Page 47 of Kiss Me Ever After
“I could say the same about you.”
“I do not snore!”
My eyebrows rose. “I beg to differ.”
“Prove it.” She tilted her head in challenge.
“Is that a dare?”
“Could be.”
I waved my own phone at her. “Then let me get the evidence.”
Saved from any further argument, the train pulled into the station. I followed Lennon to our seats and settled down for the journey ahead of us. Being cooped up for several hours with nothing to do wasn’t my idea of fun. Lennon looked like she would be swotting up on her appointments, so I shoved my earphones in and found a playlist that would keep me entertained.
Despite my tiredness, I couldn’t seem to settle. Each time I drifted off, we’d stop at a station, people would get on and off or there would be a guard checking tickets. In the end, I gave up and stared out the window instead.
Lennon had fallen asleep, her head on my shoulder, which made me scared to move for fear of waking her.
This trip was a line in the sand. Once she’d sorted out where she would stay, once the summer was over, that would be it. I didn’t know what the future would hold for us.
Was I prepared to be the part-time, long-distance boyfriend?
Were we just a summer thing, over once the autumn came?
I patted the pocket of my rucksack to check if my gift for Lennon was still there.
Maybe it would help provide some answers. I planned to give it to her over dinner this evening, when I hoped she had a new place to live.
I couldn’t deny the small, selfish part of me though that hoped she wouldn’t find anywhere so I could convince her to stay with me.
* * *
“Oh, you’re a student?”The heavily made-up woman, dressed in what could only be described as an eighties power suit, cast a scathing glance in Lennon’s direction. “I thought we put on the ad we wouldn’t consider students.” She side-eyed her flatmate, who shrugged.
“I’m in my final year. It’s more important for me to study than party.” Lennon forced a smile and clasped her hands together.
I reached over to take one of them in mine. I sensed her edginess and wanted to help her calm down.
“Is this your boyfriend? Would he be staying too? It’s quite a small room.” The woman turned her attention to me.
Lennon pulled her hand away, slipping them under her thighs. “No. He wouldn’t stay.”
Slightly hurt by her apparent dismissal of our relationship, I stood up. “I guess I’ll leave you to chat as I’m not needed.”
None of the three of them even acknowledged the fact I left the room. I went into the small kitchen and looked out of the window. The flat was tiny. There were two bedrooms, the one Lennon could have was even smaller than mine at home. How she would fit all her stuff in, I had no idea. Judging by the enthusiasm of the couple who were interviewing her, they needed someone who would be happy to stay in their room and not make any noise. Although, strictly speaking, it wasn’t my business, I couldn’t possibly let Lennon live here. She deserved nicer flatmates for a start.
“Okay, thank you for your time. It was good to meet you.” Lennon’s voice floated in from the hallway. “I have other places to see, so I’ll wait for your decision.” She poked her head into the room. “Shall we go?”
Gratefully, I followed her out of the building. “They seemed welcoming.”
Lennon stopped stock still on the pavement. “You’re kidding me, right? I have never felt so judged in my life.” She paused. “Well, except for Candace, of course.”
“You might as well live with her instead.” My stomach growled. “Can we get some food? I’m starving.”
“We’ve got about an hour before the next appointment, which is…” She spun around and pointed down another street nearby. “Down there.”
“Ah, plenty of time then.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her into the nearest coffee shop.
