‘The best family.’
Emily leans in and we engage in a tender kiss. After, we go silent and gaze into each other’s eyes. ‘But you have your life in Leeds…’
‘I’m not going back to Leeds, Emily and Felix. I’m not spending another day without you botheveragain. It’s time Tom and I parted ways. I’m on a different path now.’
Felix gestures for me to sit down next to Emily. Once seated he climbs onto my lap and squeezes himself between us. Baxter moves onto Emily’s lap as she sits and strokes the locket.
‘We met Tom,’ announces Felix, making me stare at him with surprise. ‘He showed us your kissing challenge.’
I can feel the blood drain away from my face. ‘He told you about what?’
Emily touches my arm and raises the eyebrows. ‘Thekissingchallenge – remember?’
‘Ah, yes.’ Oh, God – I am going kill Tom when I see him.
‘He told us you kept calling girls Emily,’ chuckles Felix, ‘that’s why you were not doing as good as him.’
Scratching my warm cheek, I curse myself for ever participating in Tom’s challenge.
Emily squeezes my hand. ‘It’s all right, Tom told me the truth.’
‘Did you kiss Beth?’ Felix asks.
I can feel Emily’s eyes on me. My cheeks now feel like they are being heated by a hundred tiny campfires. ‘I did kiss Beth, but she left soon after.’
‘Why?’ Emily asks.
I turn to her. ‘I couldn’t stop thinking about you and Felix. At one point she shoved my favourite photo of you both in a drawer which made me angry.’
Emily smiles and I lean over for another kiss.
‘Will you come home with us, Rory?’ Felix is staring at me. His hazel eyes are wide and dancing with excitement.
‘Yes, is that okay?’
I laugh and Emily gasps. ‘The house is in chaos.’
‘Why?’
She takes a deep breath. ‘I started my online fashion company, and it has got out of hand.’
‘What do you mean out of hand? I have been following you on Instagram and your stuff looks amazing.’
Felix taps me on the shoulder. ‘It’s everywhere. Dresses are everywhere. All over the house and I can’t sit in the living room.’
Emily wipes her teary eyes. ‘I was thinking about closing my business.’
The word ‘no’ flies out of my mouth. I know how much Emily loves dressmaking. She’s dreamed about having her own business ever since I met her. It’s also the link to Vivi, who had been a supporter of Emily’s dressmaking and sewing skills since she was little. ‘No, you are not doing that, Emily. Your dressmaking is your link to Vivi.’
‘Yes,’ she whispers. ‘It is my link to Vivi.’
I kiss her hand. ‘When I said we are going to make us work, I mean it. Look, I lost my job a few weeks ago in Leeds so there’s no need for me to stay there. Plus a few of my old media contacts will still be around in Brighton and London. We can do this together.’
‘What about Felix?’
I high five Felix. ‘What about him? He’s also part of our new team.’
Felix lets out a cheer.
