Page 9 of Meet Me at the Metro

“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 findTower Bridgeemerging 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 thinkI’m thankful that he left just as unexpectedly as he arrived tonight.

4

PIANO KEYS

E L L I E

Rays of sunlight stream their way through the sheer curtains of my bedroom window. Their warmth spreads against my face, waking me and forcing my heavy eyelids open. I groan as I stretch out my tight and sore limbs beneath my covers, the exhaustion from yesterday’s travels still lingering in my system.

My new roommates and I didn’t return to the flat until well after midnight last night. We were too consumed in acquainting ourselves with one another and stuffing our stomachs full of pasta and breadsticks to persuade ourselves to leave.

And, of course, with dinner came entertainment.

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