Page 66 of The Plot Twist

‘Said she wouldn’t be able to take me home to meet her parents,’ he began laughing, ‘and she liked it even less when I said I wasn’t sure I wanted to meet her parents, shirtless or at all. Sorry,’ he said, grinning at Allie, ‘I’m not sure why I’m telling you all my messed-up baggage.’

Allie squinted at him. ‘I don’t think it’s messed up baggage. I guess we’re all a product of everything that’s happened to us up until this point in time. I’m kind of impressed that you have this level of self-awareness. Can’t say that many men I’ve dated do.’

‘Ah, so we’re going to take a turn through your romantic history then?’

Allie shook her head firmly. ‘Nope, you already know everything you need to know about Disappointing Dominic. So, it’s back to you, I’m afraid.’

‘OK.’ Will put his head back on the headboard, ‘well, if you really want to know why I don’t like to talk about my company so much…’ He turned his head and looked her straight in the eye. ‘I’m not crazy about the fact that a lot of my work recently has been catering for publishing events.’ He sighed. ‘Given who my dad is, I didn’t want anyone to think I was only getting the gigs because I’m some kind of nepo baby.’

Allie smothered a laugh. ‘That’s it? You really think people would think that?’

‘Wouldn’t you?’ he asked.

‘No! I’d just think it was amazing that you had set up a company and seemed to be making it a success. And doing something you loved too.’ She bit her lip. ‘I guess I was just confused as to why it wasn’t a part of your life you wanted to share with me.’

Will looked distressed. ‘That wasn’t at all my intention. To be honest, I didn’t tell you at the start, and then … well, then it just became a thing and I was planning to tell you when I got back from York.’ He paused, ‘no more secrets?’

Allie nodded and crossed her fingers behind her back, and then listened as Will explained that his business partner, Matt, the one who ran the restaurant side of the business, was keen to leave London and had started putting plans in place to do so. Matt and his wife had been married five years, they had a two-year-old little boy and another one on the way and currently lived in what could generously be described as a one-and-a-half bed flat in Pimlico but was actually a one-bed with a large cupboard. Matt’s wife was from York originally and with baby number two on the way was desperate to move back there and be closer to her family, and in a house where her children didn’t have to sleep in a glorified cupboard.

‘He’s fixed on setting up a new restaurant there himself while he trains someone in the day-to-day running of our place here.’

‘And you’ve found somewhere you think might work?’ she asked.

‘We saw one which would be amazing, if we can afford it. It’s right on the river in the centre of York. It’s already a restaurant so has some of the set-up we need, and the owners are keen to sell. But it needs investment so there’s a lot to think about.’

‘You think you’ll go for it?’

‘Looks like it. Loads of paperwork to sign and stuff to sort out but Matt seems happy with it all.’ Will paused and raised his eyebrow. ‘So, do you fancy a few weekends in York while we set up? I mean, now that you know all of my secrets.’

Allie squinted at Will, not being able to tell if he was joking or not. She had thought he was keeping things from her, keeping her at arm’s length just as she had planned to do with him. But she was failing at that and she knew it; she really liked him, and it seemed he really liked her, not just because he was now suggesting city mini breaks together, but because of all the tiny things he did each and every time he saw her. The way he reached for her unselfconsciously, the way he wanted to be close to her wherever they were. He didn’t play games. He asked to see her, he showed up, he made her feel wanted. Like, really wanted. She thought back to last night and felt a blush creep up her chest. But while Will didn’t complicate their situationship, she did, and she wasn’t sure how his feelings might change when she appraised him of that complication.

‘So what do you think? Have you been to York before?’

Allie shook her head, and took a deep breath. ‘Will?’

He looked up sharply, sensing the shift of tone in her voice.

‘Erm, we need to talk.’

‘About last night? About my dad?’

Allie nodded. She had meant to tell him last night, she really had. But when he had texted her and asked her if she was still out and could they meet up, she had diverted the cab to take her to Will’s flat. And then one thing led to another and it seemed a bit rude to break the spell by suddenly revealing her secret to him and so instead of grasping the nettle and all that she had grasped something else entirely…

Will groaned and pushed his dark hair out of his eyes. ‘I’m so sorry, it was really awkward, wasn’t it?’

Allie blinked at him. ‘What areyousorry for?’

Will shrugged. ‘I’m not sure I handled it very well and I think I could have made it a less awkward experience for you, meeting my dad I mean, asmydad.’

Allie felt a rush of desire for this dreamy man who seemed so concerned to do the right thing by her, which was quickly followed by a sinking feeling when she realised that she really hadn’t done the right thing by him at all.

‘Is this going to be too weird for you?’ Allie gave a small shake of her head, ‘I know how important you’ve become to him, even though I didn’t know it wasyou.But at the same time, I really, really don’t wantthisto end.’ He pointed at Allie and then back to himself again. Allie desperately wanted to reassure him that she didn’t want it to end either.

‘It’s so funny,’ he continued, ‘I knew he was writing again and I knew he had this writing mentor who he was meeting with regularly, but he refused to tell me much about them.’ He laughed. ‘To be honest, I pictured some grizzled old English professor, or at least someone more like his original editor, decked entirely in tweed.’

‘You mean like your dad?’

‘Hey!’ he protested. ‘Not fair. I’ve managed to whittle his tweed-wearing down to just the occasional jacket now.’

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