Page 92 of The Long Way Home

Bridget waves her hand towards Henry. “Live with him.”

“No, thank you,” Henry says with a polite smile and I frown at him.

“We’ll be circling back to that later—” I eye him and he grimaces, before I cross my arms over my chest and glare at my sister impatiently. “Don’t be such a big loser. You can’t live here forever.”

(Henry leans in towards me and whispers, “That’s not what we practiced.”)

I breathe out annoyed but flash the room a demure smile before trying again.

“Just a quick hop and skip over to the best grocery store in London.”

“You don’t hop or skip,” Marsaili tells me and I ignore her.

“A casual 10 minute dander to F&M.”

Bridget stares at me. “That is not a grocery store.”

I clear my throat. “I believe you will find it is technically and literally a grocery store.”

“Who shops there for groceries?”

“Me.”

“You don’t know how to cook,” Henry chimes in. I flash him a look before looking over at my sister.

“Queen Charlotte then.”

Bridget blinks. “As in… House of Mecklenburg.”

“Mmhm.” I give her a tall glance.

Bridget flicks me a look. “You going to double down with that? Hitch your star to that wagon?”

“It’s in Mayfair.,” Henry jumps in. “Great ceilings, very light — your room has a study nook, Bridge.”

“Mayfair.” Her eyes pinch. “Interesting.”

“Not interesting,” I tell her, nose in the air.

“Oh.” She nods. “You mean right around the corner from the man you love?”

“Paul Walker is dead, Bridget.” I put my hands on my hips. “And I would appreciate it if you would let the memory of the man I love rest in peace.”

(“He was so hot.” Bridget nods appreciatively. “So hot.” I nod back, looking at Henry for him to also affirm Paul’s hotness but he doesn’t.)

Bridget crosses her arms over her chest. “Where on Mayfair, then?”

“Not even Mayfair really — like technically, yes, Mayfair — but literally speaking, it’s more Grosvenor Square.” I give her a defiant look.

(“Which is in Mayfair,” Henry whispers to me and I shush him.)

“Where exactly?” Bridget breathes out through her nose.

“Upper Grosvenor. Park Street end.” I give her a hopeful grin.

I look back up at everyone else in the room.

“So if everyone here wouldn’t mind clearing their schedules for the next 168 hours, that would be fantastic.”

They all laugh like I’m joking.

I lean over to Bridget.

“Will you come?” I give her a big smile. “You, me and Taura. It’ll be a blast.”

She rolls her eyes, pretending to be reluctant about it.

“Fine.”