Page 116 of If I Never Met You

Laurie sucked in a breath that went to the bottom of her ribcage.

‘It’s true that I haven’t got the strength for another rejection, after you try out being a one-woman man and find it’s not for you.’

‘That’s not going to happen.’

‘How do you know that?’

‘I just do.’

‘Bit risky …’

‘What if I’m right?’ His hair was so dark when it was wet. Laurie felt this was sort of detail was unhelpful, in coming to a reasoned decision. ‘The risk isn’t worth it? I’d risk anything for what I felt between us tonight.’

‘I’ve only recently mended myself. I don’t feel so brave,’ she said, a small wobble in her words.

‘OK. I’ll be brave for both of us. Kiss me. Afterwards you can tell me that there’s not enough here worth taking a chance on, and we should leave it as mates.’

‘I don’t owe you a snog, Jamie Carter!’ Laurie said, laughing.

‘No, you don’t.’

Jamie moved in and Laurie almost sprang back with the shock of finally being at the point of something she’d thought about doing, so many times.

‘But that doesn’t mean I want to kiss you any less.’

He inclined his head, ducked down and when his lips met hers, he was right: Laurie forgot every single objection she had.

She put her hands on the back of his head and her arm round his body and finally gave in to longing she had no idea she could still feel – no, that she couldeverfeel; this was something a few leagues above her and Dan’s most intense early years. She and Dan hadn’t known each other when their lips had first met, she and Jamie were finally expressing something that had built and built.

Time slowed, the rain thundered down outside.

After minutes of kissing passionately, he pulled back slightly.

‘Why didn’t we do that ages ago?’ Jamie said, his eyes blue-black.

‘Because we’d have known how we felt about each other straight away? The cat would’ve been right out of the bag, and we’d have had to deal with the cat parading around.’ Laurie grinned. ‘I don’t think I could’ve carried off kissing you like that as just a contractual obligation.’

‘Yes. That’s true.’ He smiled.

‘Jamie. The reason I kissed Angus is … after we danced together, I came back into the room, you were talking to some beautiful girl. That’s what I know being in love with you is going to be like. Like trying to keep running water in a sieve. I know this – we – are new right now, so it’s exciting. It won’t always be new.’

Jamie frowned. ‘Katya? From Barker’s? She’s gay.’

‘OK. You still see my greater point.’

‘An hour ago I had to physically detach you from another man, and your take away is thatImight cheat?’

Laurie laughed. ‘Come on, though. You’re asking me to accept a major change in your outlook, here.’

‘I get why you want guarantees,’ Jamie said. ‘I can only make you a promise.’

‘Which is?’

‘Whatever happens next … you’re my soulmate.’

41

‘Oh no, fuck that! You don’t get to do: “We kissed, woo, wavy lines screen fade”. We need details.’

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