London Calling (12 page)

Epilogue

Six months later, London

Tim grabbed a handful
of chips off Gavin's plate as he slipped into the booth opposite him.

Gavin smacked his hand.
“Get your own."”

Laughing, Tim dipped one in the tiny cup of malt vinegar
alongside Gavin's plate. “Sorry, Dad.”

Gavin shook his head. “I swear I don't know how Jenna puts
up with you.”

Tim waggled his eyebrows.

“Oh please.” Gavin rolled his eyes. “Not while I'm eating.”

Tim snagged another chip. "How's Phillip doing? Finally
over the flu?"

“Yes, thank God. The three of us have taken turns being sick
for weeks. I almost forgot what it was like to have a meal out.”

“That's pretty bad for someone who works at a restaurant.”

“It doesn't count as having a meal out when you're the one
cooking. Did you come out tonight to give me a hard time?”

Tim chuckled as he signaled the waiter for a pint. “No, that's
just one of the side benefits.”

“How's Jenna doing? I haven't seen her since before we
caught the plague. Did her show in Milan go well?”

“It did.” Tim couldn't help smiling as he thought about how
excited she'd been when she came home with heaps of orders for her newest
bracelet designs.

“Excellent. And look at you, the proud husband.”

Tim started coughing and quickly grabbed the glass the
waiter set before him. He took two long swallows and looked up to find Gavin
shaking his head in obvious amusement.

"”What?” Tim asked.

“You. You realize how in love with her you are, right?”

“Yes.”

“And you realize you're a lucky bastard that she feels the
same way about you?”

“Your point?”

“My point is that you should just marry her already.”

Tim fidgeted and took another slug of beer trying not to let
Gavin's raised eyebrow intimidate him.

Gavin heaved a dramatic sigh. “You're practically married
already, you know. Besides, Phillip and I need an excuse to get a sitter and go
someplace fabulous. What better way for us to have a night on the town than
dancing at your wedding?”

“You think I should get married so you can get a date night
with your husband?”

“No, I think you should get married because Jenna is the
best thing that's ever happened to you and if you muck it up when you're this
close to eternal happiness I'll have to kill you. And I don't want that on my
permanent record.”

“I won't mention that you can't even kill a spider without
excessive shrieking. I think I'll take my chances.”

Gavin wagged a chip between his fingers. “Ask her. Unless
you're afraid she'll say no.”

Tim felt the color drain from his face. Could she? Say no?
That was a terrifying thought. She wouldn't, would she? No. She loved him. And
he had plenty of time, for sure. They hadn't even had "the talk" yet.
Didn't everyone have “the talk” first?

“What's going on in that twisted brain of yours?” Gavin
narrowed his eyes to slits.

“Nothing. Just tired. I'm gonna head home.”

“Okay. Kiss Jenna for me.”

“That I can definitely do.”

Tim tossed some bills on the table and made his way out of
the pub. The night air was a welcome relief, cooling and calming him as he
walked the ten blocks back to his flat. He loved going home and knowing Jenna
was going to be there. It was the best part of his day, every day. He paused on
the sidewalk looking up at the lights in his windows.
She’s the best part of
my life.
The nerves returned along with a case of the jitters. By the time
he got into the house and hung up his jacket he was downright shaken.

Jenna swiveled on the stool by her drafting table as she
Skyped with Natalie. Seeing her, showing off her jewelry and chatting with a
friend relaxed him.
This is home.

Jenna seemed to rather like the life she'd built for herself
in London. She leaned back, tilting her face, begging for a kiss and he happily
obliged even though Natalie was watching and slow clapping.

“Did you eat?” Jenna asked.

“Some chips.”

“I got you an extra order of Kung Pao chicken and some of
those sesame glazed ribs.”

“My favorites. Thank you.” He bent and kissed her again,
feeling his remaining nerves settle the minute he had contact with her. Kisses.
Touches. Hugs. He couldn’t get enough of her.

Jenna signed off and followed Tim to the family room where
they munched on Chinese and mocked an old Godzilla movie on TV then cuddled on
the couch sipping beer.

