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Page 3 of Meet Me at the Metro (Gildenhill #1)

3

TRAIN WRECK

E L L I E

T he shower wasn’t hot enough to wash away the distraught image of that little asshole’s fingers on my unmentionables .

If it weren’t for the reminder that Evie and Harvey were waiting for me to head out to dinner with them, I would probably spend the remainder of the night locked inside my bedroom.

I wrap myself in my towel and stealthily slip out of the bathroom. My wet feet scuttle across the hallway floor as I dart straight for my room. I quickly shut the door behind me, grab my cell phone off the nightstand, and plop back against my bed. I send Mom and Dad a text to let them know that I made it to London safely and assure them that I’ll give them a call tomorrow.

John is next on my list.

Hey! Made it to London in one piece. Missing you already. About to head out to dinner with the roomies.

Headed out already? Didn’t you just get there?

You planning on staying out all night?

Don’t know? It’ll depend on the other’s plans, I suppose lol

Right. Well, when you figure it out, keep me updated. That is, if you care to keep up this long-distance thing at all…

I’m fine with keeping you updated? It’s just been a long day. I didn’t bother asking Harv or Evie for all the details. They just extended me an invitation, and I accepted.

Harv? Got a nickname for him now?

Just let me know when your escapades are over, okay?

I dial his number and try to tame my racing heart and rising frustration. He finally picks up by the fifth ring.

“Yeah?” he answers apathetically.

“Yeah? What is your deal? Am I not allowed to make new friends while I’m here?”

“You can make as many friends as you want, Eleanor . I’m just saying that it seems a little odd you’re going out with Harv and don’t seem to know what time you’ll be back.”

“You’re getting in your head. It isn’t like that.”

“It seems exactly like that.”

“Well, it’s not. Trust me. Please . I’m trusting you.” After a few seconds of silence, I decide to speak again. “I want this to work. I want us to work. I really need your support right now.”

“I want this to work too, but I just don’t know...”

My stomach drops. “You don’t know? What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means I don’t know, El.”

“Just talk to me. Please, just tell me what you mean. ”

“I just need time to think about this all, okay?”

A lump of discouragement and dread settle at the back of my throat. I can’t find the words—nor the will—to answer him.

What did he need to think about? What did I do wrong? Was he truly thinking about throwing away what we built after I had just barely gotten here?

“Look, I’m about to leave to go out with the guys.” John’s words snap me out of my panicking inner monologue.

“So you can go out, and it’s fine, but it’s a problem when I do it?”

John sighs. “I’ll message you in the morning, alright?”

“Fine,” I say with a slight tremble in my voice. Clearing my throat, I do my best to keep my tears at bay. “I’m sorry I left. I really am. I miss you like hell already. I just—I wish you could be happy for me.”

“I know,” he mumbles over the distant chatter on his line. “I’m sorry, Eleanor. I miss you, too. This is all just really hard for me. I gotta figure things out. I love you. Text me when you get home, okay?”

“Okay,” is all I can seem to mutter. “I will.”

A ripple of laughter escapes on the other end of the line, but I decide not to dwell on it or the conversation that just happened as I hang up the phone.

Sadness weighs on my heart even though I know I should be happy. After all, I’ve finally made it to the city abroad to chase my wildest dreams, but no matter how hard I try to fight back my tears, the stress and tension from today have my composure crumbling. I shove my pillow to my face to muffle my pitiful sobs in hopes that my roommates won’t hear me.

I make sure to get all my pent-up emotions out before finally forcing myself to finish getting dressed. I wipe the residual evidence of my breakdown from my face and slip into a casual black tea dress and a pair of white canvas sneakers. I don’t bother putting on any makeup despite my now puffy eyes, blotchy cheeks, and reddened nose. The last thing I want to do is keep them waiting, so as soon as I’m completely ready, I hurry out of my room and down the hall.

“Sorry to take so long, you guys. I’m all ready now.”

“You call that long?” Harvey smirks. “Evie takes two hours minimum just to do her hair, and there’s barely any on her head.”

I manage a smile as I scan the living room to find Evie, who’s on the main sofa, rolling her eyes. My eyes accidentally settle on Theo sitting beside her, though I only let them linger on him briefly.

“You can’t rush perfection, Harv. It’s a bloody shame we can’t all be this beautiful.” Evie jumps up from the couch, approaching the front door. She must notice the thread of tension connecting her tattooed friend and me because she asks, “So, I see you’ve met Theo?”

“I don’t know if met is the exact word I’d use.”

“She’s quite the roommate you two have found,” Theo says with a look so smug I want to slap it right off of him. “Real… American.”

“You guys didn’t mention you had a housekeeper,” I fire back.

Evie snorts at the subtle dig, but by the way the corners of Theo’s mouth drop, I don’t think he appreciates the jab as much.

“And how does Italian sound?” Harvey interjects, breaking some of the building tension in the room. “There’s this small restaurant we found right across from Tower Bridge . Delicious food and great sights all in one. And they make a mean lasagna.”

My stomach growls at the mere thought of food, so I say, “That sounds perfect. I’m just along for the ride, so whatever you guys want works for me.”

“Let’s get going then. London’s been waiting for you.”

I follow my two new friends and move toward the front door as Theo rises from the couch. I don’t dare glance back, but his presence is like a lingering black cloud behind me, enticing me to acknowledge it.

“How come that mouth of yours couldn’t be that agreeable with me?”

The words send a fierce chill up my spine, and I snap my head back in disbelief. He made sure to say that as soon as the other two were out of earshot.

