e

I'm in the living room, on the sofa

ument, I cried for thirty minutes non-stop. After that, I was

s. I told him I'd call him back. I was so upset, and worried that Ja

essages to download. Tomorrow I'm going to block Jason's number, and I'll also unfriend

nore them. Instead, I pull up th

know when you're up in the mor

on. What must Titus be thinking? I know that Oliver must have told him what's been happening in my love life. I'm sure the last thing he wants is

going to be totally honest. There's no p

y sorry for not getting back to you. Can we chat tomorrow

better of it. Oh well. I tend to wear my h

ake myself a cup of tea first. I go to get up, and then to my

ou mind if I called you now? No wo

m just havi

ake sure I'm okay. Damn Huxley for telling him about Jason. Even from the other

and I answer the call and

"Hope you don't

ok, I'm so sorry for n

d. It sounds like cars. I know his room has a garden

ask curiously. "I

the outskirts of Exeter

widen.

t to Exeter, I realized you'd probably be in bed, and the last thing you'd want after an argument with your ex is a stranger turning up a

d. Then something strikes me. "Wait, how d

e an admission to make. You didn't completely close

th a hand. "You hea

d him come into your house, and I was really worried about you. Shit. I'm so incredi

ed that you were concerned. I know that Oliv

have forgiven myself if something had happened to you.

"do you know

y gave me yo

ot a spare room, and I make a mean cooked breakfast. You'd be better off stay

do that after the

up, and I've been in denial about his harassment. It just all came crashing down on m

But you don't want a s

ssie had nothing but good things to say about you this morning." I smile. "I can't believe you left your posh ho

e isn't ev

I say mischievously. "I've

ieve I've said them. God, what is it with this man? W

ar my fame is spreading," he teases. "All right, I'

t. There isn't any parking right outside the house,

'll see

u." I h

on trying to slide his arm around my waist, and I yelled not to touch me. Titus said he was close to calling the police, so he must have heard that bit. I decide

d with boxes containing books and other personal effects I've never bothered to unpack. As quickly as I can, I move them into my own bedroom, stacking them up in the corner. There's a spare duvet in the laundry cu

ut a wipe and clear up the worst of it, brush my hair, then go back down to the kitchen. I

ad to go to bed at seven p.m. for what felt like weeks before I gradually adjusted to the twelve-hour difference. It makes his

s well as being the keynote speaker in Auckland. I keep forgetting how important he is. He obviously wasn't st

quiet; there's very little traffic at this time of night. It's a narrow street, as the houses on both sides have medieval origins. A Norman church sits on the hill up the

Ursa Major, the Great Bear-also known as the Big Dipper and the Plough-and follow two of the stars-Dubhe and Mera

road, and I inhale at the sight

ul shoulders, muscular arms, and big thighs that stretch the material of his jeans. He was wearing a suit when I talked to him on Z

he genuinely hasn't touched it since he got up this morning, it's hard to tell. He's clean shaven, although as

ndsome he was, but my memory is better t

he nears. Just in front of me, he drops the bag onto the pavem

nhale like I did back then, my heart skipping a beat. But he just stares into my eyes

y?" he whisp

ng inside me at his co

hen he pulls me into his ar

s really nice aftershave. It's lost its intensity after his long drive, but it's

I go to draw back, but he doesn't release me, and so I sli

r of fact and practical, open-hearted rather than reserved, and speak their minds rather than holding back out of politeness. Also, because the weather tends to be nicer up in Auckland and the Northland, much of our childhood is spent outdoors, and even if they don't have Maori bloo

ou," I whisper, fighting not to let

's okay. I'm just gl

houlder, and he rests his h

murmurs, running a str

ng for him to echo my family an

says. "You loo

to miss the hard, defined muscles beneath my fingertips, and pus

his bag, and I clos