AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Definitely not.” She pauses for a moment and bites the inside of her cheek. “I’ll get in touch with Ric and sort this out. Don’t worry,” she adds quickly. “It’ll be done in time for the launch. I promise.”
“Thank you.”
She gives me a little nod and I’m suddenly struck by how frail she looks.
“Have you been eating?” I ask. She’s told me before that when she throws herself into her work she often forgets to eat. “Real food, I mean. Since I haven’t been feeding you for lunch lately?”
“Not really,” she admits with a small sigh, and even that tiny action looks like it takes so much out of her. “I’ve been so busy. This new project Cynthia’s given me is so time consuming, I feel like all I’m doing is catching trains to Brighton or staring at my tablet working on these new designs. Food is an afterthought at this point.”
“You need to eat, sweetheart.”
I haven’t called her that in a while — haven’t had the chance to — but the name slips from my lips easily, like it’s second nature.
A shadow of a smile flits over her face at the endearment. “I know. I’ll get something when I get—” Her eyes roll back for a second and she sways slightly on the spot. This time, I think she really is about to faint. I close the small gap between us and let her collapse in my arms.
“Finn.”
I don’t even have time to revel at the use of my first name because she renders me speechless as she takes in a shuddery breath and wraps her arms tightly around me.
We stand there for a full minute, just breathing each other in. I can feel her slow, heavy heartbeat against my chest, and I time my breathing to match hers. When she leans back, arms still wrapped around my middle, she looks a little more like herself. I can tell she’s dangerously tired, but there’s a soft spark in her eyes that I hadn’t realised I’d been missing.
She blinks up at me and smiles. “Thank you.”
That smile of hers…I’ve missed it.
She lets go of me, and although I miss her touch, I’m glad because it’s taking everything in my power not to lean down and kiss her right now.
“I’m going to head home now, but don’t worry. First thing in the morning I’ll get this sorted.” She moves to take a step back, but I pull my arms up and hold her in place.
It’s ridiculous that she thinksthat’swhat I’m worried about right now. “Let’s get something to eat.”
She scrunches her face. “I’m so tired, Finn. I’m barely going to make it to the station at this point. Another time?”
“I can grab us something and we can eat here.” I can tell that she’s about to protest, so I put my hands on her shoulders and guide her to the staircase. “Go on up to the office.Relax. I’ll get us something to eat and bring it right up.”
“Are you sure?” she asks, and I hate how uncertain she sounds. “Really, I can get something at home. My mother usually cooks, so there’s probably leftovers.”
“I’m sure,” I say firmly. I keep my hands on her until she puts a foot on the stairs. “I’ll be twenty minutes. Go on, sweetheart.”
“Twenty minutes?”
“Twenty minutes.”
“Okay.” She gives me a little nod and then starts slowly making her way up the stairs. I keep an eye on her until she disappears from view, and I don’t leave until I hear the sound of the office door open and close.
* * *
When I get backto the club, Amber is curled up on her beanbag, legs tucked underneath her, heels kicked off and banished to the side. She gives me a reproachful look when I enter the office.
“That was much longer than twenty minutes.”
“Were you worried?”
She smirks. “Nope. Just hungry.”
I match her grin and hold up the two large white boxes in my hands, enjoying the way her eyes light up as she spies the red lettering on the lid.
“Is that fromRosa’s?”
