Page 48 of Weekends with You

“Why is everyone downplaying their successes?” Henry asked. “Lucy, that is also amazing. I know that’s been important to you, so I’m glad to see it’s working out.”

“It’s not the only thing Lucy’s gotten up to.” Finn snickered.

“Finn,” I said through clenched teeth.

“Oh?” Henry said. “What else is there, then?”

“Nothing, truly,” I said. “Not the slightest clue what Finn’s on about.”

I shot Finn a look, begging him to stop, but he was either too tipsy or too careless to listen. “Come on, Luce. You’d have to be daft to forget a kiss like that.”

I wanted nothing more than to bury my head in my hands and stay like that until Henry left again. Why couldn’t Finn ever just keep his mouth shut?

“A kiss, huh?” Henry mused, though I’m certain he wasn’t enjoying the thought.

“It was midnight on New Year’s and he was a stranger and it didn’t matter. You can say whatever you want, but it’s ancient history.”

“A stranger, hm?”

“A really hot one,” Liv added.

“Okay, thank you, everyone! That’s about enough of that.” My face was burning, begging for this to be over. Henry clucked his tongue and leaned back against the wall, mulling it over. I willed the floor to drop out from underneath me, but no luck.

“What about you, Hen?” Raja asked, saving me. “What’s your update?”

He rubbed the back of his neck for a moment before he started speaking. “Aye, nothing quite as exciting as Lucy, apparently. Copenhagen breezed right by because I was so busy, but I did enjoy the bits I got to see of the city. The festival in Zurich was really grand, though,” he said. “Cool to shoot something that size, and my photos made it into the local papers and magazines, so that was a nice bonus. Then I left directly for Brussels, where I spent the past few weeks. I found the architecture to be the most inspiring there, with the old gothic buildings and the pastel facades and whatever else, so perhaps we’re onto something.”

“But still, you missed us terribly and wanted to come home,” Liv said, resting her chin on her hand.

Henry smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Something like that. But still, I’m off again next week, so don’t get used to it.”

“Where to next?” Margot asked.

“Amsterdam. And judging by how much I fancied Brussels, I think it’ll be promising. My brother has a friend who lives there and swears by it, so we’ll see how it goes. If we’re lucky, maybe I’ll find a home there.”

The look in his eyes made him seem keener than ever to do exactly that, and I hoped it wasn’t because I’d kissed someone while he was gone. Then I kicked myself immediately for thinking me kissing anyone had any impact on his soul-searching journey.

Then I stopped to wonder if it had any impact onmine. If Henry could be so prepared to embrace change, why couldn’t I?

“Good for you, mate,” Cal said eventually, clapping him on the shoulder. “Keep it up.”

“Cheers.”

We all raised a cup, then took a few gulps, preparing for the task ahead. Or washing down the horrible taste left by yet another reminder that Henry wasn’t staying. Or maybe that was just me.

“So what’s the deal here?” Jan asked, nodding toward the target. “Imagine someone we hate and picture their face on the bull’s-eye?”

“That’s one way to do it,” Cal laughed.

“That’s the only way to do it, as far as I’m concerned,” Margot said.

“Then lead the way.” Jan handed her an axe, which looked enormous and heavy in her tiny hands.

She stepped up to the line, heaved the axe behind her head,and threw it at the target. Before we could even register the throw, we were looking at a bull’s-eye. We stood in silence, watching the axe reverberating in the wood, searching for something to say.

“Bloody hell,” Henry said eventually.

Margot turned back to us, a grin plastered across her face. “Not bad, huh?” she said.

---