“No?”
“We…fucked.”
Luke chokes on air and fumbles in the overhead cabinets for a glass. “Bloody hell, I don’t know what’s worse.” He wheezes in a breath. “You using the scientific words or…” He flicks the faucet on and fills the glass. “Shit.”
“I’ve cursed like that before.”
His eyebrows shoot up his forehead as he gulps down a few sips of water. “Yes, but usually not outside the bedroom.”
“Your couch isn’t in the bedroom.”
“Els.”
“Neither is your outdoor table.”
Laughing, he shakes his head as he finishes off the glass of water. “You’re teasing me.”
I pull out a chair at the dining table and sit down. “I’m stating facts.”
“You are ever the cold-hearted rationalist.” He grins only for a moment before his expression turns serious. “Els, I want to ask you something. Like always with us, the timing’s off… Or maybe it’s perfect… I’m not sure.”
“This is a cryptic change of direction.”
“I’m not deliberately trying to act so obtuse. I want to be honest with you.” He forgets about the ingredients spread over the countertop and pulls out the chair next to me at the dining table. “It’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about for a couple of weeks now.”
“O…kay?”
“I want to open a new restaurant. A location I’ve had my eye on for a while has became available.”
“You think there’s enough tourist business here to—”
“In Melbourne.”
“Melbourne?”
“I’ve already talked through the details with my lawyer. The fitter’s on standby, and the interior decorator sent over the final sketches yesterday. All I have to do is say yes.”
“Now wait one second. Are you saying you’releaving?” It’s me, isn’t it? I’m cursed.
“Els.” He laces our fingers together. “You’re part of this. I want you to come with me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Come with me,” he repeats. “We’ll have a fresh start. Together. Properly this time. You can pick out an apartment for us. Or a house. Anywhere you want. You can go back to working at the university or… bloody hell, Els. I don’t care if you don’t work at all. I just want you to be with me.”
“Luke…”
“We can leave this place behind us.”
I yank my hand free from his. “I don’t want to leave. I love it here.”
“It’s a beautiful spot, but… Els, there’s no future here. Not in the long term. Not for me or you—”
“But we’ve never talked about the future.”
“We’ll figure it out as we go.”
“But Iknowwhat future I want. Luke, I don’t want to move back to Melbourne, and even if I did… I don’t…” I take a deep breath. “I don’t see a future with you.”
