Page 81 of The Wake-Up Call

“What are you, five?” he says, eyes locking on to mine.

“It’ll be fun.”

“This is serious. All of this. I’m not looking forfun.”

His tone has shifted; his eyes are dark. I swallow, looking away, conscious of Mrs. SB standing on the other side of the desk. We’ve been like this all day, Lucas and I—even when we’re bickering like normal, there’s an undercurrent there, the reality of the night ahead never far away. Every time I remember what we’re planning to do this evening, my stomach dips like I’m on a plane that’s just hit turbulence. Teasing him has been an easy way to feel in control, but the truth is, I have no idea what’ll happen the moment the clock strikes five.

“I do know that the situation is serious, OK? I’m aware of the stakes,” I say, keeping my voice light. “But Mrs. SB is right. We work better with a bit of competition.” I pull out one of the waiting lost-property boxes—I need something to do with my hands. “I think a bet really would be best for the hotel.”

“And you feel the same?” Lucas asks Mrs. SB.

“Oh, entirely,” says Mrs. SB.

Lucas sighs. “Fine,” he says. “I will enjoy seeing you in those elf boots, Izzy.”

That undercurrent again. That edge to his voice, even now, when we’re talking about bloody elf costumes.

“I’m not losing this one,” I say. “Also, I would rock those boots, and you know it.”

Lucas’s eyes flick over me.

Mrs. SB chortles, drumming her hands on the desk for a moment. “Excellent,” she says. “Excellent!”

Lucas’s face remains implacable. I imagine him in that elf costume, and discover, quite disturbingly, that Lucas da Silva can make literallyanythingsexy.

•••••

Finally, finally, the Bartholomew clock strikes five.

Lucas stops typing instantly. He turns his head to look at me. After a day of teasing Lucas at every opportunity, I have a feeling I’m about to get my comeuppance.

“I’ll drive,” he says, picking up his bag and heading for the door.

I scramble to catch him up, wriggling into my rucksack straps as I step outside.

“You’re not driving me,” I call, and he slows slightly, not turning around as he crosses the gravel towards the car park.

“Ah. You’re seeing Louis tonight instead,” he says.

“What? No. No.” I’ve caught him up now. “How do you even know Louis wanted to hang out tonight?”

I only remembered my plans with Louis this morning. I messaged him earlier to cancel, to which he replied,Tomorrow night instead?

His persistence is admirable, if slightly exasperating.

“He told me.” Lucas glances at me, eyes dark. “In detail.”

“I rescheduled him to tomorrow, since we have... plans tonight. I just meant you can’t drive me because I’m not staying over at your place,” I say. “Afterwards. I can’t just leave Smartie here.”

He looks at me properly now. I shiver. I’m excited, nervous, thrilled, and a little bit disbelieving, because thatafterwardsI’m talking about seems like a world I just cannot imagine. What will it be like, seeing him naked? Touching him? Letting him touch me?

“Ah, yes,” Lucas says slowly. Almost a drawl. “That was one ofyour rules.” He reaches into his pocket for his car keys and begins to walk again. “I will pick you up at your flat and drive you in tomorrow morning.”

He climbs into the driver’s seat, throwing his satchel into the back. I hesitate, glancing towards Smartie.

“Let’s just go in two cars,” I say.

“That is ridiculous.”

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