Erin gestured to the door. ‘Now will you come with me?’
Joyce stopped resisting and led the way.
Left to our own devices, Alex again glanced over at the bar, but he was evidently too polite to cut and run. Not that I blamed him for wanting to escape. The mixed signals I’d sent had to be as confusing to him as they were to me; Alex probably thought I was some sort of tease.
Our eyes met and knowing one of us had to say something, I drank a bit more mojito for Dutch courage. ‘So how’ve you been since…?’ Referring to our almost-kiss, my cheeks flushed. Cringing, I wanted to kick myself for drawing attention to the very thing we’d been avoiding.
‘Fine. And you?’
‘Fine.’
Quiet descended once more, and while Alex played with his hands, I again picked up my glass. I drew hard on the straw creating a long loud slurp. Horrified, I froze.
Alex’s face broke into a smile and relieved the ice between us had finally broken, I relaxed too.
‘You should have done that sooner,’ Alex said.
I chuckled, wishing I had.
Alex looked down at his hands again and taking a deep breath, he exhaled as if preparing to speak.
I could tell from his expression that, like me, he’d been thinking and knew what had to be done. As he tried to conjure the right words, having planned on saying the same thing I thought it only right I save him the embarrassment. ‘I agree,’ I said, jumping in first.
Alex squared his shoulders. ‘I think it’s for the best.’
Taking in his deep brown eyes, strong jaw and perfect lips, I nodded. Alex moving into the flat might have been a great idea in theory, but in practice it would have been impossible. Just looking at him stirred something in me and after our two close calls, I couldn’t trust myself to keep my distance for a third time. ‘Me too.’
Again, we fell silent, and my brain scrambled for something to say.
‘Are you all ready for Christmas?’ Alex asked.
‘I don’t have much to do now we’re going to Gideon’s parents’ house.’
‘I see.’
A look that I couldn’t decipher flashed across Alex’s face and I winced. Considering Gideon’s behaviour towards the man in front of me, I should have been more sensitive.
Alex chewed on his lip as if deliberating something and opening his mouth to speak, he fell quiet again. Observing him, I felt saddened. The Alex I’d got to know was confident. Words came easy. Nothing about him had been hesitant.
He suddenly gathered himself and leaning forward in his seat, he placed his arms on the table. He looked at me direct. ‘I need to say something.’
As he held my gaze, the seriousness in his eyes was both scary and exciting. My heart, along with the butterflies playing havoc in my tummy, wanted to hear what was on Alex’s mind. They willed him to tell me I was making a mistake. That Gideon wasn’t the man for me, he was. ‘Please don’t,’ I said.
Alex stared at me, his eyes narrowing as if he was weighing up my request. His shoulders slumped. ‘Okay,’ he said, his voice gentle. He regarded me for a moment longer, and giving the table a quick double tap, he straightened himself up. Alex indicated the bar. ‘I should get back to it.’
Rising to his feet, he picked up my empty glass. Stepping away from the table, he paused, as if needing to take one last look at me. ‘Friends?’ he asked.
I smiled and nodded. ‘Friends.’
CHAPTER29
CHRISTMAS EVE
Istuck the last piece of Sellotape onto the sewing kit I’d wrapped for Ewan. I wouldn’t normally gift wrap items, but seeing the six-year old’s eyes light up made the extra service worth it. ‘There you go,’ I said, handing the package to him.
Ewan looked to his dad. ‘Do you think Mum will like it?’
Aiden grinned. ‘She’ll love it.’ He turned his attention to me. ‘Thanks for this. We’d have made a complete mess of it.’ He ruffled the little boy’s hair. ‘Wouldn’t we, Ewan?’