A commercial came on for Jenna's favorite pricy shampoo and
she bopped Tim on the head. “You need to stop using up all my conditioner.”

“But I rather like it. It smells like you.”

He tried to charm her with a kiss but she pulled away. “We
should get you your own bottle if it means so much to you.”

Tim shook his head. “I don’t know… I think I might still
prefer yours.”

She swatted him again and he grabbed her hand, tugging her
into a hug. She melted into him, fingers fisting his shirt as she hugged him
back. “You’re incorrigible.”

“That’s why you love me.”

Jenna snorted against his chest then let out a soft groan.
“That’s unfortunately true.”

She loves me, even when she’s annoyed with me.
The
thought warmed him but still sent a shivery thrill through him. Words swirled
in his head with lightning speed.
I want to spend my life with you.
He
nearly said them aloud but realized he shouldn’t blurt that out—-he
needed a proper ring and the proper place and time.

I don’t want to wait any more. I want to marry her.
The realization made him hot and cold and excited and dizzy all at once.
Bloody
hell. Married…

“What's up with you, Mr. Mysterious? What’s going on in the
well-conditioned head of yours?” She ruffled her fingers through his hair.

“Nothing bad, I promise.”

“You and your secrets.”

“They're not secrets, maybe just…plans. Speaking of which, we're
going to Gavin's big re-opening, right?"

“Of course. Has he finalized the new menu yet?”

“I think so.”

“You just saw him. You didn’t ask?”

Tim shrugged. “No.”

Jenna shook her head and laughed. “Men.”

“What about us?” He pulled her close and kissed her, tasting
red chili and her natural sweetness.

“You’re lucky I love you.”

“Truer words…” He kissed her again.

Jenna smoothed her fingers through his hair with a little
groan. “I still have to finish two designs tonight. I promised the gallery I’d
send them over by morning.”

Tim smiled as his mind ticked through all the things he
needed to do the next day. “No worries. I'm knackered. Mind if I take a shower
and head up to bed?”

“I
might
have time for a quick shower… Mind if I join
you?”

“Was hoping you'd offer... Wait. You’re not doing this just
to keep tabs on your conditioner, are you?”

She gave him her cheekiest shrug and he couldn’t resist
kissing her again. She giggled against his lips before wrapping her arms around
him and settling into the kiss.

Gavin was right. Things would never get better than this,
with anyone. This was everything he wanted. He hoped with all his heart this
was what Jenna wanted too. She’d moved to England with him, made a life with
him. She seemed happy. He just had to figure out how to make it last. Forever.

* * * * *

Jenna swiveled back and forth in her desk chair, staring at
her laptop, waiting for Natalie to return to the screen. Their daily Skype
chats made Jenna feel less homesick. It was 10 a.m. back in New York so Nat was
taking batches of rolls and pastries out of the oven at the café. Jenna munched
on her afternoon tea snack of Jaffa Cakes and Cadbury fingers. Tea time was one
of her favorite British traditions and it coincided with Nat’s best time to
chat, plus it gave Jenna the opportunity to see what she was baking and feel
like she was still back there with her.

Jenna nibbled the chocolate off the edge of a Jaffa and took
a sip of tea with milk and sugar.

“I’m coming, I’m coming…” Natalie was still off screen but
Jenna could hear her rushing around.

“TMI.”

“Ha, ha. You won’t be laughing when you see what I just took
out of the oven. A hand came into the frame, holding a dome shaped chocolate
cookie.

“Oh God.” Jenna tried to keep her mouth from watering. “Tell
me you’re not making whoopie pies.”

“I’m not making whoopie pies.” Natalie sat down in front of
her laptop stirring a big silver bowl full of fluffy white frosting. “And this
is definitely not whoopie pie filling.”

“Sadist.”

Natalie grinned. “Flattery will get you nowhere. But if you
come visit I’ll make you a fresh batch.”

Tempting. So tempting. “I can’t.”

“Come on, Jenna. I have the whole week off next week for
renovations. When was the last time I had a week off? It was before we even
met, for Christ’s sake. Come to New York and we’ll hang out. You can go to some
galleries and write it off or something.”

