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“The clouds will have come in over the North Sea” Alexander puts down the basket, pointing vaguely over his shoulder “Norway is just that way”

I fail to overpower a shiver as I place the bottle down and fold my arms over my chest And not just to hidearound, feeling his eyes onit more than I should

“It’s a folly, I suppose you’d call it Romanesque Or at least, that’s what the intention was You’re freezing” He co on my upper arms “I don’t have a jacket to offer you this time”

You could offer ins to slide his hands up and down vigorously

“I have an ad to face hi about before the rain I lance his way “Of you, I mean”

He doesn’t answer though his hands slow

“That night in London I took it while you weren’t looking It was to send to ht’ve had it in mind to practice your taxidermy skills on me”

Alexander’s laughter reverberates off the stone walls, his hands falling away Judging it safe to do so, I turn I don’t want to ives in to spontaneous amusement

“And if you say anything about stuffing,” I add, “rene bottle”

“I wouldn’t drea”

“Uh-huh” I just abouthis ja oncompanionable

Like friends?

I ignore the pinch in ht smile to my face

“Don’t get bigheaded I deleted it afterward”

“You didn’t keep it? To remember me by?”

Is it still a lie if you don’t speak? I did delete it And not five minutes later, I es

But I’ that

“Well, I know it didn’t appear on your Instagrae”