“Yeah,” he breaks in. “Charlie and I are together.” He pats me on the bum and gives his mum a kiss.

“Oh. Oh well. It’s good that we didn’t have a plan or anything,” I mutter.

Misha grins. “Know when you’re beaten,” he advises me. “We were standing outside the shop window when you laid one on me.”

“Why didn’t you say something?”

“I started to eat my croissant, and then you started talking and talking, and talking some more. You didn’t seem to need my input in that word vomit,” he says primly. “Let that be a lesson to you.”

I can’t stop my smile, and he hugs me tightly to his side, kissing my temple and nuzzling into the hair there.

Jackie gives an excited squeal and claps. “This is amazing. I’m so thrilled.”

“Why are you hugging Charlie?” Anya calls. “Are you boyfriends now?”

Teddy looks up with interest.

Misha smiles. “We are.”

The girls stare at us. “Cool,” Anya says before turning back to her phone. Teddy nods kindly at us and goes back to her book.

“Do you know what all this is telling me, Charlie?” Misha says.

“That no one is interested in our lives?”

He shakes his head. “No. It’s telling me that at least in this tiny corner of London no one has been betting on our relationship.”

“Speak for yourself,” his mum scoffs. “I’ve had a bet with Sam, Aidan, and Kate since you were thirteen.”

“Oh my God,” I say faintly.

She hugs me. “I’m so happy,” she whispers into my ear. “So happy.”

“Why?”

“Because no one knows him like you, Charlie.” She swallows. “No one will ever care for him like you. I know he’s safe with you.”

“He is.”

“And you’re safe with him. It’s perfect.” She turns to Misha. “Don’t fuck this up, Misha Lebedinsky.”

“Me?” he says indignantly. “Why would I fuck it up?”

She arches her eyebrows. “Because Charlie is the loveliest man you’ll ever meet. You won’t find anyone like him ever again. He’s also immeasurably better tempered than you.”

Misha shakes his head. “Shows what you know,” he says.

“I am better tempered,” I protest.

He pats my cheek. “Course you are, dear. Course you are.”

Jackie laughs. “Oh, this is so brilliant. We’re going to have so much fun. The girls and I will show you our outfits and then we can see the two of you in your suits.” She leans closer. “They’re serving champagne.”

Misha watches as a sales assistant wheels over a huge rack of clothing. “Oh, what a wonderful Saturday morning,” he says sourly. “That champagne had better be in a Nebuchadnezzar. It’s the only way I’ll get through this.”

“Drama queen,” I say affectionately and let him draw me into his family.

Chapter Fifteen

Charlie