Page 16 of Tempting Fate

Jamie shrugs. “She knows… all of us, really. She knew we were looking for a housemate.” He grins again. “If you’re up for it, she suggested going to the pub later in the week? Might be a more low-key way to meet Vince and Dax, too.”

I hesitate for a moment, and Jamie frowns, but I need a second to think it through. I don’t mind giving up an evening to get to know my housemates better, or even to meet their friends. It has just been a while since I have met so many new people at once. I sit up a little straighter, nodding.

“Of course,” I say. “I’m sure it’ll be fun.”

Jamie narrows his eyes at me. “It doesn’t have to be at the pub. We can invite them over, or—” He cuts himself off and clears his throat before he speaks again. “We could invite them over, if you think that’s better.”

Huh. Clearly, he does not want us to visit his friends’ houses. It seems as though Vince and Dax have fairly recently moved in together, so perhaps they are not ready for that. And I have no idea of Cecile’s living situation, of course, though I do know that London is a difficult place in which to find affordable housing. Perhaps she has no room to entertain.

“No, the pub is fine. It’ll be nice to meet them all on more neutral ground.”

“You think?” Jamie brightens again, and something flutters in my chest. “Great! I’ll let her know.”

I drink the rest of my tea as Jamie sends a text. The quiet is nice and comfortable, even for how little we know of each other and the fact that Jamie is far livelier than I am, prone to noise and movement, where I am not.

“So what did you do today?” Jamie asks when he’s done. He sets his phone down on the table and fixes me with an intense stare.

I smile softly. All that attention on me is… heady. Dangerous, perhaps. I do not have the time to get used to it.

“Just explored the area. I like to know my surroundings, especially if I plan to stay for a while.”

“A while, huh?”

“At least six months. I’ve paid for that, after all.”

Jamie huffs a laugh. “I’m sure you’ll be here longer than that.”