Page 127
Thirty-Five
“Okay, I admit it—I love your car! It’s so Austin Powers.” Alex smiled as they reached the steps leading up to Tom and Naomi’s semi-detached Victorian house in Hackney.
“Used to drive a Porsche, but it wasn’t a good fit.” Tarquin looked over his shoulder at his shiny car parked around the corner. “The ’66 Alfa Romeo Spider feels more me…more shagadelic.”
Alex laughed. “Yeah, baby!”
Tarquin’s eyes lingered along the street. “Albion Square, eh? Mature trees, the garden…these 1840s properties sell at a premium.” He chuckled and turned to Alex. “Sorry, blame the day job.”
“Don’t get too excited. My stay is temporary.”
“Hey!” Lucy hollered from across the street.
Alex squinted into the bright sun. “Hey!”
“Tarquin…in Hackney?” Lucy threw her arms in the air as she skipped over the sidewalk, careful not to land on any cracks. “What the fuck, dude?”
“I’m stepping outside my comfort zone.”
“Suits you.” Lucy winked.
He smiled at Alex. “Till Tuesday?”
“Yep.” She nodded. “Thanks, Tarquin.”
He waved and rounded the corner towards his car.
Lucy bumped Alex’s hip. “Tarquin’s got a not-so-secret-boner for you.”
“Lucy!” Her eyes widened.
“The way he looks at you—he’s gagging for it.”
Alex scoffed and started up the steps. “He looks at all women that way.”
“No, he doesn’t.” Lucy followed close behind.
“Someone needs a history lesson.”
“Oh, I know all about that. That’s old news. Even Harry says so. He says Tarq only has eyes for you.”
Alex screwed up her face and looked away, pausing on the top step. “So, Freddie says you spoke last night—”
“Stop ignoring what I just said.”
“I’m not ignoring it, I’m just not acknowledging it.”
“That’s rude, Lex.”
“No, rude is pushing a topic I don’t want to discuss.”
“Tarq thinks you’re gorgeous, smart, and different. I mean, hello? He used the word ‘smart’ to describe a girl he likes?” Lucy chuckled. “Harry practically fell over.”
“He also used different—”
“Lex, you don’t give a shit about his money. You’re not intimidated by it, and you don’t take his crap. That’s different. He finds it sexy.”
“Well that’s…flattering, but we’re friends—that’s it.”
