“Absolutely not.”
“What?” we say in unison, trying to act as though we aren’t up to anything.
She lowers her voice. “That poor guy over there broke up with his boyfriend this morning. He left him here all alone on New Year’s Eve. Who does that?” She hisses the words, and I’m thinking it’s a good job the ex isn’t around for Hailey to get a hold of. “Leave him alone. Please,” she adds, and we both nod.
Satisfied she leaves us to it, and I’m suddenly aware that we’re about to start the countdown to midnight. I turn to Reed. “Can you believe it’s been a year since we were in this exact spot?”
He sets his drink down and shuffles close until there’s barely any space between us. “Yes. Because so much has changed in that time.” He smiles. “I’vechanged.”
“Ten!”
We jump as the whole pub shouts out the start of the countdown. I take his hand in mine and twine our fingers. “I’m so glad Deb tried to fix you back up with Sean.”
Reed laughs. “Don’t let Vic hear you say that.”
“Nine!”
We both peer across at Vic and Sean next to us, but they’re busy celebrating the new year a little earlier than everyone else.
“Eight!”
Reed’s expression softens and he cups my jaw. “Thank you for looking after me that night. I’m not sure I ever thanked you enough.”
“Seven!”
I shake my head. “You don’t ever need to thank me for that. It was my pleasure.”
“Six!”
I glance around the pub, and just like last year, a lot of people seem to be in couples now, waiting for their midnight kiss.
Like me.
“Five!”
But unlike last year, I don’t have to wonder if Reed will want to kiss me back.
“Four!”
He leans in until our lips brush. “I love you,” he whispers, and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing him say it.
“Three!”
“I love you too.” I’ll never get tired of saying it either.
“Two!”
“I want to move in with you. For real.”
“One!”
I stare at him for a second as shouts of “Happy New Year!” ring out around the bar, and it takes far too long for those words to register, and then they do, and I yank him into the messiest kiss ever. I’m smiling too much to make it good, but it doesn’t matter because Reed is laughing, and it’s the best worst kiss I’ve ever had.
I pick him up and spin him around, almost taking out Sean and Vic in the process, but they just laugh and roll their eyes, obviously having heard our entire conversation.
“You sure,” I ask, because a part of me can’t quite believe it.
Reed kisses me again, soft and slow and full of everything I can now put a name to and know it’s true. “Yeah, I’m sure. I love you, Jerry. I don’t need to move out to realise that.” He sighs. “I’m sorry if?—”
