Page 26 of Meet Me at the Metro (Gildenhill #1)

26

JUST A FRIEND

E L L I E

I watch the trees sway outside beyond the classroom window, noting the burgundy and orange shades of the leaves as they fall from the branches and get swept away by the breeze. It’s funny how quickly the weather changes between summer and fall here. So fast, within a week, I’ve found myself trading out my short, airy dresses for pairs of long, blue jeans and wooly sweaters. Summer in England gives the beauty of blue skies and warm rain showers, while fall time gives the beauty of moody, overcast skies and frequent cool mists.

In a city as wonderful as London, I’ve found myself equally appreciating both of its sides.

Connor nudges me with an elbow and returns my attention to Professor Henderson’s lecture ahead. I peer at the clock behind our teacher as he drones on about Julius Caesar, so thankful to discover there are only two minutes left of this class.

When we all finally begin packing up for the evening, Henderson informs, “I’ve reviewed each of your analytical essays for ‘The Tempest.’ I’ll enter your grades on the campus portal tonight and send out an email when they’re up for you all to review. Have a nice fall break. You all are dismissed for the night.”

Connor and I make it out of the classroom within seconds. He sighs as we walk down the long campus corridor. “Bloody hell, I need a drink.”

I roll my eyes and laugh. “I’m sure you did great. You’ve never made lower than a 92 on your assignments.”

“Yeah, but what if this time is different, and I’ve completely screwed myself beyond unscrewing?”

“ Shut up! You know you did amazing, and you know what…you do need a drink! I vote we skip our piano lesson tonight and go get one.”

“I’m sure you’d love that, Miss Butterfingers .”

That’s Connor’s new nickname for me now that we restarted our piano lessons. We’ve been back at them for a few weeks now, but my fingers are still unwilling to stay on top of the keys when running through a scale, and he’s found a lot of enjoyment in giving me shit about it.

“ Pleassse .” I give him a pitiful puppy dog face as we push out of the doors leading to the courtyard. “It’ll be fun! And I can finally introduce you to Evie! I planned on meeting her tonight at this bar by our apartment, so it’s perfect. She loves making new friends!”

“Evie, the exotic roommate? The one you said is always screaming profanities at you?”

I can’t help but laugh. “She’s nice, Connor, I swear. She’s extra as hell, but she’s the friendliest person you’ll ever meet.”

“I don’t know, Ellie. Mum’s been pulling late nights at work lately and asking me to stop and get her some takeout on the way home tonight.”

“ Doordash her something,” I shrug. “Please, please, please! Come . It’ll be so much fun. When was the last time you let loose, huh?”

“I let loose.”

“Typing out your essays in the bubble bath isn’t letting loose, Connor.”

“Piss off!” he exclaims, nudging me so hard my feet stumble against the streetlamp-lit sidewalk.

“Please, Conn! Let’s have some fun! It’s the weekend for crying out loud!”

He smirks. “I don’t know… Now that you’ve mentioned it, a bubble bath does sound nice.”

“If you don’t stop! You are coming out with me and Evie tonight, dammit. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

He chuckles. “You know, you’re a lot more assertive than I assumed you’d be when I first met you.”

“Well, then stop judging a book by its cover,” I quip. “You come, and your first drink will be on me.”

“Free alcohol, hmm ? That is quite convincing.”

“So you’re coming?” It’s more of a statement than a question if I’m being honest.

“Maybe,” he grins. “What bar do you have in mind?”

“You’ll see .”

The commotion of Gullie’s swallows us the second Connor and I step inside. The thundering of drums from the live band playing at the back end of the establishment shakes the walls around us. It’s hard to discern where the sounds around me are coming from over the booming bass and the lively chatter of city-goers scattered all around. All the noises inside this place blend in pure, somehow harmonious chaos.

Standing on the tips of my toes, I try to see if I can find Theo working, but I can’t see past the backs of the countless heads congregating at the bartop.

“This way,” I tell Connor as I squeeze through the crowd. Evie texted and told me she’d be waiting for us at the bar.

He keeps close behind me. “This place is bloody packed.”

“It’s drag night!”

I spot Evie’s bright teal hair among the masses circling the bar as the band finishes up the last song of their set. I glance back to Connor and assure him, “Found her. We’ll say hi and grab a drink. That okay?”

