Page 183 of Meet Me at the Metro

Staring down at the open suitcase against my bed, I consider all my options—consider the final decision I’ve made. The steady hum of the city floods through the open window of my bedroom as my fingers graze the edge of the wide luggage. They travel along the overflowing stacks of clothes inside, pausing when they land on a sapphire blue dress folded neatly on top.

I smile as my fingertips pass over its silky fabric, reminiscing on the memory—person—attached to it. I replay the feeling of his hands on me, carrying me up the stairs to the flat. I remember how his eyes drank me in that night and all the longing in his startling gray-blue gaze. I recall how my body tingled every time he was in my proximity...

Theo is branded on me, a lingering mark I’d never be able to blot away so long as I intend to hold onto the most content moments of my life.

A soft, tentative knock on my door conjures my attention. I glance back, finding Connor standing in the doorway.

“Hey.”His brown eyes nervously dart to the floor, refusing to linger on mine. He runs a hand through his dark hair, leaving wild, messy tufts behind.

“Hey.”

“I just—I,umm—wanted to see if you need any help packing,” he offers.

“I’m actually just finishing up,” I say, turning to fold my suitcase closed and zipping it shut.

I begin to lift it off the mattress when Connor appears at my side. He draws it from my hands, hefts it up, and carries it to the door for me.

“Bloody hell,” he grunts, setting it down on its four wheels. “What did you stuff inside of this thing?”

“My room,” I retort, shoving him. Connor lets out a soft chuckle that makes the weight in my chest grow lighter.

It’s a relief to see him smile. It felt like a rare occurrence these days, and its frequent absence had me constantly worrying about him. I longed for the person he wasbeforethat night—the friend he allowed himself to bebeforehe found out about his Mom’s betrayal. I couldn’t imagine how much he was hurting—couldn’t imagine how broken his trust was—but I prayed that the Connorbeforewould return. I prayed he’d find healing from all of this.

I prayed that we all would.

Falling into silence, we glance around the empty room, the walls now bare and vacant of the playbills and posters I used to have hung against them. It was his space to decorate now.

“You going to be okay here?”

Connor swallows and gives me a waned smile. “I’ll be fine.”

“You know I’ll always be here for you,” I tell him softly. “I’m just a phone call away if you ever want to talkor—”

“I know.”

My friend’s newly built walls wedge between us, settling in the silence that follows his terse response. I sigh, “I’m worried about you, Conn.”

He finally dares to look me in the eyes again, and I can’t help but notice how tired his own look. It was impossible not to see how much light they’d lost in just a matter of months. Connor draws me into his arms, embracing me tightly as though my concern is a welcome consolation.

“Don’t be. I’ll be okay.”

“Especially now that he’ll have me around!” Evie exclaims, rushing through the open door. She flings herself back onto my old mattress, stretching out her short limbs.

I don’t miss the way Connor’s eyes briefly watch her.

She rolls onto her side, hitching herself up against her elbow as she taunts, “I’ll be the best roomie you’ve ever dreamed of.”

“The loudest roomie I’ve ever dreamed of,” he corrects. He crosses the room, plucks her off the bed, and drags her back into the hallway. “Going to have to invest in a sign for my door that saysNo Evie’s Allowed.”

“Now, that’s just bloody hateful,” she pouts, feigning offense. Her bare feet stomp toward the kitchen, shoulders shrugging as she quips, “Guess it’s a good thing I don’t like following the rules, bitch boy.”

Connor shakes his head and bites back a smile.

“Yousureyou’ll be okay?”

“Yes,” Connor assures, huffing a laugh. “Harvey can just play referee between the two of us.”

On cue at the mention of his name, Harvey shouts down the hall, “Ellie! Your taxi’s here!”

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