Page 105 of The Bad Wedding Date

“That sounds like a lot of work for you,” I whispered.

A small huff of laughter escaped him before he let me go and opened his eyes to see me. “It would be worth it.”You’re worth it,he may as well have said.

“Be safe,” I told him, my thoughts a jumbled mess, emotions rising.

“You, too.”

“I’ll try.”

“Do better than try, Charlotte. I’m trusting you with your own life.”

I half-smiled at him, holding back the affectionate eye roll I wanted to set free. I’d heard so much more than what he said in those few words.

Fraser cared, and I wasn’t sure what I’d done to deserve it.

“Sure thing,” I told him.

Fraser opened his mouth to say something, then clearly thought better of it when he pressed his lips together, shook his head and laughed silently to himself. With nothing more than a parting wink, he left my apartment, taking all the warmth with him, leaving me cold once again.

It was there and then that I realised how much I hated the cold.

* * *

I didn’t hear from him through the night, and I hadn’t heard from him the following morning, either. I’d sent him a string of nonchalant texts, not wanting to bethatperson in his life, but also wanting to let him know that I cared, too. It wasn’t a one-way thing.

Me: I hope you’re being sensible and safe out there in the big bad world.

Me: I hope your mum is okay. I should have said that first.

Me: I also hope you’re catching up on some sleep. I probably shouldn’t be even texting you in case you are. Just… let me know your world isn’t falling apart. That’s all I ask.

These were the things we needed teaching as young adults. How to show someone you’re thinking about them constantly without scaring them into thinking you’re about to turn into Joe Goldberg at any given second.

Staying at home in the apartment proved too much for me when it reached the early afternoon of Sunday. Fraser had only been in my space a couple of times, and already I saw him everywhere. I smelt his aftershave on my pillows. His masculine scent on my sheets. I saw his smile from my sofa. I saw the look he gave me by my front door. Even the familiar fragrances floating upstairs from the florist held a hint of Fraser Scott in them, as though he’d made everything around me fall in love with him, too.

Wait…

Fall in love?

Too fast, Charlotte. Too fast. Too soon. Too much.

Love doesn’t exist. It’s a business transaction. Remember that.

It had to be infatuation. That was it.

Damn it, I needed air.

Actually, what I really needed was him naked and towering over my body, driving his dick inside me while his eyes locked on mine, and he made those unbelievably sexy, quiet grunts that made his lips part, and his breaths pour free while he fucked me.

I supposed air would do for now.

Grabbing my bag, I locked my apartment up and headed out into London, dressed in my light blue jeans and a basic white T-shirt and my white trainers. I dragged my hair up into a messy ponytail as I walked down the streets, throwing my earphones in place as I scrolled through Spotify and hit shuffle on a random playlist.

Taylor Swift’sYou Are in Lovepoured into my ears, eliciting a small smile I struggled to tame when the thought of being in love burned my soul.

Ridiculous,I thought, shaking my head at the possibility.

Still, I mouthed along to Taylor’s lyrics when I crossed the road and headed towards the independent coffee shop I loved so much. After ordering my usual caramel latte to go, I carried on walking aimlessly, seeing London from a different perspective—Fraser’s perspective.

---