We spend the next forty-five minutes catching up, and I watch as Lizzie and Charlie sit side-by-side on the sofa, finishing each other’s sentences and laughing as they tell me stories about their time away. Whenever Lizzie gets over-excited, she touches his leg; he glances at her hand, pink colouring his cheeks, while she keeps talking animatedly. It’s adorable.
Out in the hall, the lift rumbles its approach, and as the doors sweep open, my heart comes to a jarring halt.
Rafe Bastion.I know the weight of his step, the sharp tick of his heel against stone, the length of his stride.
Lizzie springs off the sofa, and Charlie follows. I get up too, so all three of us are like soldiers standing to attention when he walks in.
He looks different, somehow. Leaner. Older, perhaps, or tired, but still so handsome I can hardly look at him. When his gaze lands on me, everything in my body screws up tight, as if astrong-armed Victorian washer woman is wringing me out like a wet towel.
Lizzie introduces him to Charlie, and as I watch the moment unfold, it hits me full force that he is herfather. Her dad. He’s the grown-up man she’s bringing this guy she has a crush on home to meet.
How could I ever have thought a relationship between us would work? We’re worlds apart. I’ve been sitting here hanging out with Lizzie and Charlie, and now they’re both talking to Rafe like he’s a totally different generation. He’s not one of us. He’s decidedly, completely separate.
The gulf feels enormous. If I tried to step across it, I’d plummet to my death.
“You remember Diana, of course,” Lizzie says.
Rafe turns to me, one hand finding the knot of his tie and resting on it before stroking down the silk. “Diana.”
“Hi, Mr Bastion.”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “Rafe.”
“Yes.” I want to smile at the reminder that he’s not just Mr Bastion, not just Lizzie’s dad. He’sRafe.My Rafe. But I can’t let myself. My smile would spread too wide. I’d give myself away. “Rafe.”
He bows his head a fraction. “You’re well?”
“Yes. Very well. Thank you.”
His dark eyes fix on me, saying more than words ever could, but I don’t know what he means. I don’t know what he wants to say. I just know it’s more than he’s permitting himself to voice aloud.
“I wanted to thank you for suggesting Melanie take me on.” I sound so formal, but Lizzie and Charlie are standing beside us, listening to the conversation.
His head tilts slightly. “I didn’t know if you’d appreciate the interference.”
“What was it you said? ‘It’s okay to accept help when you need it. It doesn’t make you weak’.”
He allows a hint of a smile to touch his mouth. “I knew she’d look after you. I’m glad it worked out.” Straightening up, he claps his hands and looks around, including the others. “Right, shall we go?”
“Go where?” I ask, suddenly panicking.
He smiles at me. “To Southbank.”
I gape at him, then look over at Lizzie. “You’re coming to theTaming the Beastevent?”
“Of course,” Lizzie says, grinning. “Julian and Henry are coming too. I told them it’s my favourite book in the world, and you’re my favourite social media personality. Charlie’s coming too. Seb’s going to be there with Erica. And this is your big night. Of course we’re coming.”
My eyes sting with oncoming tears, but good tears. Tears brought on by this show of unexpected support. I thought Lizzie didn’t even know I had the event tonight, let alone that she was coming and bringing everyone with her.
“And you?” I say to Rafe, my voice little more than a croak.
His lips are tight, like he’s holding back a grin. I want to kiss them, prising them open with my tongue. “Yes,” he says, with a slow nod. “If you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind.”
Lizzie and Charlie, chatting amongst themselves, move towards the front door to grab their coats, leaving Rafe and me alone.
We stare at one another.I missed you. I missed you so much.“Thank you,” I murmur. “For everything.”