‘Who is she?’ Will asks, watching her leave.
‘No idea,’ I reply. ‘You were saying… actually I’m not sure what you were saying.’
‘I know I’m not making a lot of sense,’ he admits. ‘And I know you’ve moved on, but I couldn’t just leave without seeing you again. I have to know.’
‘Know what?’ I ask.
He inhales deeply but I hear it catch the back of his throat. ‘I have to know if what we had, what we felt, back then, is still there.’
‘Will—’
‘Because I think it is. When we hugged earlier, it was like coming home. I know that sounds cheesy, but it’s how I felt.’
Now I’m the one pacing. ‘What we had back then was amazing,’ I say, feeling my eyes well up. ‘I fell hard, and I hope you did too, even a little.’
‘You know I did,’ he replies.
I shake my head. ‘I don’t. The only thing I know is that, despite everything you felt for me, it wasn’t enough.’
He bows his head. ‘It wasn’t like that.’
‘I need to be enough… but, Will, I had to move on. Do you know how hard that was?’
He nods. ‘I do, and I’m glad you moved on, truly I am because I never did… and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.’
‘Why are you doing this? If this is some rebound situation…’
He rubs the back of his neck and sighs. ‘You once said that “sometimes, no matter how hard you resist, there are people that you are just fated to adore”.I didn’t quite get that until now.’
My words. He remembered my words. I bite my bottom lip before it betrays me.
‘I’m doing this because somehow we’ve managed to come together again, and I’m scared I won’t get another chance.’
‘But you’re leaving tomorrow.’
‘I’ll come back. I’m freelance. I’ll base myself here, I can work from anywhere. If you want me to? Don’t you get it, Nora? I don’t just adore you. I love you.’
‘Love me? How can you love me?’
He smiles. ‘Look at you. How can I not?’
As those words leave his mouth, I dive across the table and into his arms. His lips meet mine and we kiss like nothing else matters.
As his hands begin to wander, I prise my face from Will’s momentarily. ‘Look, before we take this any further, I really need to say something.’
‘Is it that you love me too?’ he replies. ‘Because you technically haven’t said it back yet and I’m getting a little concerned.’
‘I’m serious. I really need to get this off my chest.’
‘OK, shoot.’
I take a deep breath. ‘So, it’s been eating away at me all day and I’m just going to come out and say it.’
‘What?’
‘Wilbur.’
He smirks. ‘I was wondering when this would come up.’