“That’s not it. Gavin’s restaurant is having its grand
re-opening next week and I promised to be there. It’s a big deal. He’s got a
whole new menu and he’s changed the restaurant’s theme. He needs his friends
there for support.”

Natalie thrust her lip out in her best pout then sighed.
“Fine. I understand. It’s just a shame you can’t try this.” She took a finger
full of frosting and moaned as she licked it off.

“You’re so mean.”

“That’s why you love me.” Natalie made a kissy face then
stuck out her still-white tongue.

A buzzing sound startled Jenna. Her phone was set to
different ring tones, only Tim kept his phone on vibrate. She looked around and
sure enough, the newspaper on the kitchen counter was shaking. She lifted the
paper just in time to see the phone skitter across the counter.

“Shit.” She caught it before it fell to the floor. As she
put it down, the message popped onto the screen. Normally she wouldn’t have
looked but with the phone right there in front of her she couldn’t help it.

Gig’s on for Tuesday night. See you then.

Tuesday night? That was the night of the opening. How could
Tim have scheduled something with the band on a night that was so important to
his best friend? He’d made a big deal about wanting her to go. Hell, she’d just
told Natalie she couldn’t visit next week because she was going. Now he was
blowing it off for a gig?

She stalked back to her desk and ate two more cookies
getting increasingly angry as she crunched. Tim had been acting weird for the
past several days. Distant. Secretive. Giving her weird, vague answers. When
she’d called him on it he’d just said he was tired and working on too many
projects at once.

Like scoring a gig on Gavin’s big night, apparently.

She told herself she was mostly pissed that he was blowing
off his commitment to Gavin, but the truth was she felt like he was blowing her
off too. What the hell? Were neither of them important enough to him for him to
turn down a gig? She thought they were.
Am I deluding myself?

Before she’d had a chance to stop brooding Tim swept into
the apartment. “Have you seen my phone?”

“It’s on the counter.”

“Oh, thank God. I thought I dropped it somewhere on my
errands.”

“Nope. Never made it out of the house.”

“Fantastic.” He scrolled through his messages, nodding as he
read. No mention of the gig.

“Anything new?” She hated prompting him.

“Yes. I need to go out of town the next few nights.
Recording session in Liverpool. They’ve got a few guest musicians coming in
just for this. I was going to call you when I found out. That’s when I realized
I didn’t have my phone.”

“Oh. Okay.” That wasn’t the news she wanted to hear about.

“What’s the matter?” He came toward her and smoothed his
hands down her arms. His touch had her wanting to forget all about her
questions and just wrap herself in his arms. Or drag him into bed. Or both.

“I’m fine. I just—” She paused then decided to just be
honest. “I saw the last text come in on your phone. Did you book a gig on the
night of Gavin’s opening?”

Tim’s eyes widened and he stayed silent. “Not exactly.”

“Well the band seems to think you did. I read the message.
Sorry. I didn’t meant to, it was just right there. You’re going to miss his big
night for a show? Have you told him yet?”

“No. I, uh, just found out. How could I have told him yet?”

“I can’t believe you’re putting the band first.”

Tim’s brow was furrowed and he was chewing his lower lip,
something he only did when he was really stressed. “I’ll tell him. He’ll
understand. And you’ll still be there.”

“Well that’s nice of you to decide.”

He looked panicked. “You’re still going, right?”

“Of course I am. Gavin would be devastated if we both blew
him off. I’d never do that to him.”

Tim flinched. “I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to him. I bet I
can be there by the end. It’s not a typical gig. They won’t need me the whole
night.”

He was being so weird. More evasiveness. And so nervous.
Does
he just need a break from me? Are we spending too much time together?
She
wanted to ask those questions but couldn’t bring herself to do it. What if he
said yes? She couldn’t handle that. Living with him had been wonderful, for
her. There wasn’t a single thing she’d change. If he was having second
thoughts…that was too horrible to contemplate.

“Come here, my beautiful American.” He tugged her up from
her chair and into his arms. “How about if I go pack and then we grab a nice
dinner at Udapi?”

It was her favorite Indian restaurant and Indian wasn’t
Tim’s favorite meal. He was trying to make her happy. Jenna nodded.