I chuckled. “Let me guess. Schnitzel, followed by that apple cake you love so much?”
He nodded eagerly. “And one of their amazing cocktails.”
I grabbed my phone. “I’ll book us a table. You know how busy they get.”
Cole stayed my hand. “Thanks, Stefan.”
“For what? Feeding you?”
He shook his head. “For everything. For buying me a drink that night at the Coven. For taking me under your wing. For introducing me to all your friends.” He smiled again. “I can walk into Romeo and Romeo at any time of the day, and there’ll be someone who waves at me and says, ‘Hey, Cole, join us.’”
“You’re an easy man to like.”
He studied me for a moment. “You know what I would love?”
“I dread to ask.”
“I want you to find someone who fits you like a glove.”
I arched my eyebrows. “Isn’t that a little clichéd?”
“So what if it is? That’s what I want for you. A guy who fits into every corner of your life.” His eyes sparkled. “Especially the dark corners.”
I smacked his arse. “If we’re going out to eat, then one, I need to call the restaurant, and two,youneed to get changed, because I amnottaking you to dinner looking like that.”
Cole’s face glowed. “I won’t let you down.” Then he headed toward the bedroom.
I stayed where I was, listening to the quiet sounds of drawers opening, hangers shifting, Cole whistling tunelessly.
The apartment already felt different.
I went back to the window, resting my hand against the cool glass. Berlin was edging its way into evening, alive, restless, and full of possibility. And I was already anticipating Cole’s absence with a heavy heart.
I went to call Elefant, but instead I pulled up my calendar. Six weeks until the Rome trip. Six weeks to fill with work, distractions, and anything else I could think of.
And after that?
I looked out over the city again.
Let’s see what comes next.
Chapter Four
August
Kieran
I had a flat,and Diana was still a part of my life. Two positives. As for the rest of it?
My future was on two distinct tracks, and neither of them was leading me somewhere I wanted to go.
The suspension track was probably the most frustrating.
Within a week of meeting with the Principal and HR, I had a framework for the proceedings—and a name.
Ollie Roberts. OlliefuckingRoberts, a student I’dliked, for God’s sake. One I’d also thought had respected me. He was that student, the one who would come up with a thousand hilarious excuses as to why he hadn’t completed an assignment on time. He never practised enough, and every time I admonished him about this, he’d bat those long eyelashes and give me that butter wouldn’t melt look as he promised he’d do better.
How could he do this to me?