Page 72 of Second Chances
‘I can’t believe you’ve done this, I don’t… don’t really know what to say.’
‘You don’t need to say anything. And the fact that your first comment was to ask if Ellie and I could come is more than enough. That in itself is pretty awesome. But you know, we don’t have to – don’t feel you have to take us.’
‘Are you insane? It would be so much more fun with you two. We’re like a proper little family.’
‘We are. I like it.’
‘So do I.’
There was a silence while they just stared at each other and the hairs rose up on Sylvie’s arms as she considered that this could be her moment, thisshouldbe her moment. She smiled sheepishly at him; she didn’t really know how to smile seductively and suspected she’d look a bit like she was having a fit if she tried, but sheepish she excelled at. And then just as she planned to move in he started to speak again. Gah!!
‘And, sorry, but just this bit and then I’m done and you can say anything you like. Honest.’
‘Go on.’ If she couldn’t kiss him, she was quite happy listening to him. Not quite as good but a close second. And she was definitely going to try the kiss thing as soon as she could.
‘And, just so this is a happy thing, with no stresses, and I hope you’re not cross, but I set up an Avios account in your name – that’s the new name for air miles – I’ve accumulated so many, like so many, over the years that I thought if I could give you a chunk you could fly whenever suited you without having to worry about prices outside of term-time and all that stuff. Now…’ he took a deep breath and leant against the banquette and Sylvie could feel his eyes warm every last bit of her, ‘…I’m sorry I monopolized all of that and I hope you forgive me, but I was a bit excited and I wanted to let you know what all this was about. So that’s it. I’m done. It seems we’re all going to Morocco. Now, your turn, and I promise not to interrupt. What was it you wanted to say to me?’
Sylvie looked at him and knew exactly what she wanted to do – it was just she had no idea how to translate it into words. She wasn’t good at fancy statements; Alex was eloquent, she was just her. Oh God, he was waiting so patiently, how on earth could she say it? Should she say how much she respected him? No, that was dull.
Should she say that just glimpsing the tops of his arms poking out of his T-shirt sleeves was enough to make her want to rip his zip down? No, that was pervy.
Should she say she was an idiot and she should never have said he wasn’t her type when he was exactly that? In fact, she had discovered Alex was now her only type. Just him. Only him.
Oh God, what could she say?
She drew a deep breath, opened her eyes wide, leant in, the smell of him making her dizzy, and chose her words.
‘Alex.’
‘Yes.’
‘You are my best friend, and the best man I have ever known, and I’m afraid I may have mucked everything up but I have fallen so deeply in love with you I don’t know what to do. Other than grab the moment. So I’m grabbing the moment and I’m telling you how I feel. So please, kiss me now before I explode, and never ever use the wordplatonicabout us again. Unless I’ve got this all wrong and I’ve just made a complete tit of myself in which case, pass me my coat and I’ll slide out and we’ll pretend I never said any of this. But I would much prefer the kiss. I’m really hoping you would too.’ The words were measured and slow, despite her embarrassment and determination just to get them out. She felt like an idiot. That barely made sense. Except it seemed it did.
‘Really? You’re not just saying it because of this evening?’
‘Oh, dear God, man. Yes, I mean it. Just bloody kiss me.’
And Alex, with bright eyes and a racing heart, leant in and did exactly what he was told.
[The end]
