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“Are you saying what I think you are?” I grabbed Luke’s waist with my fingers and dared to hope. “Everleigh, please don’t toy with my emotions.”
“Dawson and I are planning to come back to New York, Fred.” I felt the sudden rush of emotion hit me as the tears trickled down my face.
“I… I don’t know what to say.”
“Fred, there’s nothing to say apart from I hope Luke knows what it means that you’ve let him in and if he hurts you…”
“I won’t,” Luke replied. “I’d never. He’s mine. Always.”
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
LUKE
That was fast. It had been a long time since I had been a boyfriend or even had a boyfriend. Listening to Freddie speak to Everleigh, I knew that there was a connection there. They sounded just like me and Nina.
I listened to Freddie end his call with Everleigh and her partner Dawson, with promises that she would keep him updated of when they would be returning to the city. Seeing Freddie be so emotional over her return, I knew there was something there that I didn’t know about.
I wanted to know everything about him, but I also knew that it would come with time. At the end of the day, he didn’t know every single little detail ofmylife. That would come with time.
It was exactly the same where he didn’t know that losing Tye was what made me take the leap to decide to get out of the UK and see some of America. When Tye died suddenly, it left me broken. How someone so young could die so suddenly, without even living their lives or leaving their own mark on the world? It messed my head up a little.
Tye and I were cousins—distantly related—but whenever he came to London, it was always more like two friends reuniting. He would always get me into the worst kind of trouble, but he was always there to get me out of it. As we grew up, we drifted apart. We just got to the point where we didn’t make time for each other. Looking back now, I regret it happened, but my biggest regret is that he never got to live his life and soar to the heights I know that he could have.
I walked away and let Freddie have a few moments with Everleigh. Placing my arse down on a chair at the kitchen worktop, I flicked through my phone. I had tons of pictures on here of everyone back home, including a few of Alex’s and Charlie’s kids, but I only had a few of Tye. I didn’t go to his funeral. I couldn’t handle it. I wish I had made the effort now that I look back.
“Hey.” My head shot up and Freddie was standing in the doorway. “You okay? You look a little down.”
I placed my phone down on the worktop. “It’s nothing,” I said, shaking my head at him.
He blew out a breath as he pushed away from the doorframe. “What did we say,” he started before he reached for my hands, “about talking to each other?” He raised his eyebrows at me, clearly expecting a response. “We promised to be honest with each other, didn’t we?”
“We did.” I squeezed his fingers gently before I spoke. “Sorry. Just listening to you and Everleigh, it made me a little homesick, I guess.” I wet my lips before I spoke again. “I’ll need to check in with Thomas soon. It’s a wonder Lauren hasn’t popped yet.” We both laughed when I said that.
He stared at me for a moment before he spoke. “There’s something else,” he whispered. “It’s okay that you don’t want to tell me, but you can tell me anything, okay? Whatever it is.”
“Just thinking about things. My cousin, more than anything.”
“The one that passed?” he asked gently.
“Yeah.” I lifted my hand and began drawing invisible patterns on his chest. “He was so young and I just…” I blew out a frustrated breath. “I regret not making more of an effort with him when he was alive, I guess.”
He reached up and placed his hand over mine, holding it flat against his chest. “You shouldn’t feel regretful about it, Luke. Communication is a two-way street.”
“I know.” I blew out a breath. “I’m being super-emo and ruining our day, aren’t I?”
“No.” He chuckled at me. “If something is bothering you, I want to know.” He bit his lip before he spoke again. “Will you be going home when Thomas and Lauren have their baby?”
Fuck, that was a loaded question. “I don’t know. I thought I’d be heading home by now and be sick of America.” He smiled sadly at me and I fucking hated that I had brought the mood down. “I don’t know. Can we not wonder about that today? Can we just enjoy the day and celebrate that you haven’t run out on me yet?”
“Well, you are my boyfriend, so that would be a little difficult.” He looked at me like I was going to freak out over him using that word to introduce me to Everleigh and Dawson.
“Yes.” I slid my hands up his chest and wrapped them around his shoulders. The action brought us closer together and as he stepped in between my legs, I selfishly wished that we could just stay inside together—just me and him—and be together. “I caught that.”
“You didn’t mind, did you?” He softly pressed his lips to mine before he pulled back enough to lean his forehead against mine. “I mean, we’d already established this was more than one night and that —”
“Freddie,” I said, cutting him off. “You’re rambling.” He blew out a breath and his minty scent washed over my face. “I liked it. It was nice…” I stopped talking when he placed his hand on my thigh. “Kiss me, boyfriend.” I winked at him before I pulled his lips closer.
He immediately parted his lips for mine, but before I could take the offer, we were disturbed by his phone calling.
