Page 56 of An Unexpected Kind of Love

“Really.” He squeezes my hand.

“It sounds too good to be true.”

“Apparently it’s in your contract you signed, Alice says.”

“You’re right.” Despite the heat, I lean into him. Blake wraps his arms around me. Like this, there’s some hope.

“Thanks for looking into all of this for me.” I give him a kiss, but I can’t shake off my worries, even so. Not entirely.

He frowns. “You still have that look.”

“What look?”

“A stressed look like you’re thinking of fifteen different things all at the same time. What is it?”

“It’s not what you’ve done,” I assure Blake. “That’s brilliant. It’s just…well, I’m behind on the shop’s bills and now the flat too and…all of this might not be enough. I mean, I shouldn’t spend more money on anything, really.”

Blake gives me a kiss. “Listen. The weekend escape is my treat. If you still want to escape with me, that is.”

“Of course I do,” I blurt instantly.

He laughs, looking relieved. “Oh, good.”

“Sorry. It’s just been so much worrying about the shop, you know? I’m behind on a lot and the film’s helping short-term, but I don’t know how I can get out of this hole. Or if I even can, how I won’t end up in the same place six months from now.”

It’s a lot to think about. I’m mad at myself for even thinking about any of this while Blake’s here, just wanting to enjoy the very limited time we have together. Anything beyond this is a dream, no matter how much I want him.

He squeezes me lightly. “I’m very glad you’re telling me. I want to know about you. And help.”

“You’re fantastic, did I tell you that?” I sigh, leaning into him.

Affectionately, he nuzzles me. “All you need to worry about this weekend is relaxing.”

“God, I’m going to miss you.” That tumbles out before I can help it too. That’s the problem with Blake. He’s so disarming I find myself saying all kinds of things I don’t say to anyone, not even Lily.

“I’m not going anywhere yet, gorgeous. Now. Let me spoil you and take you away this weekend, if you’ll let me?”

“’Kay. What did you have in mind?”

“I hear the Lake District’s beautiful. We can grab a rental car and do some hiking. Or hillwalking, as I hear the locals call it. Get a little cottage for a couple of days. What do you think?”

Part of me wants to stress and protest at the cost. The other part of me thrills at being taken care of by Blake, his careful attention. In response, I kiss him. And he kisses me.

Then, we spend the evening making arrangements. Gemma agrees to come help with supervising repairs at the shop. Blake and I scroll through cottages and book one.

It’s wonderful, the idea of having Blake to myself for a few days in a world of our own.

Chapter Fourteen

We fuck right off on Friday morning, as Blake’s filming breaks before their last push before wrapping, all the way up to the Lake District. It’s an expanse of a palette of greens and sweeping skies and brooding clouds over mountains, a respite from the heat island of London and a break finally in the relentless heat wave of the last week.

But first, there’s the getting-there part. We pick up a hire car and we set off on the motorway north, fueled with plenty of vegan snacks and a buffet of crisps by way of cultural introduction. A couple of times I white-knuckle it on theoh shithandle as he gets used to right-hand driving, but luckily he’s a quick study. At any rate, he’s a confident driver, like everything else he does.

We’ve got enough clothes for a couple of nights, along with my dad’s guitar. Knowing my dad, he probably wouldn’t have wanted me sitting around getting too precious about it. Last night, I did my best to condition my old hiking boots, which are more or less in shambles and past ready for retirement. They’re from the days when Eli and I would take off to the South Downs or further afield for a change of scene. From the times I would stomp through tall grasses for the perfect shot or during frosty mornings or with fog rolling through broad pastures.

We have a holiday cottage, a private getaway as promised. Blake at least lets me pay for petrol and the snack buffet. To compensate, there’s also plenty of veggie crisps, dried seeds, mixed nuts, and wasabi peas that I picked up from the organic grocer’s while Blake picked up the car. We stop to collect the keys to our cottage after hours cooped up in the car.

When we pull into the gravel lot by the low stone cottage, the afternoon threatens rain. It’s a relief after the scorching few days. Out here, I feel like I can finally draw in a deep breath, even with the adrenaline of this rural idyllic escape with Blake. It’s uncharted territory, just him and me, away from film sets and damaged bookshops, and the ghosts that chase me.

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