I can’t help but notice how tense his shoulders have become since we’ve walked in. Poor guy probably wasn’t expecting our drinks to be accompanied by so much commotion. “Y–yeah. That’s fine.”

I do my best to transfer some of my excitement to him as I smile and say, “Harvey should be performing in a little bit. He’s a lot of fun to watch! ”

“Sounds great.” Connor grins, but the gesture’s not very convincing.

“We don’t have to stay long.”

“I’m fine, Ellie,” he assures. “I’m sure once I get a drink, I’ll—”

“AHH! ELLIE!”

Evie squeals as soon as she spots me. Sporting a bright, yellow latex dress that clings to her body like a second skin, she hops down from the barstool and hurries over to the two of us. She keeps a tight hold on the drink in her hand as she wraps me in a fierce, unrelenting embrace. “It’s about bloody time you showed up!”

As soon as she releases me, her dark eyes are eating up the sight of Connor beside me. “Evie, this is Connor: friend, piano tutor, study buddy .”

She smiles broadly. “Oh, I know who Connor is.”

His cheeks are already turning red, but he holds his composure and politely offers a hand to her. “It’s nice to meet you finally. Ellie’s told me a lot about you.”

“Has she now?” Evie's silver-lined eyes sweep over him again. “She’s told me a lot about you, too .”

He chuckles. “Has she now?”

“All of the horrible, awful things, of course,” I tease.

“Not all horrible things,” Evie insists with a bat of her glitter-speckled lashes.

Connor smiles, fully engaged with her. “Good. Would’ve hated for you to have a bad impression of me before we got to meet one another.”

There’s a slight sway in Evie’s body as she takes a long swig of the drink in her hand. “Said you’re good with your hands.”

Connor clears his throat.

“And even better with your mouth.”

A knot catches in the back of my throat. I stop breathing—my brain stops functioning completely. I become incapable of doing a damn thing other than staring at Evie in utter disbelief.

I’m going to kill her. I’m going to actually kill her.

“That was nice of you to mention, Ellie,” Connor mutters .

Evie must be oblivious to the sudden tension now stirring in the air because the next thing she exclaims is, “Let’s do some shots!” She darts away without sparing either one of us another glance.

I turn to face Connor, whose face flushes with embarrassment. “I am so sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He forces his gaze to the floor and mumbles, “I think I’m going to head out for the night.”

“ What? No, Connor, please don’t. I want you here.”

“I don’t think it’s really good for me to be here…”

“Of course it is. What do you mean?”

“I mean, it’s—” He stops speaking mid-sentence as his eyes peer toward the crowded bartop, and his expression goes taut. “I need to go. I-I’m not feeling well.”

“Please, don’t leave mad at me.”

“I’m not mad.”

“If I knew she would say that, I would’ve never told her about what happened in the—”

“I’m not mad. Really. I just— I should go .” He gives me a nod goodbye and moves to head out.

I quickly catch onto his wrist. “Wait.”

“I’ll text you, alright?”

“ Connor ,” I sigh.

“Maybe we can get together some other time this week. Okay?”

I release my hold on him. “A-alright.”

“Have a drink for me, okay?” Connor smiles wanly.

“Okay.”

A pang of guilt settles in my stomach as I watch him disappear into the entanglement of bodies blocking the way out. I release a weighted breath and attempt to quell my nerves and frustration before going to Evie. However, the second I reach her, I react emotionally.

I spin the seat of her barstool around so that she’s facing me. “ What in the actual hell, Evie! Why would you say that to him?”

“What!? What did I say? ”

I roll my eyes, annoyed at her cluelessness. “You mentioned the kiss. Why would you do that? He’s never even met you, and that’s the first thing you think to say to him?!”

“I was trying to flirt!”

“Well, that was not a good attempt! You embarrassed him—and me, for that matter!”

“Shit, I wasn’t trying to embarrass anyone.” She looks genuinely afflicted as her gaze skirts along the people around us. “Where’d he go? Did he leave?”

“Yes,” I frown, crossing my arms against my chest. “Probably didn’t feel like being humiliated again tonight.”

“Oh, fuck me. I’ve gone and scared the poor guy away. I’m sorry, Ellie. I wasn’t thinking.”

“I need a drink,” I sigh. In perfect timing, my eyes notice the half-empty Negroni in her hands. I snatch it from her, bring the glass to my lips, and swallow back what remains before she can object.