“Excuse m—”

“You’re going to love the tube, Ellie!” Evie exclaims, cutting me off before I get another word in with Theo.

The city is sparkling tonight, illuminated by the glow of technicolor buildings, signs, and the full moon hanging in the cloudless sky. Evie’s arm is linked with mine, enthusiasm rippling off of her as she points out her favorite shops in the area while Harvey— and it, who shall not be named— lead the way.

Evie and I lose ourselves in a conversation for the next few minutes, but my attention is torn away from our talk as we reach the stairs leading down into the underground train station.

“Bloody crowded down here, isn’t it?” Evie chuckles, noticing my widened eyes. “Just stay close to me.”

I do as she says and remain close, holding her arm as she weaves us through the chaos of the busy train station. If it wasn’t for her, I know I’d be completely lost in the passing flocks of city-goers and the maze of tunneled pathways down here. I nearly lose her after I become entangled in a mass of quick-moving bodies, but she quickly finds me and helps drag me out of the madness.

I’m thankful it’s only a few more strides until we all finally reach the platform.

A blast of hot air hits my skin as a fast-moving train comes to a screeching stop before us. The bottom layer of my dress goes flying, and my hands frantically smooth the black, sheer fabric back down against my thighs.

I glance around to see how many people have noticed my near mishap, but I only find a single pair of eyes watching me.

Theo’s got a slight, satisfied smirk playing across his lips that tells me just how amusing he found my clothing misfortune. My chest heats with irritation.

Embarrassing people must be this asshole’s kink or something.

I huff out an annoyed breath and tear my eyes away from him as a loud beeping blares through the platform. All the train doors slide open upon the commotion, releasing some people from their packed carriages.

We climb aboard and squeeze into the empty spaces left for us as the doors shut, but I’m not prepared for the fast take-off down the tracks. I’m jolted as the train begins speeding down the railway, my feet losing traction against the floor. I reach for something to hold onto to steady myself, but all my hands find are air. I stumble back, nearly falling right onto my ass before a solid force catches my backside.

A strong arm wraps around my waist and pulls me close, stabilizing me.

“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry!” I snap my head back apologetically but find myself utterly horrified to discover who caught me.

Theo unravels his arm from around my waist immediately. He grabs my hand and places it against the yellow handlebar to my right. “They make these for a reason, you know.”

“Yeah, thanks for the tip.” I grit my teeth and grip the cold metal passive-aggressively, leaning as far away from him as the two inches between us will allow.

“You alright, Ellie?” Harvey checks.

“All good,” I say, faking a smile.

“You’re a fucking clumsy little thing, aren’t you?” Theo keeps his deep voice low and quiet. “I hate to break it to you, Nora, but this city is going to eat you alive.”

“Tell me… Do you have a stick stuck up your ass today, or are you always this unpleasant? I think I can handle myself just fine.” For good measure, I add, “Teddy.”

He flinches at the nickname, and I’m thoroughly proud of myself.

“It’s Theo,” he spits back, his gaze growing dark.

“Whatever you say.” I can’t help but enjoy how worked up he’s getting. “ Teddy. ”

The train halts at its next stop, and Theo bolts out onto the platform as soon as the doors swing open.

Harvey quickly follows after him. “Mate! You alright? ”

Evie leads me off the train and nods the way ahead. “Ignore him. He’s just in one of his moods.”

After a bit of walking and weaving our way through the train station, we find and begin our ascent up the stairs leading out onto another busy London street. The fresh air of the city rushes past us, and my eyes widen as they find Tower Bridge emerging ahead of us. I peer around Theo’s tall body far ahead to get a better view of the breathtaking landmark.

Two large, white-stone towers stand at each end of the historic bridge, sparkling with lights and glowing against the dark canvas of the night sky. There’s nothing not to admire about the monument’s gothic–style window panes or the gorgeous designs crafted into its ageless rock. The River Thames ebbs and flows beneath it, and the beauty of the water as it glimmers with the reflection of the famous landmark is remarkable enough to have me completely speechless.

Harvey steps up beside me and drapes a friendly arm around my shoulders. “Well, Ellie, what do you think of London so far?”

I soak in the unbelievable scenery ahead and smile. “I think that I’m going to have a hard time saying goodbye.”

He chuckles. “Then it’s a good thing you have a year until you even have to think about that because you still have so much more to see.”

Muffled voices distract my attention from him and the short-lived euphoria of the night, and when I glance back, I findEvie and Theo talking discreetly in the distance. I feel my frown settling as I watch their tense exchange, though I can’t discern what they say. Evie reaches out to try consoling him, but he draws away from her as if she’s a scalding iron, not allowing her to sway his moody disposition. Theo utters one last comment before storming back to the station we just came from.

Harvey sighs beside me, and I feel the need to apologize. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to ruin everyone’s night.”

“Oh, please. You haven’t ruined anything. Theo’s like that sometimes.”

Evie must hear my apology because as she meets back up with us, she remarks, “Like I told you earlier, he’s just in a mood tonight. Old grumpy arse. ”

Harvey works to change the subject. “You ready for some of that Italian goodness I was warning you about?”

“Absolutely,” I say, attempting to brush off my uncordial introduction to his temperamental friend tonight.

They both usher me into the quaint restaurant, Zitti’s. As we’re led to an empty table inside, I try to focus on the promise of a good meal rather than the torturous voice clanging through my mind.

Theo’s voice.

I think I’m thankful that he left just as unexpectedly as he arrived tonight.