‘No.’ She reached out her hand and placed it on his arm. ‘Not if you don’t want it to be.’
‘What do you mean?’ He looked up at her.
‘I mean, the old way wasn’t working so we need to start again.’ She handed him a piece of paper. Fin’s hand was shaking as he reached out for it, his eyes so full of tears that it took him a minute to focus on the words.
‘What is this?’ he asked.
‘Read it.’ The corner of her lip curled ever so slightly.
I, Finley James Taylor, and I, Eleanor Ruth Levy, agree to abide by the following rules:
A spark of anticipation ignited somewhere deep in his stomach. ‘Is this …?’
‘Go on …’ She was smiling fully now. ‘Read it and see.’
1. Stop making promises we can’t keep.
2. Stop running away when things get hard or difficult or awkward or painful.
3. Talk. Whatever happens, never stop talking.
By signing this agreement all previous promises, pacts and agreements are hereby deemed invalid.
Fin’s heart both rose and fell at once. The fact that she still wanted to be in his life was a relief. She wanted to be his friend. After everything that had happened, she still wanted him as her friend. But that didn’t stop his heart from aching from her unrequited feelings.
‘Do you have a pen?’ he asked.
‘Have you read it all carefully?’ There was a hint of mischief behind her smile.
‘Think so, looks pretty self-explanatory to me.’ He scanned over her words once again to make sure.
‘OK.’ She shrugged and handed him a biro.
Fin took hold of the pen and signed hastily at the bottom of the page. ‘Do you want this back or do you already have a copy?’
‘No, that one’s for you. Keep it.’
Fin still couldn’t understand why she was looking at him like that. As though there was a joke he was missing, or a secret he hadn’t been told yet.
‘Right, I’d better go. I’ll make sure Freya or I pop in tomorrow.’ Eleanor picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. ‘Do you need anything?’
‘No, I’m all good, thanks.’ Fin folded the pact in half and went to put it on his bedside table. ‘I’ll see you to—’ He stopped suddenly, his eyes catching something written on the back of the paper.
‘What’s this?’ he asked, turning the page over and reading the line of handwriting he’d missed. His heart almost stopped completely at her words.
4. If both parties find themselves single at the age of thirty-five then they must not get married but instead … start by going on a date.
It took him a moment to fully comprehend what he was reading.
‘But … but I don’t …’ he stammered.
‘Don’t what?’
‘I don’t understand. Are you?’
‘Am I what?’
‘Single?’
