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“I didn’t really offend you, did I?” Kit asked. “Please don’t leave. We might have a chance of winning because of you.”
She raised an eyebrow as she moved to pass him. “Because I’m so old?”
“No! You’re not old … you look as though you’re in your prime to me … and being a genius is nothing to do with age.”
“You can stop with the flattery.” She patted his shoulder. “I’m only going to the bathroom.”
“Phew.” Kit sighed dramatically. “Hurry up. We need you back here for the next round.”
Trystan’s eyes stayed on her as she moved across the room.
“How was your afternoon with Ellie on Friday?” Keira asked, breaking his trance.
“Exhausting, but fun.” He clocked Kit’s smirk and was fairly sure he didn’t want to know what was going on in his brother’s head but couldn’t help but ask. “What’s that look for?”
“I think it’s interesting that you split up with Jenny because you didn’t want kids and now you’re completely smitten with your new girlfriend’s kid.”
“I’m not…” He trailed off, realising he wasn’t sure which part of the sentence he could argue with. “Things just weren’t right with Jenny.”
Kit smiled. “I notice you didn’t deny that you’re smitten with Ellie, or that Beth is your girlfriend.”
“Ellie is very cute.” If he was honest, he was surprised by how fond he was of her. “I’m not sure how I’d describe my relationship with Beth.”
“I think she’s lovely,” Keira said. “What are you going to do when she leaves, though?”
“We haven’t talked about it.”
“It’s only a couple of weeks away, isn’t it?” Kit asked. “You go back to London at the end of the month, right?”
“I need to be back by the first week of September.”
“Do you miss the city?” Keira asked.
He shook his head, locking eyes with Beth as she walked towards them. “Not at all,” he muttered, a feeling of dread creeping into his stomach at the thought of going back to real life.
* * *
Beth hadn’t taken much persuasion to go back to Trystan’s place after the pub. She’d been on a bit of a high after they’d won the quiz and had a nice buzz from the wine. Time alone with Trystan finished the evening off perfectly. At least until her eyes started to close in the comfort of his bed. Her back was pressed against his firm chest while his arms circled around her in a tight cocoon.
“I can’t fall asleep here,” she said, knowing that she was already on the verge of sleep and needed to move before she was enveloped by it.
His words tickled her neck when he murmured beside her ear. “I’d like to fall asleep with you. And wake up with you.”
“Me too. I can’t though.” Once or twice, Beth had contemplated setting an alarm and creeping back to the house at the crack of dawn but couldn’t bring herself to do it. “I really need to go,” she said, not moving a muscle.
“I’m not stopping you.” He tightened his arms around her, snuggling his cheek in the space between her shoulder and jaw.
“You’re definitely not making it easy to leave.”
“No. I’m not going to do that.” When she turned in his arms, his features were serious. “The summer is going so fast.”
“I keep thinking the same. Two weeks from now, Ellie will have had her first day back at school.”
“Have you already booked your flight home?”
“Yes.” Her heart felt heavy. “A week on Wednesday.”
“That’s soon.”
