Page 19 of Weekends with You

“Piss off, Jan.”

“Ladies first.”

We shushed each other as we crammed into another alleyway, so narrow we could barely stretch our arms out at our sides. The cobblestones were the same as everywhere else in London, but I could nearly hear horses trotting over these. It reminded me of the scene inA Christmas Carolwhen the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come chases Scrooge through the city on a carriage drawn by black horses. It was only a cartoon, but even that was creepy to think about right now.

Henry’s big hands cradled his camera just in front of his face, capturing the fog drifting across the cobblestones. There was something gentle about the way he took photos, the way he held the camera just so, the way his eyelashes fluttered closed over his left eye. The way he breathed with every shutter of the lens.

“Do you think he was a dish?” Liv whispered over my shoulder.

“Who?” Had she seen me watching Henry?

“Jack the Ripper, duh. Kind of a hot nickname, don’t you think? Maybe it was a Ted Bundy situation.”

“Liv!” I scolded, though I was relieved. “Are you insane?”

“Just smashed, I think,” she laughed. I could accept that. “Henry, is it almost done? I’m not complaining, I swear. It’s just someone is going to have to carry me home pretty soon.” She touched his arm lightly with her fingertips, and I felt a flare of jealousy creep into my chest.

Right on cue, the guide offered some closing remarks. The tourists huddled together in small, shivering crowds, already asking where they could buy Jack the Ripper tour merch. I admired their willingness to shamelessly embrace everything corny.

We said goodbye to our companions as we headed in the direction of the Tube, stumbling into one another with arms linked. I wasn’t sure whether it was the cold or the lingering feeling of the tour that sent shivers up my spine, but I visibly shuddered all the same.

“All right?” Henry asked, eyeing me.

“Just cold,” I said, wrapping my arms around myself for reinforcement.

“Aye. So, should I not ask if you wanted to reprise drinks on the roof when we get home, or might you just need another layer?”

I was stunned into silence for a second. “Uh, no, definitely ask. I mean, you don’t have to actually ask, because you kind of just did, so yes. Yes to the drink, I mean. And the layer.”

His laugh was a warm, inviting sound that came from somewhere low in his throat. “Good.”

Okay, so we were doing this. Which was fine. I was prepared for that. Everyone was always prepared for a handsome roommate to ask them for a drink on the roof late at night, weren’t they?

By the time we got home, half the group was ready for bed. Liv and Jan had nodded off on each other’s shoulders on the Tube, and Margot claimed to have had enough socializing for one night.

“Anyone fancy a cheese toastie?” Cal was banging around the kitchen with little regard for the roommates who planned on sleeping.

“Callum, that idea makes me want to kiss you on the mouth,” Finn said, dropping into a yellow metal chair at the giant kitchen table and checking his phone with one eye closed.

“Please don’t.”

“Make them for the whole lot, please, darling,” Raja said, joining Finn at the table.

Henry grabbed two beers from the fridge and nodded at the staircase up to the roof. I snagged a jacket from a rack near the doorway, unsure who it belonged to. “Just gonna get a bit of fresh air,” he said to the others. “Be down in a bit.”

“We won’t wait up,” Raja said, throwing me a look.

Shut up,I mouthed.

“It’s freezing out there. And haven’t we been getting fresh air all night?” Finn said, raising an eyebrow.

“Sorry, Finn, didn’t realize you were the gatekeeper of fresh air,” I shot in his direction. “Should we have checked with you first?”

He held up both middle fingers, and Henry and I laughed lightly before disappearing up the stairs.

“Have I mentioned I’m pleased you moved in here?” Henry said when we reached the roof. “We needed someone to keep everyone’s attitudes in check, so you fit right in. And you’re way nicer about it than Alice was.”

“Thank you?”

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