Pimlico was looking as lovely as ever, soaring Regency homes glowing creamy pink in the late afternoon sunshine, dog walkers milling through the lush green squares as I ambled towards Luke’s office building.
Mike, Luke’s boss, was just leaving as I arrived. ‘Lottie, so good to see you, you look well. Here to see Luke?’
‘Yes, if that’s OK?’
He waved a hand. ‘Of course it is. He could do with taking a break; he works too hard. Going to celebrate his new role?’
I plastered a smile on my face and nodded, feeling a stinging shame start somewhere in my stomach. What new role? Was it a promotion? What was going on? ‘Yes, it’s great,’ I said, hoping I wouldn’t have to keep up the charade for too long.
I bit my lip as I stepped inside the building. Why hadn’t Luke told me? I barely noticed the security guard who signed me in, my hand wavering over the visitors’ book, not sure now whether I should head up to see Luke or not. Would he want to see me? What else was going on in his life that he didn’t share? Did he think I wouldn’t care? Scrawling my name and the time of arrival in a daze I drifted towards the lift.
As it pinged open I stood for a second, still unsure, wishing now I had just headed home, my earlier idea of a stroll along the South Bank fading. Then something urged me inside and I automatically pressed the button for Luke’s floor. In no time the lift door slid back and I saw the open-plan office in front of me, people busy at desks or computers, large whiteboards plastered with drawings and sheets of paper along many of the walls, the odd framed picture or poster. I recognised one of the ad campaigns Luke had worked on – he’d been nominated for an award for it. He’d been so proud.
What new role?
Glancing across at his desk I noticed two heads bent over a large A3 sheet. Luke was talking animatedly, tapping a pen at various points on the page. I could make out a storyboard, his face lit with passion as he described his vision. The other was nodding quickly, her red hair smooth, the overhead lights reflecting off it every time her head bobbed up and down. Storm. A light laugh filled the air and I froze near the desk as she reached out a hand and placed it on his upper arm.
I hoped next time Storm went for a manicure the nail varnish on one of her thumbs chipped within thirty seconds.
Luke hadn’t noticed me there. I could turn and leave. It was just as I had that thought that he looked up.
‘Lottie,’ he said, his face breaking into an easy smile as he stood up. Then the expression changed, his forehead creasing. ‘Is everything OK? Is Teddy all right?’
‘Oh, yes, no, everything’s fine,’ I said, feeling like an idiot as I licked my lips, sensing people staring up at me. ‘I got out a little earlier than expected. I was thinking we could head somewhere, if you fancied it, but’ – I found my voice hardening, aware of Storm standing so close to him – ‘you’re obviously busy and I didn’t—’
I hoped the next time Storm paid with her Boots reward card she was a few pence short for what she needed and had to put one of the items back.
‘No, I’m not.’ Luke waved a hand. ‘We should head to the South Bank. Perfect. I was showing Storm the mock-up I’ve just finished. Come and look,’ he said, walking towards me and holding out his hand, pulling me towards his desk.
Only I noticed Storm’s eyes dart to our hands, her mouth move into a thin line as she wavered at the desk, clearly not wanting to leave just yet. I wondered briefly if Luke had told Storm about the new role.
Luke watched my face as he talked me through the storyboard, one hand on my lower back, tapping at the paper with his other hand. His voice was infused with energy as he pointed out the details and I found myself forgetting everything else, forgetting even Storm being there as I enjoyed listening to him gush. I’d forgotten how much he really loved his work.
‘Isn’t it just awesome?’ Storm said, flicking her hair behind her. ‘Luke is insane on Photoshop. Insane.’
I nodded, barely glancing at her, taking in the stunning final image, gratified to see Luke standing expectantly, waiting for me to say something.
‘So,’ he said, running a hand through his hair, his nerves making me melt a little, ‘what do you think?’
I loved that he really cared what I thought. Me, with not one creative bone in my body. I loved that Storm was listening to this.
‘I think,’ I said, leaning up to kiss him long and hard, ‘it’s going to be brilliant.’
He pulled me into his side. ‘Thank you.’
I hoped tonight he might share some of his news with me, I wanted to celebrate his successes at work. I thought back to the casual way in which Mike had mentioned a new role. I must show more interest.
‘Well, thanks sooooo much for showing it to me,’ Storm said to Luke, pushing herself off the edge of the desk. ‘I can’t wait to see the final draft. Deffo.’
‘Thanks, Storm,’ Luke said, already turning to pack up the things on his desk.
Storm hesitated a moment, perhaps wondering if there’d be more. I felt a small glimmer of triumph as Luke looked up at me. ‘Right, where do you want to go? Southbank Centre?’ he said, adjusting his bag on his shoulder. ‘Sundowners there while we make a plan, see what’s on?’
He was still talking to me as we moved past Storm towards the lift, as she called out, ‘Well, bye then.’
As Luke waved distractedly behind him, asking me about my day, about my case. As I made him laugh.
The lift doors shut, her face still staring over at us, eyebrows drawn together in a small frown.
I met her eyes. Haha. Storm: 0. Lottie: 1.
The river was choppy and steel grey, as we walked hand in hand over Lambeth Bridge, the sun disappearing momentarily in the clouds. I loved the Thames, pleasure boats and working boats moving through the water, the London Eye glinting ahead of us, the intricate architecture of the Houses of Parliament opposite. I always felt that we were at the heart of everything. So many people clustered together, walking, in cars, on phones, street performers, shoppers, sitting outside restaurants, heading to the theatre. Luke clearly felt the same, enjoying the meandering pace of our walk, stopping to run his hands along the vinyl records and books under Hungerford Bridge. After a short while we found ourselves heading up the steps to the Southbank Centre, able to find a table on the terrace looking across the river, the pedestrians moving below.
‘Perfect,’ Luke said, taking both our bags and dumping them on the spare seat.
‘My treat,’ I said, leaping away so he didn’t have time to argue.
I returned with two glasses clinking with ice and lime. Luke was sitting at the table looking out over the water, his phone nowhere in sight, just staring and looking relaxed. I needed to take a leaf out of his book. I was always too busy tapping on my phone or flicking through the paper or a brief to really sit still and be in the moment. Luke had always moved at a more languid pace and I could see now that this was one of the things that had drawn me to him.
‘Gin?’
‘Of course,’ I said, passing one to him. ‘It’s got thyme in it!’
‘All right then.’
‘So,’ I said, after a moment, ‘is everything good? At work, I mean . . . ’
Luke frowned at me. ‘Yes, Lottie.’