Page 44 of Scripted for Love and Poison (Sol and Luke Mystery #2)
“ Do we have everything?” Luke asked her when they got inside the car so Divya could drive them to the airport.
“We finally have everything,” Sol said. Her suitcase had been delivered to their hotel twenty minutes before checking out and heading to LAX.
“You excited to go home?” Sol asked him.
“You have no idea,” Luke said enthusiastically, and both Divya and Sol laughed.
“Believe me, mate, we know .”
“I may have been getting used to everyone finding my accent irresistible here, though,” Luke joked. “I’ll miss that.”
Sol rolled her eyes. “Please, as if people don’t find you irresistible in London!”
“Exactly,” Divya agreed. “Sol knows what she’s talking about.”
“And are you sure you’ll be fine here ?” Luke asked Divya for the umpteenth time, ignoring her jest.
“Moon gets here tonight. And for today, I have a full day of activities that Sol helped me plan,” Divya dismissed him .
“She’s going to Gold’s Gym for a workout session, and she’ll drive on Mulholland Drive,” Sol said.
“Sweating and driving,” Luke replied. “Very LA.”
“That was the intention. And I’ll be back in London in a couple of days, so you won’t even have time to miss me,” Divya continued, and it sounded like a promise.
“I’m sure I’ll still miss you,” Luke said. “But please be back. We’ve been getting calls nonstop for new cases, and it looks like we’re going to be busy.”
Divya dropped them off at the airport half an hour after that. She hugged Luke and Sol goodbye, then went on her way.
“She’ll be fine,” Sol told Luke, who was still eyeing Divya’s car driving away from the departures level of LAX.
“That’s what I’m worried about,” he joked.
“Okay, London Guy, let’s go home,” Sol said, holding his hand while they walked inside the terminal.
“Now that you mention home, we never discussed what the living arrangements are going to be,” Luke said as they lined up to check in Sol’s newfound suitcase. “And you know this proposal of yours means you’re stuck with me for the foreseeable future when it comes to Christmas.”
“I’m perfectly aware and looking forward to it.” She was.
“So, living arrangements?”
“I’m willing to look for a place together North of the Thames if you want,” Sol said, turning to look at his chestnut eyes. “Or you can come to Roupell Street.”
“Your place,” Luke said, tentatively.
“Let’s make it our place,” Sol said.
“The idea of house hunting in London sounds as attractive as getting my teeth pulled,” Luke admitted.
“Or getting a thousand paper cuts,” Sol agreed. “So our place at Roupell Street? ”
“I’m going to pay you rent,” Luke said.
“The house is paid for. There’s no rent. We can share the other expenses, but it’s good to save a bit, no?”
“You know I’ve been a bit tight on money?”
“You told me! So yes. I know how to pay attention and listen too. I’ll admit that half of the time, I’m completely and utterly clueless. But I care about you, Luca. No, I love you. So yes, I pay attention when it comes to you. Probably only when it comes to you, really.”
“In the last couple of weeks, you’ve managed to make me enjoy being in Los Angeles, and now I’m agreeing to live South of the Thames.” Luke sighed. “Sol Novo, I hope you realize I’m a changed man.”
“Oh, I know that I got an upgrade,” she said, teasing.
He grinned, arrogantly. “There wasn’t much to be upgraded.”
“I’m perfectly aware,” she conceded. “Still got the upgrade.”
“Next please. Miss,” the airline employee called Sol as she and Luke were at the beginning of the check-in line.
“Miss, really?” Sol protested. “I’m forty-three!”
···
“You got us upgraded to first class?” Luke asked her suspiciously while they boarded their London Heathrow–bound plane.
“I have lots of miles,” she explained. “It was easy, and we’ll be more comfortable.”
“You mean you’ll be able to sleep even more?” he asked.
“With a little bit of luck ...” Sol said. “You should try and get some rest too.”
“It’s barely afternoon!” he complained .
“Believe it or not, your body needs to get back to London time,” Sol said. “Should we negotiate flight interactions now?”
“Meaning?” Luke said, not knowing what she was referring to.
“I packed a vampire novel by Ali Hazelwood that’s going to keep me entertained. And I’m going to try to sleep as much as possible because, if not, flights get unbearably long, and I don’t know what to do with myself.”
Luke arched his eyebrows. “I thought you liked flying!”
“What? Of course I don’t like flying! It’s cramped. It’s smelly. You get stranded in random cities you’d not be able to place on a map. Or worse, they lose your bag!” Sol scoffed. “I love traveling, normally, once the flying portion of it is over .”
“And if you’re not kicked out of the hotel,” Luke continued.
“You get me.” She smiled. “So, want me to not be completely isolated all the time that I’m awake this time? I’m sorry if I wasn’t much company on our way here. It’s been ages since I traveled with someone I like.”
“I’d be up to watch Anyone but You simultaneously,” Luke said.
“Rom-com, eh?” Sol said, raising an eyebrow.
“You know I like romance when we’re traveling together.”
Someone behind them let out a dramatic sigh. “Most tiresome awards season ever.” When they turned, they saw filmmaker Greta Gerwig seated in the row behind them, deeply engaged in a phone conversation.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Sol said, giving Luke a sidelong glance as she shifted toward him. “But we managed to make the most of it, no?”
Thank you for reading Scripted for Love and Poison .
Moltes gràcies!