Page 67 of Love, Accidentally

‘It sounds innocent enough.’

‘Mmm. I know I joke about Gina because she so obviously has the hots for Dad, but that feels safe because I know he’s not interested in her. The idea of him actually dating though…’

‘I don’t think it’s a date,’ I reassure him. ‘It sounds to me more like two old friends meeting up to reminisce about the past.’

‘But they used to be lovers.’

‘A long time ago.’

‘They’re both free agents,’ he persists.

‘And she’s a pilot who lives on the other side of the world. As someone who’s dated a pilot in the past, I can tell you that the lifestyle doesn’t mix that well with relationships, and that’s when they live in the same country as you.’

‘Oh, God. What if she persuades him to move out there to be with her?’

I laugh. ‘Slow down, tiger! They’re meeting for a drink, not moving in together.’

He sighs. ‘You’re right. Do you think I should go along though, just in case?’

‘I don’t think your dad will appreciate being chaperoned. You need to trust him.’

‘He’s vulnerable.’

‘For God’s sake! You’re as bad as each other, you two. First I have your dad warning me about you, and now you’re getting all overprotective of him. He’ll meet this Audrey, they’ll have a chat, she’ll go back to Australia and maybe they’ll keep in touch. I don’t think your dad is interested in any more than that. Look at it this way: he’s just starting to emerge from his shell after a really tough time. It’s a good thing, isn’t it?’

‘What do you mean, Dad warned you about me?’

‘Did you hear the rest of what I just said?’

‘He’s got no business?—’

‘And neither have you. That’s my point. Let it go. You’re protective of each other, which is nice, but don’t stifle each other in the process, hmm?’

He stares at me for so long without speaking that I’m starting to wonder if I’ve said too much. Just as I’m about to break the silence by backing down, he opens his mouth.

‘I guess we have become a little bit enmeshed.’

‘I think enmeshed is too strong. You’ve both been through a lot and you’ve pulled together amazingly well. I love how you look out for each other.’

‘But it’s time to step back. That’s what you’re saying, isn’t it?’

‘I’m just saying give him room. He’ll be OK.’

‘And what about you and me?’

I’m unprepared for the question, even though it’s been hanging in the air since we came out here.

‘What do you want?’ I ask him after a pause.

He sighs. ‘I wish that were an easy question to answer. What if I’m not enough for you? What if I’m too much? I don’t exactly have a rich tapestry of relationship experience to draw on and the little I have was hardly positive, as you know. I don’t want to ruin our friendship.’

‘Who says you’re going to ruin anything? You say you’re scared you might be too much, or not enough, but that’s not what I see. I see a man who stepped up when his father needed him. I see a man who has worked his socks off to overcome a significant obstacle. I see a man who my nephew idolises and my sister, I kid you not, instructed me to marry immediately having only met you once.’

‘She didn’t!’

‘I think she was joking, but I wouldn’t be completely sure. The point, Will, is that the more I find out about you, the more there is to like. Maybe you need to trust that you’re enough as you are and have more faith in yourself. And me, actually.’

We stand there for a minute, awkwardly digesting our revelations. Part of me is screaming for him to just take me in his arms and kiss me, but I know that’s not Will’s way. In fact, I realise with a shudder, that’s more the kind of thing that Luke would have done. Will needs time, and I’m going to need to learn to take things slowly and be patient. I can do that, as long as he doesn’t take forever. He’s looking at me with those extraordinary eyes, but his expression is soft. On impulse, I take a step towards him and open my arms. Another step forward and I’m closing them around his back and turning my head to the side so I can press into his chest. There’s the briefest of pauses before his arms come up to wrap around me in return, and we’re there. I can feel his face sinking to the top of my head as he breathes in, and it’s all I can do not to sigh with pleasure. His heart is thumping strongly through his coat and I’m fighting the urge to undo the zipper and burrow inside to get closer to it. Is he going to kiss me, I wonder? I’d really like him to, but I’m not going to force anything. Just being here is enough for now. The rest can wait.

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