I laugh and pull him closer to me. ‘It is.’
‘And we’re doing the Camino in March.’
‘We are.’ But where do we go from here?
* * *
Later that evening I fall into bed, mind spinning at the way everything has unfolded. Just as I’m about to switch my bedside light off, my phone rings. It can only be one person calling this late.
‘Rox, it’s late, even for you.’
Her pinched face appears on screen. ‘Word is, Miles is on his way to you! You’re not going to be taken in by whatever excuses he makes, are you?’
‘Too late. He’s already been here.’
‘Already?’
‘Yeah, been and gone.’
‘Just like that? You didn’t take him back?’
I give her a wide smile and explain how it all went down.
‘Wow, Aubrey, and so you and Jasper are a thing now? It’s not like you.’
My eyebrows shoot up. ‘One minute you’re telling me to fall into bed with him, the next you’re questioning my feelings for the guy?’
‘Well, I mean, I hardly know him. You didn’t send me his details for the deep dive. What if he’s as bad as Miles? What if he’s a serial killer? How well do we know him, really?’
‘It’s early days, Rox. We’ve stolen a few kisses and we’ll see what happens.’
‘This is all so fast.’
‘You are up and down like a yo-yo!’
She laughs. ‘I only want the best for you, but I’d feel better if I saw this man in the flesh, you know?’
‘And let you scare him off? No thanks.’
‘So, are you coming home after the trip?’
I consider it. ‘Maybe for a bit. I’ll pack up my room, snuggle Freya’s baby when he makes an appearance, and then head off again. I want to explore France.’
‘You don’t need to pack up your room here.’
‘Thanks, Rox. When you’re not committing crimes, you’re not a half bad person.’
‘Well, Roan ruined most of your clothes, but that’s not on me, that’s on her.’
I roll my eyes. ‘How does a cat manage that?’
‘Mostly with her claws. Between us, sometimes she scares me. She gives me this look, like she’s plotting my downfall.’
‘You get the cat you deserve, Rox!’
‘Not that again!’
29
