“I’ve been occupied,” I said.
“That much is obvious.” His gaze flickered to the phone, then back to me with open curiosity. “You’ve checked that at least six times in the last minute.”
I snorted. “I doubt it was that many.”
“Doubt all you like. I was watching you.” He tilted his head. “So? Where’s the man?”
I smiled, more out of habit than amusement. “You’re making assumptions.”
“I’m making observations,” Dieter corrected. He leaned against the wall, studying me with more interest. “I repeat—where is he?”
“Gone.”
He arched his eyebrows. “Ah, that explains the face.”
“I wasn’t aware I was making one.”
“Oh, you are,” he assured me. “It’s subtle, but it’s there. Right now it has all the hallmarks of restrained longing. Quite impressive, actually.”
I exhaled through my nose, not quite a laugh, not quite dismissal.
“If you mean Kieran, he returned to the UK,” I said. “This morning.”
“And you didn’t go with him.” A statement, not a question.
“No.”
Dieter considered that for a moment, tapping his fingers against the side of his glass. “And you’re sitting here, staring at your phone instead of calling him.”
I didn’t answer.
Dieter nodded as if that confirmed something for him. “Mm-hm. So this isn’t about logistics.”
“No.”
“Or timing.”
“No.”
He took another unhurried sip of his beer. “Then it’s about choice,” he said at last.
I met his gaze. “Yes.”
Dieter watched me for a moment longer before leaning in. “And which part are you struggling with? Making the call? Or living with it?”
The question was delivered almost casually, but it found its target.
I sighed. “Both.”
Dieter’s eyes twinkled. “Good. I’d be worried if it was only one.”
I looked back at my drink, then at the phone beside it. Still dark, still silent. And then I realised the decision to come to Romeo’s to escape the memory of him had been futile.
Kieran had simply followed me here.
“I was going to say,” another voice cut in, warm and familiar, “if you’re going to sit there looking like that, you should at least order something better than whatever it is you’re drinking.”
I turned this time. “Hey, Rolf.”