Page 161 of London, Can You Wait?

Speechless, she laid a hand over her heart.

“I owed you the truth, and I owed it to Kieran, too…in a way. I know we can’t go back in time, but I wish to God I could. If I had your beloved TARDIS, just for the day, I’d put the broken pieces back together again. I’d save everyone, save you and me, then be back in time for Kieran’s birthday bash tonight…”

He smiled, but the grin didn’t linger. “I did the next best thing. Woke up this morning and caught the first flight out of Dublin. I can’t bring Kieran back, but I can make amends with you. I’m so sorry for lying, for always putting work first, for listening to fucking Wink…I’m sorry for everything, Lex. Wink may have had his own agenda, but I’m the one who allowed all of that to happen. I allowed you to get hurt, and I’m truly sorry. I know it’s…” He took a long, deep breath, releasing her hand. “…too late for us, but there’s never an expiry date on honesty, is there?”

Wait…too late…for us?Alex completely missed the rest of Mark’s sentence. Her stomach clenched in sickly waves—Mark had buried the lede. He really was here just to tell her about Kieran and make nice, nothing more, mending the past so he could move forward like Niamh said. Did I misread his body language, his intentions…?

“Lex?” Mark leaned in. “You disappeared there for a sec. What are you thinking?”

“Sorry…”

“It’s never too late to be honest, right?”

“No, you’re right…” She lowered her head and fiddled with her skirt. “I’m glad you told me, Mark. I’m really glad you’re working through this.”

“One step at a time. I know it’s a cliché, but it works…right?” Mark’s kind expression told her that he knew.

“Freddie told you?” she asked.

He nodded. “You weren’t posting on social media. I hope you don’t mind that I asked him how you were. I felt glad…relieved you were having fewer attacks. I’m so proud of you for getting help.”

“Thanks.” A soft smile reached her eyes. “I’m glad you didn’t cheat on me in Dublin, by the way…”

Mark squinted at the pond. “That’s one night I’ll probably never forgive myself for. New Year’s Eve is always a difficult day, but getting wrecked, hitting the booze and drugs to forget about everything that happened…that’s no answer.” Mark bowed his head. “I’ll never allow myself to fall that low again.” He pulled out his phone. “…Wanna see pictures of Kieran?”

“I’d love to,” she smiled.

Mark scrolled through his phone revealing a giggly infant, toothless with chipmunk cheeks and Michelin Man arms…

This photo?Alex remembered it from the family pictures on the wall at Niamh’s old house… Her eyes widened. “I thought that was you!”

“Yeah,” he chuckled. “We looked identical at that age.” He swiped the screen. “And this one, three years later, still my mini-me.” A photo of two little boys in pajamas, surrounded by toy cars, football boots, and wrapping paper, grinned back at her. “This was Christmas just days before…” Mark sighed. “if only…”

With a sympathetic nod, she held his gaze and then looked at the pond.

They sat in silence. A refreshing breeze blowing along the path swept Alex’s bangs into her eyes, and Mark reached over and brushed them aside. His fingers lingered in her hair and slipped down the side of her face. The searing New York heat was no competition for Mark’s touch. Goose bumps prickled her arms and the back of her neck.

Alex swallowed twice to ground herself. Maybe I didn’t misread his body language? She smiled softly. “When are you headed back?”