Chapter 14

“Two, actually. I promised you two ice creams.”

“We

never went back for that second one, did we?”

“Do

you think I cheated you?”

Eddy

laughed. There was no mistaking the enjoyment now in Nuri’s tone. “If so, then

we’re quits.” He scrabbled in his pocket for his keys. The jingle as he pulled

them out seemed very loud in the quiet street, despite the residual echo of his

laughter and Nuri’s heavy breathing.

“But

I want you to understand, Eduardo.” Nuri cleared his throat. “There’s nothing

wrong in wanting to take things slower.”

Eddy

snorted. He had the measure of this quaintly cautious man now. “No, of course

not. Nothing wrong with standing here in the chill for another fifteen minutes,

lots more awkward kissing, then a fumble around with our mobiles to exchange

numbers, then you face the Tube journey back with a load of drunken revellers,

and I face a supremely sad hour of late-night TV reality shows on my own while