left the UK. They’re looking for someone who’s happy to travel. I’d get to explore Europe a bit. I don’t know. Maybe moving to Barcelona could be really good for—’

She was so deep in her monologue—so deep in trying to convince herself this could be a good thing—that she barely noticed Zoe’s widened eyes darting over her shoulder. Didn’t register her panicked hiss ofSarahuntil a voice behind her said, ‘You’removing?’

Chapter 32

ALEX

The Night We Met | Lord Huron

After the girlsarrived at the jazz lounge, Alex had opted to give her space, avoiding so much as looking at her, even if her mere presence felt like a gravitational force all its own. But after an hour of forcing his body to resist its natural inclinations, he caved. After the way they’d left things that morning, he needed to talk to her. A real conversation, not late-night texting that would inevitably lead to something physical, ignoring the real connection heknewthey had. So he grabbed a drink for her and made his way towards her sofa, where she was talking to the friend he’d met while addressing and stuffing invitations.

Where he’d heard her say she was moving to fuckingBarcelona.

Sarah whipped around, eyes stricken when they landed on his face, which he entirely lost control over for the span of five seconds, as he felt devastation flood his features.

By the time she said his name, voice choked, he’d regained control. ‘Alex. I—’

‘You’re moving?’ he asked again, face now settled into a stony expression.

She stood, lip pulled between her teeth, and it brought back flashes of the night before. Of her sharing his bed. Feeling—really feeling, for the first time—like they had a shot at being something. ‘Maybe. I, um, I have an interview this week.

‘For what?’ he bit out. Behind Sarah, he vaguely noticed her friend slink away in the direction of the dancefloor.

‘Assistant curator of a gallery.’ Her voice was quiet, but measured, as if she’d put thought into this. Decided it was best for her. Decided leaving him was best for her.

‘Why? You’re painting full time. I thought that was what you wanted.’ He couldn’t think that he’d ever spoken to her so harshly. Even when they were barely more than strangers, and she’d been determined to dislike him,he’dbeen playful. Affectionate, even.

‘I’m painting animals, Alex.’ Some of the snap returned to her voice, and it was a shame, really, that he couldn’t enjoy one of his favourite things about her. ‘I’m not exactly Georgia O’Keeffe.’

‘And you’re not going to become her by not painting anything at all,’ he said flatly.

‘This is a good opportunity for me. I’ll make industry connections. I’ll get to travel.’

There was so much he could have said.Letmekeep helping you. Letmetake you travelling.

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