The door to the Institute bookstore clinked open.
Jem looked up from where he was cataloguing books. "Hello?" he called.
Making his way to the front of the bookstore, he found Tessa standing there, looking awkward. A stray strand of hair fell across her forehead, and he found himself wanting to tuck it behind her ear. She wore a grey beanie, appropriate for the cold London weather, and a simple green dress.
"Tessa," he said in surprise. "Hi! I haven't seen you in a few weeks!"
He hadn't seen her since she and Will broke up. Will hadn't explicitly told him, but it didn't take much to notice how Tessa had stopped showing up at their apartment and how Will spent more time in his room now. He was alone a lot of the time, and when he did want to socialize with other human beings he was sullen and angry.
In other words, he had gone back to the way he had been before he met Tessa. Except this time, it seemed worse, because he seemed exhausted and tired.
Tessa nodded and smiled at Jem. She, too, looked weary, Jem noticed. She had dark circles around her eyes and her face was pale and drawn.
"How've you been keeping?" he asked more gently.
Tessa looked around. "Oh, well, you know, fine."
That was enough to tell Jem that she hadn't been fine.
"I've been spending a lot of time on my novel," Tessa continued. "It's coming along nicely now. Every time I sit down in front of my computer, I write more and more and more."
"That's good," Jem said encouragingly. "I have never felt the same way you do about books and literature, but I'm always pleased to hear about someone fulfilling their passion."
Tessa smiled. "I might not fulfill it though. I have to go back to the US eventually."
"Why?" Jem took a step forward.
Tessa shuffled her feet. "My life here isn't exactly free," she confessed. "I'm living on the money I saved up while in New York, and a bit of the money that Aunt Harriet left me when she died."
Jem nodded – Tessa had already told him about her aunt Harriet.
"But while I'm here, I haven't been making any money," Tessa continued. "I've just been writing my book. And that's all good, but I think eventually I'll have to go back to New York."
Jem heard the tone of dread in her voice.
"You don't have to if you don't want to," he said, taking another step forward. "Stay here, in London. You could take on a job."
Tessa fixed her grey eyes on his.
"I know Charlotte's always looking for helpers here at the bookstore," Jem continued. "It doesn't pay a terrible lot, but it'd certainly be enough to live on, especially if you're working here full-time. Will and I do part-time jobs here."
Tessa examined her feet.
"That's awfully kind of you, Jem, but I'm not sure I'd be welcome here."
Jem took a deep breath. At last, they had come to the elephant in the room.
"You can still have civil relations with Will," he said softly. "You don't have to be on bad terms. You can be on speaking terms, and be co-workers here. You needn't be the best of friends."
Tessa stared up at the ceiling.
"And I'll be here," Jem went on. "I'd welcome you to the bookstore. And I know Charlotte would. And if ever Will is unkind, we'd be more than happy to – well – see to it that he isn't."
"I don't want to be a burden," Tessa said. "I don't want to inconvenience you."
"You're not." Instinctively, Jem put out his arm, and rested his hand on her forearm. "I'm helping out a friend."
Tessa's grey eyes widened, and Jem saw once again that vulnerability, that need for a friend, and his heart beat faster.
"If you're sure," she said hesitantly.
"I am." Jem said firmly. "You can speak with Charlotte whenever you'd like. And I'll come with you. And then you can stay in London."
Tessa grinned, and in that moment her dark eye circles disappeared. All traces of her sadness were gone, and she was the happy, cheerful girl that Jem had seen so much of.
"Yes," she said softly. "I can stay in London."
"There's so much to stay for, after all," Jem went on. "Piccadilly Circus beats Times Square any day."
Tessa laughed. "Yes," she agreed. "It seems I do have quite a lot to stay for."
Jem grinned at her. Then he plucked up his courage.
"Would you care to have dinner with me tonight, Tessa?"
Immediately he felt the heat of the blood rushing into his cheeks, and he cursed himself. But if Tessa saw him flush, she did not evince it, and instead smiled at him happily.
"I'd love to, Jem." She glanced at her watch, and sighed. "But now, I'm afraid I really must go. I stopped by the bookstore on my way to get some groceries for Sophie – I really should run."
"I'll text you," Jem promised as she stepped out.
He retreated once more to cataloguing the books of the bookstore. But anyone who saw him would've noted a spring in his step and a sideways smirk on his face. And as he finished his shift and stepped out onto the London streets, he began to whistle.