Page 98 of Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye

Leia’s expression softened. Tarquin swore she was fighting back an amused grin. “Well, I’m no cook, so I can’t speak to that…but I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”

“I’m not.” Tarquin’s glance fell to her lips. “The whole time I was with her…I wanted you.”

A small smile bloomed on Leia’s face but stayed only briefly, her focus shifting, landing on the shades in her hands.

What is she thinking? “So, are you sorry? About man bun?”

Leia chuckled under her breath. “You mean Xavi? What about him?”

“Didn’t you finish with him last night?”

“Finish?” Her jaw dropped. “Ah, you’re joking, right?”

But isn’t that why she bolted from the party? “No, that’s what he told me—”

“Oh my god! He is SO full of shit! We never dated! Ever. We hooked up a few times last year, before I came to London. I haven’t touched him since.” Leia snapped the arms of her sunglasses closed. “I knew I shouldn’t have gone to the pool with him.”

I’m so glad you did. I wasn’t sure if I should text you, if you’d ignore me.

“Typical Xavi. He takes a friendly gesture and blows it up into something more.” She huffed. “So, to answer your question—no! I’m not sorry about man bun. Great, I guess I’ll need a new gym.”

“Sorry, not sorry?” Tarquin gave her a playful wince. “If he called you babe one more time…”

“I told him repeatedly to stop, but…” She shrugged.

“Well, I’m relieved. The thought of you two together, like, properly made me want to gouge my eyes out.”

“If you thought I was seeing him, why’d you invite me to Harry’s party?”

Because I’ve missed you, and I had absolutely nothing to lose. You already own my heart. Tarquin smiled softly. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Oh. Okay. I get it.” She nodded into a pout. “You wanted sex.”

Tell no lies. “Well, yeah.”

Her exasperated eye roll yanked him back on course.

“Leia, you’re amazing and so sexy—why wouldn’t I? But more than that, what I really wanted was to see if you’d changed your mind—about me, about us.”

Leia’s eyebrows peaked. “About us?” She blinked, pausing for a beat. “Tarquin, we’ve been through this before.”

“I know, but look at us—here together in the Big Apple, both single. Same ol’ Han and Ginger, having a giggle, bonding over our shared distaste of man buns.” A brief chuckle left his lips before his demeanor turned serious. I have to lay it all out there, share my deepest truth like Dex suggested. “Look, I know this isn’t ideal, us living in different cities, but you love London, I’m crazy for New York—why don’t we give it a go?”

“What? Like long-distance?”

It killed my parents’ marriage, but hey, we’re not them! Tarquin’s smile grew. “Yeah, why not?!” Hide nothing. His pulse pounded, ratcheting up a gear. “I love you, Leia. I’m IN love with you. I have been for months.”

Her eyes widened. “You love…me?” Leia’s gape wandered to the passing throng of overheated tourists. A swallow bobbed her throat. “Wow,” she whispered, a hint of a smile playing with her mouth.

It’s such a relief, telling her—finally! Tarquin grinned, his shoulders relaxing. Even if she doesn’t say it back, I can work with that. We’ll get there, eventually. Together.

“I…uh, it’s just…you sure have a weird way of showing it.”

“Yeah, I know—sorry.” He laughed. “I’m a bit rubbish this morning. I burnt my breakfast, spilled coffee down the shirt I planned to wear.” He enthusiastically gestured between them. “And I meant to grab primroses on my way here, but the flower sh—”

Her glimmer of glee faded. “I’m not talking flowers, Tarquin!” Leia scoffed, the sharp edge to her voice piercing his joviality. “Try seven months without a single word from you. Not an email or a text, not even a random ‘like’ on Instagram. You call that love?”

Shit. Tarquin’s heart plummeted into his stomach. He scrunched his eyes and plowed a hand through his hair, almost knocking his shades free. “No, but…” Meeting her frustrated frown, he stammered. “I-I did write something, a reply to your email. I just…never sent it.”