For the moments that they held each other, Rupert was only aware of the scent of Athena’s hair, of the shyness of his own lips on hers, and the absolute relief it was to hold and to be held. But as soon as there was the smallest separation between them, it seemed as if that space filled rapidly with all manner of their concerns, until they stood facing each other, the silence filled with the noise of their individual thoughts.
Rupert couldn’t remember who had made the first move but suspected that he had. Athena had responded freely; he felt that in her warmth, but he felt ashamed now, because there was nothing that he could offer her. He went to speak, but she spoke before him, her eyes cast down.
“I’m leaving for America in a week.”
He had known that she’d considered going but had put
