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I add the kiss and send it before I think better of it. Oh well. I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve, and I’d rather be myself.
I should go to bed, but I feel discombobulated and decide to make myself a cup of tea first. I go to get up, and then to my surprise my phone vibrates, announcing a text. It’s from Titus.
Him:Hey, glad you’re okay. Would you mind if I called you now? No worries if you’re off to bed though.
Me:Sure, I’m just having a cuppa.
I flick on the kettle, trying to calm my breathing. No doubt he just wants to make sure I’m okay. Damn Huxley for telling him about Jason. Even from the other side of the world, my family still manages to make me feel like the baby sister.
My phone vibrates again, and I answer the call and put it to my ear. “Hello?”
“Hey,” he says. “Hope you don’t mind me calling.”
“No, of course not. Look, I’m so sorry for not getting back to you.”
“It’s okay.” There’s a strange noise in the background. It sounds like cars. I know his room has a garden terrace, but the traffic sounds more like a motorway.
“Where are you?” I ask curiously. “In your hotel room?”
“Ah, no. Actually I’m on the outskirts of Exeter, in the service station.”
My eyes widen. “What?”
“I was worried about you. I was going to come to your house and make sure you were okay. I settled up here and hired a car. But when I got to Exeter, I realized you’d probably be in bed, and the last thing you’d want after an argument with your ex is a stranger turning up at your door. I decided to get a motel room, but they’re fully booked. So I thought I’d crash in the car and then call you in the morning.”
My jaw drops as I think over what he’s said. Then something strikes me. “Wait, how did you know I’d had an argument with my ex?”
He doesn’t reply for a moment. Then he says, “I have an admission to make. You didn’t completely close your laptop lid, and it didn’t end the Zoom call.”
I cover my mouth with a hand. “You heard the whole thing?”
“Uh, yeah. I know I shouldn’t have listened. I was going to hang up, but then I heard him come into your house, and I was really worried about you. Shit. I’m so incredibly sorry. Now I sound like a fucking stalker. Look, just forget I even exist, okay?”
“Titus,” I say softly, “it’s okay. I’m touched that you were concerned. I know that Oliver must have told you all about my breakup.”
“Only that your ex has been harassing you. And I’d never have forgiven myself if something had happened to you. I was close to calling the police when you threw him out.”
“Look,” I say, “do you know where I live?”
“Yeah, Huxley gave me your address.”
“Why don’t you come here? It’s only about fifteen minutes from Exeter. I’ve got a spare room, and I make a mean cooked breakfast. You’d be better off staying here than sleeping in your car, anyway. Tomorrow we’ll find you a hotel.”
“Heidi, I couldn’t do that after the night you’ve had.”
“I’m fine. Honestly, it wasn’t all about tonight. I hadn’t really processed the breakup, and I’ve been in denial about his harassment. It just all came crashing down on me. I’m okay now. I mean I have panda eyes, but I’m all right. I won’t go weepy on you.”
“Ah, I wouldn’t mind. But you don’t want a stranger in your home.”
“Christ, you’re not a stranger. I’ve known you for eight years. You’re one of Oliver’s best mates. Evie and Chrissie had nothing but good things to say about you this morning.” I smile. “I can’t believe you left your posh hotel for me, that’s so sweet. You should know that my house is incredibly small, not what you’re used to at all.”
“Well, size isn’t everything.”
“I don’t know about that,” I say mischievously. “I’ve heard the rumors about you.”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I can’t believe I’ve said them. God, what is it with this man? Why does my brain refuse to function when he’s around?
But he just gives a deep, sexy chuckle. “Glad to hear my fame is spreading,” he teases. “All right, I’ll head off now. You reckon about fifteen minutes?”
