I tentatively sat down on the sofa as far from him as I could manage without sitting on the arm.
‘I have to say that I’ve quite enjoyed my week in Whit- Whits- The Bay,’ Andy said, ‘but I’m soooo glad it’s over. Couldn’t live in the sticks for long. Don’t know how you’ve coped with it these past few months.’
I prickled at the use of the word ‘coped’. Was he being rude?Smile politely. It was probably just a bad choice of word whilst under the influence. He won’t have meant anything by it.
‘I never wanted to move back here,’ I said, trying to keep my voice light and casual, ‘but I’m glad I did. I think living in London has made me appreciate it more. People go on about how much there is to do there but there’s so much to do here too. We’ve got the sea, the countryside, the moors, stacks of pretty villages and market towns, and it’s only an hour to York. We’ve got a good cinema, a theatre, great pubs and friendly people. What more could I want?’
Andy laughed. ‘You sound like an advert for “Visit Yorkshire”. Have you swallowed a brochure?’
I slurped on my coffee. ‘I’m just telling you what I think of the place.’
‘I’m glad you’ve liked it back here. It sounds like it’s been just what you needed but I bet you can’t wait to be living back in London again.’
‘You what?’
‘You’ll love being back there. I’ve got this great apartment by the Thames. It’s rented but there are some for sale in the same building. We can buy one if the commute’s okay for you.’
‘Commute?’
‘I’m assuming you’ll want to work until we start a family but it’s up to you after that. I can support us. I earn six figures you know.’ He tried to hold up six fingers but somehow managed eight. ‘Theremay be a couple of marketing roles at my place. I can put in a good word for you.’
I gasped. How the hell had he jumped so quickly from a few kisses to me moving to London, getting a job, buying a flat and having his babies? Was he winding me up? His serious expression suggested otherwise. ‘I’ve already got a job. I own a shop, remember?’
‘You must have had enough of playing shop by now, surely?’ Andy laughed and gave me what I’m sure was meant to be a gentle prod on the arm but it actually hurt like hell. I scowled at him.Do that again and Little Andy will be wearing this coffee.
‘Come on, Sarah, you’ve got a brain. You should be fast-tracking your career in London, not wasting away in a piddly little shop in some past-its-best northern seaside resort.’
‘I can’t believe you just said that.’ I slammed my mug down on the coffee table before I really did empty it in his lap. ‘That “piddly little shop” as you so delicately put it was started by someone who means the world to me – as you very well know – and I’ve put a lot of time, thought, and effort into developing the business. Could you be any ruder? And Whitsborough Bay isn’t some “past-its-best northern seaside resort”. It’s my home.’
‘It’s a shit hole. You know it and I know it. But we can leave soon.’
I wanted to slap him. Looking at the smug grin on his face, I saw again the self-assured arrogance he’d displayed all those years ago when he put his career ahead of me. I pictured myself that day outside his office when things ended. Back then, I’d been falling apart inside. Now, I was so much stronger and I wasn’t going to take the same old crap from him again.
I shuffled round on the sofa so I could face him fully, arms folded. Taking a deep breath, I said calmly, ‘Please forgive me for being a bit slow, but am I correct in thinking that you want me to close the shop, move down to London with you and get a marketing job again?’
‘Of course not! You don’t have toclosethe shop.’ He plumped a cushion and swivelled to fully face me too. ‘You could sell it. Or you could get a manager in to run it for you. Yeah. That would beperfect.’ He downed the remnants of wine from my glass. ‘Anyway, you don’t need to decide right now. I think we’ve done enough talking.’ He put the glass down and smiled seductively. ‘I’m sure we can awaken Little Andy…’ He leaned towards me, lips puckered, but I put my hand out and pushed him back.
‘Not so fast, Romeo. I’m not quite done with the talking.’ My voice sounded strong and confident – a contrast to the nervous butterflies in my stomach. ‘I know you said I had a brain and I should use it, but I’m having a real thickie moment so please bear with me. Did I or did I not tell you this week that moving up here came at just the right time for me because I didn’t enjoy living in London anymore, that I hate the thought of ever working for another big company, and that the shop is the best thing that’s ever happened to me?’
‘You said all of that stuff but I know you didn’t really mean it. You love London. You loved your job. You just lost your way a bit.’
‘Lost my way? Have you not listened to a word I’ve said?’
‘Of course I have.’
‘So what would make you think I’d ever want to leave the shop and go back to exactly the same life I had before? The life I hated.’
‘You didn’t really hate it, though. You just came to your senses about that loser Jason then panicked and changed everything else.’
‘What?’
Andy wagged his finger at me. ‘I think this floristry malarkey is like a gap year for you – a chance to find yourself before you return to normality. Anyway, when you move back to London, it won’t beexactlythe same. You’ll have me instead of Jason.’
I closed my eyes and covered my face with my hands. ‘We split up because you put your career ahead of me. Agreed?’ I lowered my hands on the last word and looked at him.
‘You know I was at risk of losing my job.’
‘Just answer the question. Did you or did you not put your career ahead of me?’
