Page 44 of Falling Fast
‘Yes. Rask might have a non-fraternization policy or something. I mean, eating fish and chips together is one thing, but an actual date …’
‘There’s no policy,’ he answers. ‘Not that I’m aware of anyway.’
I mentally scan my own contract of employment. I don’t remember such a clause, but maybe I glossed over that part because I simply assumed it wouldn’t apply to me.
‘Think about it.’ He lifts a shoulder. ‘If you’d like to, you know where to find me.’
Our eyes lock and a flare of something new and powerfulflashes between us. I feel like I’ve woken up from a long sleep to find the world around me looks different. It’s so striking, I find myself opening my lips to say – something, I’m not even sure what – just as the wind catches a lock of hair that’s escaped from my ponytail and blows it straight across my face, blinding me.
‘Here.’ Leif lifts a hand to my cheek and tucks the loose strands behind my ear. The moment his fingers brush against my skin it’s like they’ve stolen my breath away.
We lean closer, obeying a pull neither of us can resist. Closer … closer … our lips are almost touching when a loud dinging sound erupts from the arcade on the street behind us. Somebody has obviously won something, but it’s just about the least romantic sound you could ever imagine, enough to bring me back to my senses.
‘That must be an hour.’ I jolt backwards, gulping down cool mouthfuls of air. ‘We’d better get back to the garage.’
Leif, answer your phone. We have things to discuss …
Nathan Wallis, voicemail to Leif Olsen, 1 July
FOURTEEN
‘DID YOU EVER GET an answer from Leif about Ashley Hart?’ Yuto puts his phone down and swivels his chair round to face me.
‘Mmm?’ I lift my head from the promotional packs I’m putting together for Austria. ‘Oops … No. Sorry, I completely forgot.’
‘Me too, but her people have been in contact with Nathan again. They think the premiere of her new F1 movie next month would be a good opportunity for a date, but they need an answer asap.’
My stomach lurches in a way I’m not prepared for. I haven’t spoken to Leif in a week, not since our almost kiss on the seafront. Once my new tyres were done, we parted ways and I haven’t had any promotional stuff for him to do in the meantime. Or at least I haven’t asked him to do any. Also, I’ve been busy helping Vienna charm another potential sponsor, a finance company with a long acronym name that I keep forgetting.
It’s not like I’ve been avoiding him exactly. I’ve just been … working.
‘Leif’s not seeing anyone, is he?’ Yuto asks.
‘I don’t know.’ I try to sound nonchalant. ‘But it’s only a publicity thing, isn’t it?’
‘I think so, but who knows? Maybe celebrities have a hard time meeting people. Anyway, Nathan wants someone to go and find out what Leif thinks.’
‘Well, I can’t right now.’ I drop my gaze because I have a horrible feeling I know where this is going. ‘I have these packs to finish.’
‘Yeah, the thing is, he says Leif’s turned his phone off and Kelsey’s not answering hers, which means they’re probably in the gym, and I have a Teams meeting in about two minutes, so …’
‘If Leif’s not answering his phone, maybe that means he doesn’t want to be disturbed, and I really have so much to do –’
‘I’ll help you with your packs after my meeting.’ Yuto’s expression turns pleading. ‘All Nathan needs is a yes or no. It won’t take long. Just text me when you get an answer and I’ll pass it on.’
‘Yuto …’
‘Please, please, please.’
‘Urgh.’ I can’t think of any more excuses. ‘Fine, but you owe me.’
‘Yes, I do. You’re my favourite co-worker!’
I stomp out of the office, down the stairs and along a series of winding corridors, slamming doors into walls as I go. The gym is on the other side of the building, beside the canteen, which still isn’t far enough because I arrive before I have any idea what I’m going to say. I mean, whatcanI say?Hi, Leif, so I know we almost kissed and I still haven’t given you an answer about adate yet, but hey, how would you like to go to a movie premiere with some gorgeous actress instead?
It’s not that I haven’t thought about his invitation, because I have. A lot. I’ve also relived the feeling of his hand on my cheek several hundred times. I just haven’t decided yet because everything seems to have happened so quickly, and I’m torn. I’ve also checked my contract, and while dating isn’t forbidden, it’s strongly discouraged. HR would need to be informed, Vienna too – and what would she think? I want to impress her and this could looksounprofessional. Basically, everything about this idea has the potential to send all my future plans spinning off course. Which is why I should say no –absolutely no– to a date.
The problem is I can’t help remembering the feeling of connection between us that evening by the sea; and how, for the first time, I didn’t stiffen up and panic at the idea of being kissed. Maybe it was a fluke or maybe I’m just finally ready to date again, but what if it means something more? It makes me wonder whether us being together might actually … work?
