Page 77 of Meet Me at the Metro

He laughs, “What?”

“That you look forward to seeing a clumsy-arse American.”

He grins roguishly. “I’ve always looked forward to it. I just never admitted it until now. Come. I’ll beg on my knees if you want me to.”

“Oh, I want to see that,” I giggle—he immediately falls to his knees.

He rests his chin against my lower stomach and pouts his bottom lip up at me. “Please, Nora.”

“Get up!” I laugh.

“Not until you say yes. Please,” he begs, gripping my waist and tickling my sides until I’m breathless.“Please, Nora!”

“Okay! Fine!Fine!I’ll come!”

“Promise?!”

“I promise!”I cackle.“Stop!”

“Okay,” he smirks, rising to his feet. “Get some sleep, alright? If you text me when you wake up, I can come and walk you over.”

“Is your boss going to like that?”

“Fuck what he likes.” Theo pushes in the code to the flat’s entrance and kicks the door open for me. “I don’t want you walking over alone. Now, go get some sleep, you clumsy-arse American.”

“Whatever,” I scoff, ascending the steps. At the top, I turn and give him one last, final look. “Grumpy–ass Brit.”

The smell of bacon and a buzzing against my nightstand wakes me from a deep sleep. I breathe in the savory scent as I stretch my limbs out beneath my covers and relieve my muscles of the tension of the last three weeks.

With the demanding schedule of my classes, the possibility of running into John again on campus, and the predicament I’ve found myself in with Connor, I’ve barely had time to take a moment for myself. So, I grant myself a few long, quiet, and tranquil minutes, laying limp against my mattress before conjuring up the strength to roll over and grab my phone.

Morning, Miss Nora.

I smile like a simpering idiot at those three words and type back a reply.

Morning, Mr. Teddy.

In the mood for more mediocre food and stale beer?

Surprisingly, yes, lol, but I can’t today… first day of my new class, remember?

Ah, right. We could meet up after your night class? I’m planning to head to campus after my shift.

Practicing again?

Always. Music room? 9:00 P.M.?

I think I can squeeze it in.

Good. Because I really need you to help me remedy some of these withdrawal symptoms…

HA. Withdrawals???

Yeah, it’s been too long since I’ve seen my clumsy-arse American.

My heart shouldn’t skip the way it does as I read that message. When I first met Theo, I never once thought I’d be lying in my bed, receiving texts from him like this—ones that make my stomach swirl and face hurt from grinning so damn hard. More so, I never thought I’d even give this man my damn number, but yet here I am, finding myself pleasantly enjoying this new dynamic between us.

“Ellie!”Evie screams from down the hall. “Wake your lazy arse up and come eat some breakfast!”

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