Page 76 of Under Your Spell

‘Yes, Clemmie.’ Theo sounds impatient. ‘We are leaving in two days, you know. We have to have this conversation some time.’

‘What?’ I exclaim, managing to sound both baffled and pissed off at the same time, which is exactly how I feel.

‘About us,’ Theo says, gesturing between us with his fork. ‘Me and you. Us.’

‘What about us?’

‘Well, what did you think?’ Theo says airily. ‘That I was just going to jet off to Los Angeles with no plan in place for when we’d see each other again?’

As that was exactly what I had been thinking I decide to keep my mouth shut.

Theo casts a sideways look at me and puts his fork down. ‘There’s actually something that I wanted to ask you.’ He looks flustered, a flush touching his cheekbones. ‘One of the reasons I agreed to come to the UK for this writing session was because I needed to be around this week anyway. Lisa’s getting married.’

‘Your sister is getting married?’ I frown. ‘When?’

‘On Saturday.’

‘Saturday as in five days from now?’ David had been cagey about when Theo himself was flying back to the States and I guess this was why. I have a dim memory of Theo mentioning a family event way back at Serena’s party.

Theo nods. ‘Yeah, it’s a whole big four-day thing from Thursday to Sunday. I’m flying back to LA on the Sunday afternoon. I wondered, well, I thought, maybe… I hoped you might…’

‘Sort out your hotel?’ I finish for him. ‘I’m surprised David hasn’t already. You’ve left it a bit late. Wait…’ I eye him suspiciously. ‘David does know you’re not going straight back to LA, doesn’t he? Because if you think I’m going to help you hide from him so you can keep funnelling Maltesers down your neck then—’

‘Clemmie!’ Theo interrupts, half-laughing, exasperation writ large in his eyes. ‘Yes, David knows I’m going, and no, I don’t want you to book me a hotel. Jesus!’ He scrubs a hand over his face.

‘Oh, sorry,’ I say. ‘It’s just I’ve been sorting out a bunch of stuff like that this week and—’

‘I’m trying to ask you out,’ Theo blurts.

I blink.

He clears his throat; the flush deepens. ‘I wondered if you’d be my date. To my sister’s wedding.’

My jaw must be hanging open, because after a moment Theo says, his tone almost sulky, ‘You don’t need to look at me like that; it’s not that strange.’

‘You asking me to go to your sister’s wedding as your date?’ I repeat. ‘It’s actually pretty strange, given that you kissed me two days ago and then haven’t said a word about it since!’

‘Well, neither have you!’

Huh.

‘And I’ve been waiting, being patient, not pushing or rushing you, trying to show you how I feel. Isn’t that the romantic way of doing things?’ Theo adds. ‘Honestly, it feels like sometimes you’re actively trying to thwart me.’

I start to choke on a sip of water. ‘Thwart you? How was I supposed to know? Maybe next time use your words.’ I wheeze, the word romantic ringing in my ears.

‘I’m using them now.’ Theo smiles, hands me a napkin, equilibrium returning. ‘So, will you go to the wedding with me? Please?’

‘I…’ I hesitate. ‘I can’t just turn up at your sister’s wedding. Does she know you’re bringing a date?’

‘I actually asked her if I could bring you weeks ago,’ Theo says, the colour back in his cheeks. ‘I just didn’t have the nerve to invite you.’

I frown. ‘How many weeks ago?’

His eyes meet mine. ‘About five weeks ago. After you bit me then told me you wanted to lick my dimple. I hoped that these were signs you weren’t totally indifferent to me.’

I blush, torn between mortification and whatever the warm feeling uncurling in my belly is. ‘You want me to go with you as a date?’ I say slowly. ‘A romantic date? Or a friend date?’

‘I suppose technically it’s both,’ Theo shrugs. ‘I’m happy you’re my friend, but I’m asking you to go as more than that.’ He smiles again. ‘Is that clear enough for you? I don’t want there to be ambiguity about my intentions.’