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Maybe right now I just need something steady.

That’s how I’m looking at my date with Si too – not that I’m going to tell anyone about it, not yet. Well, the mistake I made last time was rushing ahead of myself, getting too serious too quickly.

With Si, my plan is to see how it goes, see what happens…

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited though.

13

The sun is shining – I love when that happens in the autumn. Everything is truly golden this evening.

As I arrive outside Si’s house, I pause for a second at the gate. It’s a detached with a decent-sized front garden. It looks well looked after, but it’s autumn, so the flowerbeds are covered with leaves. Still, there are walls of evergreen trees on either side, providing plenty of greenery to break up the oranges and browns.

My heart pounds in my chest as I approach the front door. I pause again to smooth down my dress, take a deep breath, and then knock – I’d hover a little longer, psych myself up, but the evening air is chilly. I regret not wearing a proper coat, but my nice coat still needs digging out, and I didn’t want to turn up in my pink puffer coat. Almost immediately, the door opens, and there’s Si, looking effortlessly handsome. I can’t help but smile, because he’s wearing an adorable apron featuring a skewered sausage and the slogan: Prick with a fork.

‘Hey, Lia,’ he greets me with a warm smile. ‘Sorry, the door only opens from the inside, or with a key, at the moment. It’s being replaced soon.’

‘Oh, I knocked anyway,’ I tell him. ‘Don’t worry about it.’

I step in through the open door, standing beside Si in the hallway.

It’s nice to come into the warmth, to the smell of something cooking.

‘This house belonged to my mum and stepdad,’ he explains. ‘Now that my mum is living with her new husband, she wants to sell the place. But she said if I help her do it up first, I could have some of the money from the sale. So, I’m doing DIY in my spare time, working on it as I go.’

I look around the hallway, admiring the effort he’s put into it. You can tell that it’s a work in progress, to modernise the place, but it is clearly actually in progress.

‘How’s it going?’ I ask, genuinely curious.

‘Everything’s more expensive than you think it’s going to be,’ he says with a sigh. ‘And there are always new reasons why things suddenly cost more or take a lot longer. I’m funding the work, so I’m looking into ways to make some extra money on the side.’

‘Good for you,’ I say sincerely. ‘I probably would have given up the second it got hard.’

He grins.

‘Money is a good motivator,’ he says. ‘After love and revenge, it’s probably the number one thing that makes people do things that aren’t easy.’

I laugh.

‘That sounds like something from a mafia movie.’

He laughs too, leading me into the kitchen-dining room.

‘Well, my cooking, unlike revenge, will be served hot. And it’s nearly ready, so you can open the wine, if you like.’

I notice that the table is beautifully set. The wine and glasses are laid out, so I get to work.

‘Everything looks amazing,’ I say, glancing around, appreciating all the effort he has gone to.

‘Thanks,’ he replies. ‘I hope you’re hungry.’

‘As long as it’s not revenge on the menu,’ I joke, making him laugh.

‘Not tonight,’ he calls back with a wink. ‘Tonight, it’s all about good food and good company.’

I can’t help but smile.

As I sit down at the table, Si looks over at me, clearly pleased with himself.