Page 66 of The Little Porto Book Club

‘Yes, officially. And just so you know I will not be giving up my autonomy.’ And if Tiago is pulled back to London for work, then I guess we figure that out then. Who knows what the future will bring? I just have to be open to it.

‘I’d love to make things official. I’m – I’m happy that I’ve grown on you like … fungus. That is rather romantic. And at the risk of sounding corny, as soon as I saw you at the café, I knew you were the one for me.’

‘How?’

He shrugs. ‘I just knew. And so, I had to talk to you.’

‘And that’s when we found out we both enjoyed the exploits of Detective Amber Quill. If not for that, our conversation wouldn’t have gone much further that day.’ Funny how the world works in such mysterious ways.

‘If I’d said I’d never heard of her, you would have ended our chat?’ He frowns, with a worried look in his eyes.

‘Yes. I was trying to end the conversation, but you kept talking.’

He blanches. Have I hurt his feelings? ‘But it’s OK, Tiago, because your choice of reading material is top-notch and here we are. Official.’

He smiles but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. I’m worried that we’re starting off on the wrong foot as sometimes I’m unnecessarily blunt. That’s forgotten when he says, ‘May I?’ He tilts his head towards mine, his lips a breath away.

‘You may.’

He pulls me into his warm embrace, and as expected I feel so very safe in his arms, like I can trust him, and he means what he says. When we kiss my body melts into his as if we are one person. When we break apart, breathless, heart thrumming, I’m woozy from his proximity. I feel like my love is written all over every line and plane of my face, like it is with Tiago’s.

Chapter Forty-Four

I’m surprised to find the book club assembled, all except Tiago, chattering away excitedly, not about our poor missing member, mind you, but about my cousin Ida’s wedding. Obviously, it was a great day, since we made it official, but weddings are a tedium and it’s clear Tiago gets misty-eyed like so many others do.

This is why chitchat has no place in book clubs. How do Ida’s nuptials have anything to do with books? Ida doesn’t even read novels, hence the fact she is not my favourite cousin, she is totally unrelatable to me in every way.

‘Vi! Viviane!’ Zephyr says and lunges towards me. ‘Oomph.’ She launches a hug of some type.

‘Please control yourself, Zephyr.’

‘Soz. It’s just that you look so pretty in the photos! I love the way you usually cosplay a waitress, but in that stunning green grown with your hair curled and all that make-up, wow, you looked like royalty. Gorgeous!’

I take a minute to untangle her giddy babble. Cosplay a waitress? Me! Does no one care about looking the part these days? However, there are bigger worries. Did she say photos?

Green gown, curled hair, excessive make-up. Confirmed. Cousin Ida’s wedding. How are the photos available already?

Old Albert pulls himself up with a groan. ‘You and Tiago are heavily featured in the Porto News. Their photos are splashed all over the internet.’

‘Oh, no. I’m not sure I like the sound of splashed all over the internet.’

‘Well, ah.’ Old Albert blushes. ‘You and Tiago are … are …’

‘In a carousel of photos on Instagram. Kissing,’ Zephyr shrieks.

‘WHAT?’

‘They’re not explicit or anything, they’re actually really lovely.’ My Gen Z friend has love hearts for eyes, she’s not thinking clearly.

‘That must surely be illegal?’

‘What’s illegal?’

‘The man of the hour!’ Old Albert back slaps Tiago.

‘What is it?’

I fold my arms, annoyed. ‘Our privacy has been breached at my cousin Ida’s wedding.’