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“No, you don’t.”
“You underestimate how irritated I am,” she muttered, sipping her wine. She sighed and set down the glass. “I’m sorry. Thank you for getting Leo, and feeding him, and showering him, and putting him to bed. I really, really appreciate it.”
“Well, Seb helped get him. Feeding him took a detour when I burnt the chicken nuggets—”
“How do you burn chicken nuggets?”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Mario Kart.”
“Of course. What a silly question.”
“Anyway, we had pizza, and he insisted we save you some.” I motioned to the box. “The wedges probably taste like rubbish, but cold pizza is always good.”
Her expression fully softened, and she opened the box, smiling when she saw the three slices we’d saved her between us. “He’s a good kid.”
“I didn’t even suggest it,” I admitted. “He stole my last two for you.”
London dipped her head and laughed.
“As for the shower, I just turned it on, did the water, and turned it off again. Brushing his teeth took two attempts because his first one was rubbish.”
“Sounds about right.”
“As for bed… He took himself right off. I wasn’t sure if he was allowed to watch anything, but I didn’t want to bother you and he insisted he could have forty-five minutes with his tablet.”
London stared at me.
I held up my hands. “I thought he was lying, but he was really worried about your grandma, so I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“Pushover,” she muttered, picking up a slice of pizza.
Yeah.
I was.
“He was asleep in fifteen minutes anyway.”
“That’s fine. I’m not mad. Is he okay?” She tore the slice in two.
“Yeah, I think his tiredness took over in the end. He was much better after he spoke to you.”
She nodded slowly. “He wasn’t bad at all?”
“Not for a second. Except the teeth thing, but I think he was seeing if I was nicer than you, to be honest.”
She smiled, and I realized just how tired she was. “Thank you, Ollie. You really saved my ass today.”
“It’s fine. You really need to rest. You’ve had a long day.”
“No, I need to relax for a bit. I’m exhausted but wired at the same time.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “Jesus.”
“Come here.” I opened my arms for her, and she stepped into them, wrapping hers around my waist. I held her tightly, circling her shoulders and rocking her gently. I knew today had taken its toll on her—I could see it in her eyes, see it in the way she kept looking around aimlessly as if she were looking for something to do.
“Thank you,” she whispered after a few minutes. “I really needed that.”
“I know,” I whispered back, kissing the top of her head.
“Thank you for the flowers. I was calling you when I saw all my missed calls.”
I smiled into her hair. “You liked the others, so I thought they’d go down well.”
“Oh, no, I left them on my desk.”
“You can get them tomorrow.”
London sighed, sagging against me. She showed no signs of letting go, and as long as she didn’t, I wouldn’t.
Having her in my arms felt too damn good.
I didn’t want to let go.
And I was so fucking glad I’d signed that contract with Seb today.
It meant I didn’t have to.
“Ollie…”
“Yeah?”
“Is it weird if I ask you to stay tonight?”
I didn’t say anything.
She twitched. “Not for, like, sex or anything like that.”
“Bollocks.”
She laughed tiredly. “I just… I’m just exhausted, and I really don’t think I want to be alone…” Her voice trailed off.
I squeezed her lightly. “I’m not going anywhere, London.”
“Okay, thank you. I can wash your clothes overnight, or—”
“No, I mean I’m not going anywhere.”
She pulled back and looked up at me. “What do you mean?”
“That meeting I was in earlier? I don’t know if you caught it on the phone…”
“Yeah.”
“It was with Seb.”
Her throat bobbed.
“I signed the contract.” My lips twitched to one side. “Bastard locked me down for ten years.”
“You actually signed it?” Her eyes were wide.
“Signed over my left kidney, too, I think.”
She hugged me even tighter. “Oh, then we can totally have sex. That’s fine.”
I laughed and cupped the back of her head. “Easy. Your son is asleep and I’d hate it if you woke him up.”
“Oh, big words.”
“And you are super tired, and you downed that wine so fast I think you’re a little drunk.”
“Maybe.”
“So why don’t I lock the door and we can either watch TV or just go to bed.”
London looked at me, her bottom lip jutted out. “Oh, look. We’re an old married couple already.”
I pulled her face to mine and brushed my lips over hers. “May as well start as we mean to go on, hmm?”
EPILOGUE – LONDON
RULE SEVENTEEN: AS IT TURNS OUT, TWO MINUTES IS MORE THAN ENOUGH.
JUST NOT IN THE BEDROOM.
Two Months Later
“Aw, there it is!” Ollie yelled, clapping his hands. “You did it, mate!”
