Page 62 of The Weekend Getaway

“I don’t think it will come to that.”

“Why? What’s the plan?”

“We have four weeks together before I leave, then I guess we’ll do long distance for a while. I’m hoping that eventually she’ll move to St Mary’s.”

“Has she agreed to that plan?”

“Not in so many words but she loved it on the island. She seemed totally at home.”

“Enjoying a weekend away with a guy you barely know and deciding to uproot your entire life for him are two very different things.”

“We don’tbarely knoweach other,” Noah argued forcefully. They might not have known each other long, but he was quickly feeling as though he’d known her forever.

The decision about whether or not to call her became very clear. If he only had four weeks to make sure she felt the same, he didn’t have any time to waste.

* * *

Almost from the moment she’d got home, Keira had been pacing the flat. It seemed to take forever for Mel to get home from work, and when she did, Keira went into the hallway to greet her with a hug.

“I can’t believe the photos!” Mel said, squeezing Keira tightly. “That one with you and the seal is adorable.”

“The seals were amazing. They came right up to me.”

After kicking her shoes off, Mel playfully pinched Keira’s cheek. “Look at your stupid smile! You had the best time, didn’t you?”

“Yes.” She couldn’t stop beaming as they wandered into the living room and sat together on the couch. “It just went too fast. I didn’t want to come home.”

“Tell me everything! I want to know all about Noah’s family and the stupid cow of a best friend. What’s her name?”

“Seren. She’s nice!”

“Her lending you clothes was all a ploy, you know? She was only being nice to look good in front of Noah.”

“That’s not true.” Keira smiled at Mel’s fierce expression. “I genuinely think their relationship is platonic. It is possible for heterosexual men and women to just be friends.”

“I’m not buying it.”

“When Noah was being distant with me, Seren even gave me advice. I really don’t think she wants him for herself.”

“If you say so. It seems suspicious to me. What else did you do while you were there?”

She filled her in on the boat race and their trip to Tresco. At some point they migrated to the kitchen and moved in perfect synchrony to make dinner. As they ate, the conversation moved from Keira to Mel, and she heard all about her weekend with various friends.

“Are you expecting a call?” Mel asked, catching Keira checking her phone at regular intervals.

“Do you think it would be too soon for me to message Noah? I was thinking of a casual message thanking him for the weekend …”

Mel propped her chin on her hands, her eyes sparkling with delight. “You’ve got it bad, haven’t you?”

“I think it would be courteous to thank him, that’s all.”

“Yeah right … what you actually mean is you’ve not seen him for half a day and you’re having withdrawal symptoms.”

“It hasn’t even been half a day,” Keira said. “Three hours. I’m pathetic, aren’t I?”

“Yeah. But I like Noah, so I approve of you being pathetic over him.”

“I spent the whole weekend with him. Usually there’s only you who I can cope with for that long.” Keira pushed her plate away and dragged her hands through her hair. “Is it too clingy if I message him this evening?”