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It’s true I never was any good with a Rubik’s Cube, not that it ever stopped me

“Tellme here” Which is clearly what he’s about to do “Lyle, you can’t leave! I’ve got nowhere to go but back in there” I point exaggeratedly back the e ca in that hotel”

“I don’t quite see—”

“If I go back in there, Mr and Mrs Let’s Get It On ed my mind about that three o’clock appointment”

“You could always go so his features into so it

“So back tothataround London because it’s no fun when you’re by yourself And I would know, having roamed around the city lots of weekends to kill tie, to finish up at birthday parties and playdates I’ve visited enough bougie cafés and drunk enough coffee to sustain a third-world country’s GDP and wandered around nershopped till I’ve been ready to drop These are all things I have no plans on doing today Not when Mr Viking here is intriguing the hell out of me

“But I et lost” The words fall out of my mouth without even a flicker of reher

“I beg your pardon?” he asks, his diction razor-sharp

“I’m on vacation” It’s not technically a lie “Today is my last day in London, but otten lost three ti for a CVS” As he frowns at hter “A pharhtening rip on his forearm, I tentatively lift my foot

“That won’t be necessary,” he ansith a worried frown “I really don’t—”

“Honestly, I’m amazed I found my way back to the hotel” Oh, woe isit on a little thick Did I e? “I have such a terrible sense of direction Oh!” I add as though struck by a sudden thought “Why don’t you let me buy you a coffee?” I say

At the exact same time as he says, “Perhaps, I canescort you to the nearest coffee shop?”

“Deal!”

“I’m sorry?” He shakes his head, a little dazed, I think

“I can buy you a coffee as a thank you and replace the one you left behind” I slip h his and lean on hi