Page 80 of The Wedding Forecast

I WAKE UP in his bed, and he’s still asleep. I get up, pee and brush my teeth with my finger and his toothpaste. I spray on a bit of his deodorant. I use his hairbrush to brush my hair, and then pull my telltale long strands out of it. I use moisturiser on a tissue to remove last night’s smeared eyeliner. I look okay. Still jet-lagged. But cute enough. I snoop through his bathroom cabinet and drawers a little. Just light snooping. Nothing creepy. He has a lot of skin-care products, which makes sense for his job. He needs to look after his skin.

He’s still asleep when I crawl back into bed. I check my phone. Hayley has sent me three messages this morning.

Wake up!

I need the gossip!

You are not ditching me on my first non-conference day!! We have a plan!

That’s a lot of exclamation marks. I did briefly consider staying in Mac’s bed all day. Last night, I thought, I’ll get Hayley to send my things over in an Uber and I won’t leave this apartment until I fly home. In the light of day, the reality of being in New York with only a few days left and a lot to see hits me. I’m not lying in bed all day.

I write back to Hayley, telling her I’ll meet her at the diner in half an hour.

I’m already here! Please tell me you aren’t still in bed.

I nudge Mac.

‘Morning,’ I say.

‘Mmmmmm,’ he murmurs.

‘Not a morning person?’

‘No,’ he mumbles.

‘Well I have to go and meet Hayley.’

He opens an eye.

‘You have plans without me?’

‘I did consider staying in your bed all day.’

‘Yes. Yes. Let’s do that,’ he says, pulling me down on top of him.

‘Hayley is waiting for me,’ I say. I am already sinking back into him, physically into him, but also into a Mac bubble of sex and movies and delicious snacks and warm bed.

But I slide out of his arms and into yesterday’s clothes. I turn and see him watching me with a look on his face that makes me want to forget everything and kiss him.

‘Don’t look at me like that.’

‘This is my looking-at-Anna face, sorry.’

‘I’ve got to go. Hayley is at that Sarabeth’s diner place waiting for me.’

He sits up. ‘I’ll come too, to make sure you get there safely. Have breakfast with you.’

‘I would love that but I’m leaving right now.’

‘Give me ten minutes.’

‘I can give you two minutes.’

‘Five.’

‘You’re wasting a whole minute on this argument,’ I say, but he’s already out of bed and in the bathroom.

‘There’s no time for a shower, I didn’t shower,’ I shout when I hear the water running.