Page 103 of Love At First Fright
Her friend held up her hands in surrender. “Kidding. It will help you see the good in things, to take a balanced approach. I thought it might help with the viewings.”
Rosemary took a sip. Sweet and floral.
“Thank you.”
“I’m sorry I can’t come with you to the viewing, it’s our monthly dinner with Scott’s mums and my parents.”
“You’re both adorable. I’ll see you this weekend.”
“You might be busy,” Dina said, that sheepish expression back on her face.
“What are you plotting, woman?” Rosemary raised an eyebrow.
“Nothing, nothing.” Dina waved her hand and kissed Rosemary on the cheek. “Bye, habiba.”
Rosemary used the tea to her advantage, after Dina left, and did some more apartment hunting online. Once she found somewhere, she could arrange to have all her stuff brought over from the storage place in New York. Until then, she was stuck in a rather boring Airbnb.
The doorbell rang. It was too soon for Immy to be coming over, they didn’t need to head off for the viewing until later today. Maybe Dina had forgotten something?
She opened the door. Ellis stood there, on her doorstep.
Rosemary’s heart jumped to her throat, leaving her utterly speechless. He was as handsome as ever, taking up the entire doorway with his broad shoulders, a green knitted sweater pulled over his unfairly muscular chest. She sank into his gaze far too easily, drinking him in, taking in the new dark circles under his eyes and the silver hair that had started to spread from his temples. Her body betrayed her, wanting to sink into his embrace, wanting to inhale his woody soap scent.
“Hi, love,” he said, his voice cracking. “Can I come in?”
She couldn’t speak, but nodded shakily. Before she had time to process, he was inside, the door was shut, and he was right in front of her in the dim hallway.
Bee had come to investigate and was meowing at Ellis’s feet and headbutting his calf. He picked her up and cradled the tiny cat in his arms.
“This is Bee?” Ellis asked.
“Yeah. How are you here, Ellis?”
He put the cat down. “Dina and Immy told me where you were. I didn’t message because you told me not to, but I really needed to speak to you. Please let me just say what I need to say and if you still want me to leave afterwards, I’ll go.”
The rawness in his voice cut her deep. Ellis stepped closer, and Rosemary’s traitorous heart was thumping its way out of her chest. How had she thought, even for a second, that she would ever have fallen out of love with Ellis Finch?
“What did you want to say?”
She might love him, but the anger still bit at her. Some of it—alright, a lot of it—was aimed at herself, but it bit all the same.
He walked ahead into the small living area of the apartment, kitchen and dining room and sofa all in one cramped space.
“I didn’t think I’d get this far,” he joked, but it was hollow. Ellis stood in front of the window, and turned back to her. She wished she’d put on something else to wear instead of her moth-eaten university sweater and a pair of old cosy leggings. An outfit that would have made her look more put together.
“You moved to London,” he said.
“I was always happier here,” she admitted.With you,her heart whispered.
Outside, the clouds that had been threatening to storm all morning finally gave in, and a heavy sheet of rain began hammering at the windows.
“This reminds me of that time I found you crawling through the window at the Gatehouse,” Ellis said.
They looked at each other for a long time.
“I’m sorry. Forgive me.” They both blurted out at the same time.
Ellis shook his head and smiled. “Please, let me apologise.” His hands gripped the back of a kitchen chair.
