‘It’s not them, it’s you!’ Will’s raised voice bounced around the cove.
Leah stared at him.
‘It’s you, Leah,’ he said again, his voice more gentle as he ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Every time I saw you yesterday, more music started. New music.’ He shook his head, clearly struggling to explain. ‘God, I’m crap at this.’
‘Crap at what, exactly?’ said Leah, her voice low.
The desire to run was gone. A seismic shift of some sort was taking place… but she was here for it. And whether it destroyed her or changed her life forever, she wasn’t going anywhere until she found out.
‘Apologising. I’m crap at apologising for being a weird, floaty asshole,’ said Will. ‘For disappearing on you and making you feel like you don’t belong. Because you belong here, Leah. Wherever I am, you belong there. Wherever you are, I want to be there. Please. Don’t leave. I mean… unless you really want to. But… I’d love it if you’d stay.’
Leah swallowed a knot of emotion. She wasn’t sure if it was a cheer or a sob trying to break loose.
‘And if I stay, what happens next?’
‘Next?’ said Will, relief flooding his face. ‘Well… next we tuck into Ewan’s scones, because I think he’ll sulk otherwise.’
A giggle escaped, and Leah clapped her hand to her mouth.
‘After that,’ said Will, ‘I’d like to take you on a date.’
‘A date?’
He nodded. ‘A real date. Only if you want to, of course.’
‘Depends on what you’ve got planned,’ said Leah.
‘Strawberry picking,’ he said, not quite meeting her eye.
Leah laughed again. It was another thing straight off her holiday bucket list.
‘Okay,’ she said. ‘First, answer me one thing… and this is the deciding factor as to whether I say yes or not.’
She watched as Will’s face grew serious, and she could swear he paled slightly.
‘You ready?’
He nodded seriously.
‘Scones,’ she said, cocking her head, already struggling to keep her face straight. ‘Jam or cream first?’
Will let out an involuntary snort of laughter that was full of joy and relief. ‘Oh, the pressure!’
‘Just be honest!’ said Leah.
‘I know we’re in Devon, but I’m a jam first boy. Cream on top. Always have been.’ He paused and stared at her, clearly waiting for her verdict. ‘Did I get it right?’
Leah pretended to think for a long moment, then, heaving herself to her feet, she picked up her cushion without saying a word.
‘Wait, where are you going?!’ gasped Will, looking panicked.
Leah rounded the picnic blanket, tossed the cushion down next to Will’s and kneeled down.
‘Right here,’ she said. Leaning forwards, she wrapped her arms around Will’s neck. ‘For the record,’ she said quietly, locking her eyes with his wide ones, ‘as long as jam, scones and cream were still involved, you couldn’t have got it wrong.’
The moment her lips met Will’s, everything fell silent. The waves, the gulls’ calls, even the sound of her racing heart faded into the feeling of his mouth on hers.
‘So,’ she said, pulling back after several long minutes. ‘I guess we need to talk about what happens after the date…’
