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Jamie laughed with her and she realised something subtle had changed between them. Weirdly, the light that had flicked on when he’d turned the engine off dimmed slightly, and the radio seemed to get a little louder as a particularly swoony, croony song started to play. The street lights poured through the window, turning the air golden. Sitting in a car pulled up at the side of the road shouldn’t feel like this, but it was almost magical, and she felt anticipation buzzing and fizzing through her.

‘Do you think now might be a better time?’

‘For my guess?’

‘Yes.’ She loved that he so often seemed to know – without asking – what she was thinking. ‘So long as you’re convinced you’re right.’

He wet his lips – an excruciatingly wonderful thing to watch – and nodded slowly. ‘No pressure then.’ This time his laugh fell flat under the weight of the pressure that was definitely there. ‘I think… I hope… that you might have wished for the type of thing that doesn’t happen by accident. The type of thing that some people might think flowers could mean. The type of thing you have to choose. Because it could change everything.’

Her breath hitched, just a little – confirmation. ‘Vague… but probably accurate. Though maybe you’re just hedging your bets.’

‘Maybe I’m nervous in case I’m wrong,’ he confessed. ‘Because if I’m right, it’s something you’ve already admitted to having concerns about. Which makes me think maybe this is a very dangerous conversation.’

‘What if I was feeling brave? Are you?’

‘I’d have to be,’ he admitted carefully. ‘Because if I’m wrong with my guess, it could change things in a very wrong way.’

‘And if you’re right?’ Her bangles chimed softly and caught the light as she moved, shifting ever so slightly closer.

‘Then it would change things in the very, very right way.’

‘I think I like the very, very right way.’

He leaned forward slowly, giving her plenty of time and space to move back – and she liked him all the more for it, for keeping his promise. But she edged forward, welcoming him into her space as she breathed in his clean, warm, fruity scent. His lips curved into a slow smile, and his eyes darkened even more as he leaned closer. He hesitated again – his lips barely an inch from hers and his breath hot against her skin. She closed the gap herself, brushing her lips against his.

He kissed her a couple of times – tentative, gentle and sweet – before pulling back, his eyes searching her face for something, checking. She smiled and he grinned before leaning in again. This time he reached up to cup her face, holding her closer, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. He deepened the kiss, still gentle and unhurried, not pressuring her, but surer now.

There weren’t fireworks or explosions or anything so clichéd; this heat was deeper and steadier – a sweet reassurance that tingled through her as his tongue brushed hers, letting her taste him. It was soft and heavy and intimate; a warm secret meant only for them.

He pulled back again, too soon but at the same time far too late – as kisses went it had been brief, but it was enough to change everything. Her heart pounded so hard she was surprised he couldn’t hear it, and she felt almost dizzy as her world tilted and reshaped itself around her.

He rested his forehead gently against hers, his breath too fast. ‘Wow.’

‘Yeah,’ she agreed, still dazed.

‘So my guess wasn’t wrong?’

‘No.’ She laughed. ‘That was very, very right.’

Neither hurried to move, not wanting to disturb the spell and the warm certainty that was settling between them. It was cosy, comfortable, delicious. Full of promise for a future that was only just beginning.

6

Amrita stopped tapping her fingers on the table and checked her phone again: still no message from Jamie and he was fifteen minutes late now. They’d been struggling to get their diaries to line up for nearly two weeks – and now they finally had got the time, he was late. She was tempted to just give up and leave; she’d promised herself she wasn’t going to be led on – or lied to – by anyone ever again. Not after the way her ex had behaved, and how badly he’d hurt her. She didn’t get those vibes from Jamie, but she hadn’t exactly recognised them the last time.

She checked her phone again, making sure she hadn’t misread their conversation planning their lunch date. She waited a couple more minutes, drained what was left of her coffee and had an awkward moment where the barman caught her eye and smiled sympathetically. Embarrassing.

Sighing, she rang Jamie.

‘Hi, this is a nice surprise.’

‘Is it?’

‘Yeah. I wasn’t expecting to get to speak to you until a bit later. Unless… you’re not calling to cancel, are you?’

‘Me? I thought you were the one cancelling.’

‘Why would you think that? I’m really looking forward to our date.’