“Is there birthday cake now?” Esme said.
“Of course!” Libby started clearing the plates.
“Let me help.” Dylan stood up and picked up some dishes, following Libby into the kitchen. “That meal was amazing.”
“Thanks. It’s been a while since I cooked for pleasure and I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed it. Frank seems well?”
“Yeah, this has done him a world of good. Turns out he just needed an audience again.”
Libby laughed as she started to load plates into the dishwasher. Dylan came to stand next to her.
“Bloody hell, did you make this too?” he said, pointing at the chocolate cake on the counter. Libby had baked it yesterday, decorating the surface with shards of dark, milk, and white chocolate. “It looks incredible.”
“I hope it tastes all right. Can you pass that?”
She indicated the bowl next to Dylan, and he picked it up and handed it to her. As he did, his hand brushed against hers, and Libby felt a familiar jolt of electricity through her arm. Beside her, she heard Dylan draw breath. Libby put the bowl in the dishwasher, her skin still tingling.
“So, I got you a little something...” Dylan went over to his bag on the counter and pulled out a small object, wrapped in tissue paper. He handed it to Libby. “Don’t get excited; it’s nothing fancy.”
“You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“Sorry if you think it’s stupid.”
Libby started unwrapping the gift, aware Dylan was watching her. Inside was a piece of white fabric, and as she unfoldedit, she saw it was a baby’s onesie, on the front of which was a drawing of a red London bus.
“Oh, Dylan.”
“It’s the 88,” he said, pointing at the number on the front of the bus. “I’ve got a mate who runs a stall in Camden Market and she made it specially.”
“It’s gorgeous. Thank you.” Libby felt tears pricking her eyes, and she put the onesie down and picked up another plate to put in the dishwasher so he wouldn’t see her face. She wasn’t sure anyone had ever given her such a thoughtful present before.
“I’m sorry it’s small. But I also wanted to say something...”
Dylan trailed off, and when Libby glanced up at him, he was staring at the onesie, chewing his lip. He cleared his throat before he spoke.
“I know we haven’t known each other very long. And I know that we haven’t even really hung out properly, unless you count riding the 88 bus, which I’m pretty sure doesn’t actually count as a date. And I know that you’ve had a crazy few months with your ex being such a prick and moving to London and finding out you’re pregnant and... Sorry. I’m waffling.”
Libby could see Dylan’s cheeks were almost as red as the bus on the baby onesie.
“What I’m trying to say is: I think you’re amazing,” Dylan continued. “The way you organized this whole poster campaign to try and help Frank. The way you’ve taken the pregnancy news in your stride. And I know you’re nervous about doing it on your own, but you’re going to be a brilliant mum; this kid is bloody lucky to have you. And I want you to know that I don’t think you need anyone else to do this with. You are going to absolutely smash it all on your own.”
He paused again to draw breath, his eyes still focused on the gift.
“But I also wanted to say that you don’t have to do it all on your own, if you don’t want to. I mean, I don’t know the first thing about babies, so I’m not sure I’d actually be much help, but I want to be there for you, if you’d like. As a friend, or...”
“Or?” The word was out of Libby’s mouth before she realized it.
Dylan looked up from the onesie now, into Libby’s eyes. The nervous expression had gone and was replaced with something else, something that made her chest contract.
“Or as more than friends,” he said, not taking his eyes off hers.
Libby didn’t speak, and for a moment neither of them moved. Then Dylan stepped forward, very slowly, until he was so close that she had to tilt her head up to see his face. His dark eyes were fixed on her mouth, and Libby felt such a rush of emotion that she closed her eyes. A second later she felt his lips brush against hers, so softly they were barely there. She let out a small gasp as his hand found her cheek, gently pushing her hair back from her face. She opened her eyes, and stared into his face as it hovered above hers. And then Dylan kissed her again, this time with an urgency that took Libby by surprise. She reached up and put her hands on the back of his head, feeling the curve of his skull under the soft shaved scalp. Dylan let out a small moan, and Libby felt it reverberate through her whole body.
•••
“AH,we were wondering where the two of you had got to.” Frank was watching Libby as she walked back out into the garden, and she was grateful it was dark and he couldn’t see how flushed her face was.
“Sorry. I... I couldn’t find the cake forks,” Libby said, not looking him in the eye. She lifted up the knife to cut a slice and noticed that her hand was still trembling.