“Hey! That was mine!”

“You owe me for what you said,” I argue. “And for causing my friend to leave!”

“Your friend will be just fine!”

“Is Evie chasing away all the good tippers again?” a deep, familiar voice interjects from behind the bar.

I look up and find Theo’s eyes on the two of us, and my heart skips a beat.He’s got that handsome, charming smirk on his face.

“She sure is,” I say, mouth going dry. If I could, I’d watch this man do the most mundane tasks all day if he’d let me. I do my best not to ogle at how nice his inked biceps look as he mixes the martini shaker in his hands.

“Am not,” Evie whines. “Your friend is just a little fucking cream puff.”

“Sounds like fighting words to me,” Theo taunts.

Theo and I chuckle as Evie huffs and dramatically spins the barstool seat away from us.

“I didn’t know you’d be coming here tonight,” Theo says, continuing the conversation as he pours two drinks.

“Thought I’d surprise you.”

He bites back a grin at that. “You staying to watch Harv’s show tonight?”

I nod. “Mhmm . I planned on it.”

“ Good . You guys should stay and hang out while I close up,” he offers, darting his gaze to Evie, who’s swaying in her seat. “I can help you get her drunk arse home.”

Evie throws him an offended look. “I am not drunk— yet. I am merely buzzed.”

“Exactly— yet .” He fills up a glass of water and scoots it to her. “Drink up, buddy.”

Theo hands off the two drinks he was preparing to the waiting customers before returning his attention to me. “You want something to drink, Nora?”

“Yes. Something very strong, please.”

He lets out a low laugh that makes every nerve in my body tingle. “You got it, but we gotta take it easy this time, alright? Can’t be getting any more sprained ankles.”

“Got it,” I nod obediently. I’m definitely not going all out like the last time.

“You like dark liquor?”

I smile. “I can do dark liquor.”

He grabs a bottle of J?germiefter off the bottom shelf and holds it up. “J?gerbomb?”

“Sounds good, Mr. Bartender.” As he reaches for a clean glass, I ask, “How’s your day been?”

He shrugs. “Fine.”

“Just fine?”

He shakes his head and corrects himself. “Fucking sublime now that you’re here.”

Theo’s eyes linger on me for a long moment, trailing the features of my face so considerately—eyes, nose, mouth.

It makes me feel weightless.

He winks at me as though he can hear the very thought and begins concocting my drink. He nods to Evie. “So Certified Yapper scared off your friend before she could even get a drink, huh?”

“He,” Evie quickly corrects. “But like I said, her friend is a cream puff. Not my fault.”

“He?” Theo reiterates.

I’m suddenly shifting on my feet.

“Yes, he . As in, Ellie’s friend has a penis.” She chuckles as his jaw tenses. “Oh, mate, jealousy is a cute shade on you.”

Theo’s back straightens. “Piss off. I’m not jealous.”

“ Mhmm , keep telling yourself that. Now, if you’re done bullshitting, make me a drink.”

“One more drink. That’s it. ” Theo rolls his eyes at Evie sticking her tongue out at him. He pours a shot worth of dark liquor into each of our cups. “So your, umm — friend . Have I heard of him yet?”

Evie’s right—he is so damn jealous right now. I try to hide my smile as I nod, “You have. He’s the one giving me those piano lessons.”

“ Ahh , I see,” he says, voice tight. “I seriously wouldn’t mind giving you lessons, Nora.”

Evie cackles when she hears that. “Oh, give it a rest and make us our J?gerbombs , you jealous arse!”

“I’m making them,” he snarls.

I watch him as he stalks toward a cooler at the other end of the bar top, and Evie leans my way. “You’ve got him wrapped around your pretty little fingers, don’t you?”

I can’t help but chuckle. “Quit picking on him.”

Evie rests her head on my shoulder and whines, “But it’s my favorite thing to do. Bloody hell, imagine how he’d act if he found out that your friend with a penis kissed y—”

“Evie, hush.”

What in the hell is she thinking?

When I glance up to make sure Theo isn’t near enough to have heard what she just said, I’m immediately disappointed .

Theo’s grasp tightens around the two Red Bulls in his hands as he looks at me, his expression devoid of any of the light I saw in it moments ago.

“Just a friend, huh?”

I swallow and try to calm my racing heart as I mutter back, “Just let me explain.”