I twisted a curl of hair round my finger. ‘Elise and I thought you were seeing someone else.’
‘No! Who?’
‘Lisa.’
‘Why would you think that?’
‘I realised that I’d made a mistake with Andy and got Elise to drive me to your house so I could tell you how I really felt about you but Lisa came out although, of course, I didn’t know who she was at the time. You had your dressing gown on and you hugged and kissed her so we put two and two together and…’
‘And you thought I was sleeping with her?’
I covered my eyes, cringing. ‘Something like that. Everything like that. Elise kept spotting the two of you together, but Mum and Clare convinced me I should fight for you so I came to Lighthouse Point on New Year’s Day to tell you how I felt but Lisa was there too. It looked like you were kissing so we left and…’
Nick laughed and lifted my hands away from my eyes. Still holding them in his, he said gently, ‘Back up a bit. You said you were coming to tell me how you really felt? You already know how I feel about you. Those feelings haven’t changed. If it’s possible, they’ve got even stronger. What were you going to tell me?’
Be brave. Say it.‘That you’re the one I want to spend the rest of my life with.’
Nick took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment as if absorbing this unexpected piece of information. ‘It’s definitely over with Andy?’
‘Definitely. It never really started. It was a huge mistake. He?—’
‘You don’t have to explain,’ Nick said. ‘All I need to know is that he’s gone and he won’t be back.’
‘He’s gone and I’ve told him I never want to hear from him again.’
‘And Steven?’
I smiled. ‘That’s over too. I took my profile off the website on New Year’s Eve.’
‘I know I should just shut up and kiss you but I’m a bit emotionally delicate right now as you’ve seen. I have to be sure that I’m not going to lose you next time a Steven walks into the shop.’
‘You won’t.’
‘How can you be sure? I know spending time with Andy was partly a long-held belief that he was The One, but we both know that his middle name being Steven was a bigger pull. You seemed to really believe that CD. What’s changed?’
I studied the face I loved so much. He was right to challenge me. I’d been stupid and careless with his feelings and I deserved to work hard to get him back. ‘Nothing’s changed,’ I said. ‘I still believe the CD. In fact, I believe it more than ever now except for one key detail. Madame Louisa got the name wrong. I think you’re Steven.’
Nick raised an eyebrow. ‘Because Nick and Steven sound so similar?’
‘Ha ha. Very funny. No. I just think she gave the wrong name because everything else happened exactly as she predicted. She said I’d have to decide between the past and the present and I should follow my heart not my head which is exactly what happened with you, isn’t it?’
‘I can’t say I’m following you, but even if you’re convinced that I’m Stevenand she gave you the wrong name, how do I know you won’t change your mind again if some attractive bloke called Steven appears in the future?’
‘Because I choose you, Nick. With or without the CD, I choose you. Over Andy. Over Steven. Over anyone I’ve ever known or will ever know. I love you, Nick. I don’t know what else I can say to convince you.’
Nick smiled. ‘Say it again.’
‘Which part?’
‘The last part.’
‘I love you.’
Nick grinned. ‘You’ve never said that before. You’re really sure your search for Steven is over…?’
‘I’m sure. Now what was that you were saying about shutting up and kissing me?’
THREE MONTHS LATER
