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‘Really?’

‘Really.’

The elevator pinged and doors whooshed open, but neither made to move for a few seconds, enjoying the moment. It wasn’t until the doors started to close that Jamie stirred and caught one of them, triggering them open again.

‘Remember, I warned you that I’m messy,’ Amrita teased as he slid the card into the lock and opened the door.

Turning on the light revealed an explosion of colourful chaos with clothes, shoes, bags, make-up and toiletries strewn across the room.

‘I so wanted to argue with you, but I don’t think I can.’

‘If you’re saying you can’t handle me being messy, we might need to have an awkward conversation soon.’ She gathered things up, a blur of colour. And an oddly familiar garment of white silk, though his brain was too tired to figure out why something he could never have seen before would spark the feeling of remembrance.

‘I think I might actually be a bit relieved.’ He shut the door and leaned against it.

‘How so?’ She picked up some lacy, delicate-looking things that made his brain turn for a loop. ‘Jamie?’

‘Sorry.’ The tiredness was really hitting hard. ‘I just meant, it’s nice to see this side of you.’

‘My messy chaos vibes?’ She laughed as she cleared the bed into a suitcase.

‘Real.’

She turned to look at him. ‘That’s not what I expected you to say.’

He pushed away from the door to carefully gather her in his arms. ‘You are so amazing in so many ways, Amrita. You’re kind, passionate, fiercely committed to your patients, and driven. And you’re sweet, funny and incredibly beautiful. And your cooking is phenomenal. And you have no qualms about pulling me up when you think I’m wrong – but you do it so nicely. To be honest, you’re a little intimidating at times.’

‘You find me intimidating?’ Her brow crinkled. ‘I’m not sure I like that.’

‘I mean it in the most complimentary way possible. But this?’ He gestured around. ‘It’s kind of reassuring. And real. And I get the impression you might not share your “messy chaos vibes” with many people.’

‘You’re right. I definitely don’t.’

‘Like I said. Seeing this side of you – messy and real and just a little bit imperfect – it’s nice.’

‘You’re a funny one, Jamie Collins.’ She stroked his cheek gently, then kissed him softly. ‘But I’m really glad to have you in my life.’

‘Mine definitely got a bit more magical the day I met you.’ He wasn’t sure if it was just the length of the day, or a bit of latent Hudsbury magic that had clung to him, but he couldn’t stop the yawn that choked him, cutting off any other comments he might have made about magic.

‘You’ve had a day of it, Jamie. Do you want to use the bathroom first and get settled down? It’s going to take me a while to take all this off.’

‘Are you sure you’re OK with that?’

‘Wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t.’ She hung his suit up for him. ‘Go on.’

‘Thank you.’ He hesitated at the door. ‘Do you, um…?’

‘Yes?’

‘Mind seeing if there’s any spare blankets?’

‘The bed seems pretty well made up, Jamie.’

‘Yeah, but that’s yours.’

‘Well, where are you planning on sleeping? In a chair?’

He cast around the room as if hoping a sofa or spare bed would suddenly appear. ‘The floor will be fine.’