‘And me. I wanted to talk to you too.’
‘Did you? You can go first, but I kinda really want to too.’
‘I tell you what, I’m a bit nervous…’ Sylvie decided she might as well be honest and the truth was she was so anxious about messing this up that her tummy was flip-flopping all over the place and she thought she might be sick.
‘Nervous? With me? That shouldn’t be the case. I’m so sorry.’
‘No, no, no, you misunderstand me. I adore you. I’m just nervous about what I have to say so please, you go first.’
Alex grinned. ‘You adore me? I like it when you say that. Could you get it tattooed on your hand, do you think, so you’re reminded all the time?’
‘No, I couldn’t. Are you going to speak or shall I?’
‘OK, OK, I just wanted to say that I really like having you in my life and I know Ells adores you, like you adore me…’
‘I really hope not,’ Sylvie muttered.
‘Sorry, I didn’t catch that.’
‘You weren’t meant to. Carry on, what are you saying?’
‘OK, we know you’ve had such a rocky time so I, we, wanted to do something to make it special and the kids thought yourspecial Berber-themed party was it, but there is another element to the surprise that they don’t know about.’
Oh, goody, was he about to whisk his trousers down and save her from having to make the first move?
‘But before I tell you what it is…’ Oh, hurry up! ‘…I want you to know I have heard everything you have said to me so this is purely a platonic gesture, no pressure – this isn’t a gift with a hidden agenda, OK? Promise.’
Sylvie looked at him, her face falling slightly. She wasn’t keen on platonic any more. She was, however, quite keen on exactly the opposite. Should she speak up now?
Right, she was going to give it a shot.
‘Promise,really?’ she asked. This was his chance. Please say, no, of course not, and then they would both laugh and she could fall onto his face and slide her hands under his T-shirt and all would be perfect.
‘Promise. You know how I feel about you, but I made my peace with our relationship some time ago. This isn’t me trying to jump your bones, this is me showing you how much I value you. It makes me happy to make you happy, and I’m no saint but for now I’ll take that.’
Bugger. She was going to have to tell him she had very definitely changed her mind.
‘What I’m trying to say is that I know you said you really wanted to go to Morocco and learn more about the Berbers on the ground there, follow up your passions. Now, I obviously can’t wave a magic wand and make all your dreams come true…’
‘You’re doing pretty well so far,’ Sylvie mumbled.
‘I swear, for some reason you have the worst diction ever this evening. Are you OK?’
‘Yep, yep. Go on.’ She had decided to hear him out before forcing herself on him.
‘But – and I know you have very firm views on him but I’m hoping this might change your mind – Hector has a house in Morocco. Actually, he has two, one in Marrakesh and another in Tangier. So in an attempt to make up for his rudeness on Bonfire Night and because I asked him and because he really isn’t as big a knob as he appears, he has gifted us the keys to both to use at your convenience. And I have…’
Sylvie couldn’t believe it! Alex had now managed to find her a place to stay in Morocco. Whether she liked Hector or not was irrelevant, she could take Sam and they could go and explore and do all the things she had always wanted. She launched herself at Alex, peppering his face in kisses, furiously, like a three-year-old with a new guinea pig.
‘Oh gosh, sorry.’ She pulled herself back again. She wanted to go for sophisticated and sexy when she made her move, not this, not this at all. But it was all just so exciting. This man was absolute perfection. She didn’t know how the hell she was going to afford the flights, but they would walk and swim if they had to. It’s just it would be even better if…
‘How big are his houses?’
‘Oh, bloody huge.’
‘Would you and Ellie come with us?’
‘Are you serious? We would love to. That would be awesome.’
