I tilted my head up as he looked down, our eyes meeting. ‘That wasn’t what I meant,’ he said, raising his palms towards me.
‘No. I know.’ What I didn’t know was why I’d felt a stab of disappointment when he’d confirmed it. ‘Look, why don’t you just go back inside. I’m going to get a taxi and go home.’
‘I’ve no inclination to go back in there and be, in your words, a third wheel.’
‘Somehow I think you’d get your own wheel before too long.’
Finn gave me a patient look then curled his lips and let loose an ear-piercing whistle. A black cab cruising further up the street clicked off its light and pulled in to the kerb beside us. Finn opened the door for me and I gave the driver instructions, my voice faltering as I noticed Finn entering the cab behind me, closing the door after him. We pulled back out into the road and joined the traffic.
‘I’m seeing you home, before you ask.’
‘I don’t need seeing home. I’m quite capable of finding it by myself.’
‘I know but I’d feel better knowing you got to your door safely.’ He held up his hands. ‘That’s all. No ulterior motive, I promise.’
‘Actually, that hadn’t crossed my mind.’
He nodded in acceptance of this and then looked out of the window.
‘I suppose the Christmas lights will start to go up soon.’
I gave an eye roll. ‘Yes, I suspect they will. By the time it finally arrives, you’re absolutely sick of Christmas, it’s been dragged out for so long.’
Finn turned his focus on me. ‘You don’t like Christmas?’
I shrugged. ‘It’s just another day, really, isn’t it?’
‘No. Not really. Not to me anyway.’
‘Oh.’ For some reason this surprised me. I couldn’t equate Finn’s tidy mind – and apartment – with what I’d always associated as the messiness of Christmas.
‘Do you not celebrate it due to religious beliefs?’
‘Not at all. It was just never really a big thing in our house. I suppose I’ve just taken that with me into adulthood.’
‘Do you see your family for Christmas?’
‘Sometimes. My parents retired down to Devon and it’s a bit of a hike.’
‘You could always drive.’
‘Oh, ha ha,’ I said and shoved against his arm with mine. ‘Don’t tell me, your side hustle is writing the awful jokes that go inside crackers.’
‘I like to help out the elves in the workshop when they’re swamped. That particular task is one of my talents.’ He puffed himself up, his mouth tipping up on one side in fake smugness making me laugh.
‘You in an elf costume must be quite the sight.’
His laughter wrapped itself around me and for the first time since he’d started at the museum, I felt myself relaxing in his company.
The cab indicated to pull in at the end of the road, where I’d asked him to and I turned to Finn. ‘Are you taking this back home?’
‘No, I’ll get the Tube back.’
I handed over the fee, plus tip to the driver as Finn opened the door and held it for me as I stepped out. The cab pulled back on to the main road and I looked up at my unexpected escort.
‘I’m OK from here.’
‘How far is it?’
