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“Are you asking me to stay the night with you?”

“Not asking. I’m begging you, pleading with you to spend the night with me,” I say playfully, even though I mean every word.

She smiles. It’s small and only visible in one corner of her face, but it’s there, and it makes me want to beg her all the time.

“I snore.”

“So did Paul,” I tell her, the ache in my chest all too familiar at the thought of my best friend. “And I’ve kind of missed it, so you’ll be helping me in the long run.”

She pushes her hair behind her ear, and her smile melts. “And what is the long run?”

I inhale deeply. This is the part of the plan I haven’t thought through, not properly, because I’ve never allowed myself that luxury. “If you’re referring to whether I want you in my bed every night for the foreseeable future, then I’d say that’s a very long run.”

“Only a few weeks ago, you told me you were never dating again, that you were washing your hands of it and had decided to live your days alone and grumpy,” she reminds me.

“I did?” I reply, breathing a little easier as I imagine the grey cloud dispersing.

“Well, maybe not the grumpy part, but you definitely said the rest.”

“I seem to remember you saying something very similar.”

“Hm, you might be right.”

“I think that by us both giving up on dating, our being together kind of cancels the statement out and would be deemed okay.”

“That sounds like girl math to me,” she says, grinning.

“Girl what?” I ask, having no idea what she’s talking about.

“Never mind. But I have to agree with you. I also think it wouldn’t be fair to Sydney if I were to continue to lie to her about our relationship status, so by agreeing to date, we’re therefore not lying to my oldest friend and deceiving people, which I feel so much better about.” There’s a teasing twinkle in her eyes as she continues. “For that reason alone, I think this is a good idea, probably one of my better ones.”

“Your idea?” I slide my finger down the side of her arm just because I can.

“Yes. I’d decided I wanted this to be real way before you pounced on me downstairs.” She giggles.

“You thought that was me pouncing?” My finger pauses on the outside of her arm.

“Wasn’t it?” Her eyes dart to where my finger rests.

“Just you wait, Alice Sutton. I’ll show you pouncing.”

She looks back at me. “Is that a threat or a promise?”

“Both.” I bring my hand to her face, still marvelling at the fact that I can do this. I’m allowed. She’s mine to touch, mine to stare at, mine to feel and breathe with. “Now, are you staying the night with me?”

“You haven’t given me much choice, so yes, I am.”

“Great.” I sit up. “I’ll show you where the guest bedroom is and get you some clean sheets.”

She glares at me, and I can’t hold the charade any longer.

“I’m joking, Alice,” I tell her. “As if I’d have a wall between us. I don’t even want air between us. You’re sleeping here in my bed with me.” I pull her flush to my chest and feel the beat of her heart.

“It’s going to take some getting used to,” she says.

“What is?” I ask, wondering if she’s referring to this new sleeping arrangement or us dating and being a couple.

But then she says, “Comedy Owen.”