Floored - Karla Sorensen Page 0,12

motioned to the door. "I'm guessing you can lock up behind me."

He rolled his lips, clearly hiding a smile as he nodded.

"Good." I hitched my purse.

Carl, I think his name was, turned slowly on the stool. His cheeks looked a little pink, and I found his embarrassment more endearing than I should. His eyes could hardly hold mine as he stood. "Coffee for the train, dear? I've got a takeaway cup."

I smiled. "That would be amazing, thank you."

He nodded, tugging on the door that closed off the bar. He deftly poured the steaming, black liquid into a tan cup before he looked up again. "How'dya take it?"

"A couple of sugars if you have them."

He snagged a few packets from one of the table holders, then set them on the bar. Gratefully, I picked it up and tucked the sugars into my purse. "You're an angel, Carl."

His smile was soft. "That's the first time I've ever been called that particular name, but you're welcome all the same." His eyes darted back toward the stairs. "Far to go?"

"Oxford."

He whistled. "Best get moving then. It'll be busy first thing in the morning."

Holding up the cup, I smiled. "Thanks again."

For the coffee.

And not treating me like I'd done the walk of shame through an actual bar when, in fact, that was exactly what I'd done.

What a strange turn of events, I thought as I hustled my ass to the train station. The day before, I left my flat expecting a fairly easy day of seeing some of the sights I hadn't seen yet. I saw some sights, all right.

The station was packed, given it was a Monday morning, and the soaring ceiling of glass and iron was high enough that I never felt claustrophobic as I waited in a jostling line to hop on the train I needed. I was at the back of it, though, so by the time the doors slid shut behind me, I settled on the floor of one of the connecting cars between trains, my head resting on the hard plastic as I listened to the chatter around me.

People visiting. People going off to work. Or like me, on their way to school.

I hadn't traveled much, which most people found surprising, given my brother's job in the NFL. But when Logan played, we were in school, and his mom—our nana—stayed with us. Being in a place like this was a culture change that made my blood hum happily. Days like the one I'd had, feeling lonely, wasn't normal for me.

Maybe the night before, the hours I'd spent with Jude, was the reset I needed because my loneliness was long gone as I sat on the floor of that fast-moving train. I couldn't really see any of the blurred scenery passing because of where I was sitting—the buildings and cars and communities that sprawled out from London—but I felt at ease, all of the ickiness from before a distant memory. I sighed and took the last lukewarm sip of the coffee Carl had so generously given me.

My phone buzzed in my purse and I pulled it out. An email from Catherine Atwood caught my attention on the notifications, and I blew a gusty sigh of relief when I saw it.

Running behind. Will meet you thirty minutes later than we arranged.

Best, Catherine Atwood, PhD

Maybe the ghosts of the Brontë sisters, who I thought of as my patron saints if I had any, were looking out for me. They saw my opportunity for the epic shag and helped a sister out. It made me smile to imagine it.

The second notification also had me smiling, but for a different reason.

Finn: Second date with Keeley went great. We're going out again tomorrow.

My thumbs flew across the screen as I replied to my best friend.

Me: OMG I TOLD YOU

Me: Didn't I tell you she didn't actually think you were a nerd?

Finn: You did. She doesn't even mind that I'm working a thousand hours a week right now.

Me: An excellent trait for someone dating a doctor.

Finn: Future doctor. I hardly have time to sleep right now. Is it stupid to try to date someone I actually LIKE?

Me: Shut up. Go out with her again. I'll just never speak to you anymore because you'll be happy and busy and becoming a doctor and sucking face with her all the time.

Finn: True. You'll probably never see me when you get back either. I know how you feel about PDA.

Finn: Bauer and Claire are the WORST, btw. I saw