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He’s right. This is what I’ve wanted. What I’ve been working for. And now there’s just one piece missing.
“Okay,” I say finally. “Two weeks. Small gathering.”
“And I can tell Harrison to mention it to Marcus?” Carter presses, his eyes twinkling.
I take a deep breath and nod, burying my face in my hands.
“Mention what to Marcus?” a voice comes from the doorway.
We all turn around to see Harrison leaning against the doorframe, his dark hair flopping into his eyes before he brushes it back with an easy, practiced flick. He’s attractive in that indie kind of way – sharp cheekbones, long lashes, and a mouth that always looks like it’s on the verge of smirking. But what really catches my attention is how he’s dressed.
Gone is the button-down-and-chinos look he wears at the office, the safe semi-polished uniform him and Carter both seem to favour Monday to Friday. Today, he’s swapped that for a navy cardigan layered over a tight fitting black tee, and distressed grey jeans cuffed just above a big pair of Doc Marten boots, with a pair of round tortoiseshell glasses that look far too hipster to be prescription.
I glance at Carter, who looks flushed and positively giddy and I can’t help but smile. I may not know Harrison all that well, but he’s making Carter happy, and I think I like him for that alone.
“Perfect timing,” Angela says, going over to give him a hug.
He shrugs. “When Carter said where he was, I happened to be in the neighbourhood, so thought I’d drop by.” He saunters in, eyeing the space appreciatively. “Nice place, Lila. Great potential.”
“Thanks,” I smile.
“So what is it you want me to tell Marcus?” he asks, accepting the flute of champagne Carter hands him, a knowing glance between themnot going unnoticed by both Angela and me as we exchange an excited giggle.
“That Lila’s having a housewarming in two weeks,” Angela says. “And that he’s invited. And you, of course.”
Harrison’s eyes light up. “Is he now? Interesting development.”
“It’s not a development,” I protest weakly. “It’s just a gathering… of friends.”
“Mmhmm,” Harrison hums with a knowing smirk. “I’ll make sure to mention it first thing Monday,” he says.
“Thanks,” I say, avoiding eye contact as I pull out a plastic fork from one of the bags and open a container, my stomach rumbling with the promise of Prawn Pad Thai.
“A toast,” Angela declares, raising her glass. “To Lila’s new flat. May it be filled with good food, great friends, and at least one handsome man in the very near future!”
“To Lila’s new flat!” Carter and Harrison echo amidst a round of laughter.
As the afternoon light shifts and the food in the cartons disappears, I stand by the window, looking out on my sliver of the city, a warm flutter stirring in my chest.
Two weeks. A small gathering.
My place. My rules. My life.
And it’s finally coming together exactly as I’d dreamed.
Chapter 10
TWO WEEKS LATER
It’s the Friday morning before my housewarming this weekend, and to say I’m freaking out is an understatement. The flat is starting to come together, with my grandma having taken me to IKEA, where she bought me a couch from her savings, and I bought myself a coffee table and a grey shaggy rug.
I’d also managed to get Wi-Fi installed and bought a TV from someone online for twenty quid.
The walk to work from the new place takes just over forty minutes now, compared to the fifteen it used to, so I’m still figuring out the timing. But thankfully, when I step into the coffee shop (which I’m definitely not referring to asourcoffee shop in my head), Marcus is sitting in one of the chairs by the window, one cup in his hand, a second waiting on the table in front of him.
I smile, waving a quick hello as I walk over and sit down in the seat opposite him.
“Morning,” I say, those damn butterflies starting up as he smiles at me. “Thanks again for the coffee. You really don’t have to keep doing that.”