Page 71 of Ride the Wave

Whydidn’t I put two and two together?!

I was daydreaming about Leo. That’s why. My stupid little crush has caused me a major professional slip up. But it’s not too late to save it.

Pushing my chair back, I stand up.

‘I’m sorry, José, I have to go.’

He looks up at me in surprise. ‘What?’

‘Thank you for such a wonderful evening, but I won’t be able to see you again like this,’ I say, picking up my bag and looping the delicate strap over my shoulder. ‘You know how I mentioned I was out here to interview a surfer?Thatwas the surfer.’

‘You’re writing an article on Leo Silva.’ He sits back, unimpressed.

‘I hope you understand that I can’t do anything to upset him. It’s important that we’re on good terms otherwise he might not talk to me for the article.’

He slowly exhales the air in his cheeks. ‘I… I suppose.’

‘Thank you. It was a really lovely evening, thanks so much.’

‘I’m sorry it has ended this way.’

I give a polite smile in response, unable to say the same.

‘Iris,’ he says, making to rise to his feet, ‘I should walk you home.’

‘No! No, that’s fine, thank you, enjoy the rest of your drink. Please,’ I say, placing a palm on my chest. ‘I’ll feel even worse if you don’t.’

Paused midway to standing, he settles back in his chair.

‘If you insist.’

‘I do,’ I assure him. ‘I really do.’

‘Goodnight, then.’

‘Goodnight,’ I say, walking out onto the street without looking back.

If he notices I’m going the wrong way, he doesn’t say anything. I didn’t want him to walk me home, because that’s not where I’m headed.

*

By the time I get to Leo’s building on my injured foot in heels, having conquered all these stupid cobbled hilly streets, I genuinely wonder whether it might have been quicker to charter a fucking jet and fly there.

‘Leo, it’s me, let me in,’ I instruct grumpily as he answers the buzzer. ‘I think my foot might need amputating.’

It’s dramatic but it does the job. The door opens and I push through it. That’s when I realise God is on my side because the elevator is in full working order today.

‘Thank you, thank you,’ I breathe, shuffling in and pressing the top floor.

I collapse against the back wall, enjoying a moment of rest. I fully started out on the walk in the mindset that I needed to speak to Leo to apologise to him for making such a misjudged decision and to re-emphasise the commitment I had to the article. But it’s taken so long to get here and I’m in such a bad mood because of the pain in my foot that now my mindset has switched and I’m annoyed at him for putting me in this position. The way he spoke to me was out of order.

When the doors ping open, Leo is waiting on the other side of them. His presence takes me by surprise.

‘What are you doing?’ he growls, folding his arms.

‘I needed to speak to you,’ I begin, quickly trying to gather my thoughts. ‘I wanted to explain why I was with José tonight and—’

‘No, I meant what are you doing walking all the way here on yourfoot?’ he clarifies crossly, before his eyes fall to my feet and he throws his hands up in exasperation. ‘And inthoseshoes, are you serious? Would runners kill you?’

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