‘I said I would, didn’t I?’ The beer had gone to his head.

‘You could do better than that.’ She grabbed his hand and playfully pulled him down next to her, kissing him passionately. He couldn’t help kissing her back. He’d resisted her for so long. All his senses sprung to life and the years fell away instantly. They were young again, deeply in love. In that moment, no one else existed. The smell of her, the taste, the feel of her soft hair and skin was all he could focus on. And just like before, everything Ali said or did intoxicated him. There was no way he could walk out of her life again, nor Jamie’s.

‘Why not move in with us?’

‘I don’t know, Ali, this is all pretty sudden.’

‘Is it? But he’s your son, the child you always wanted, remember? You said yourself you don’t have any other commitments.’

They sat in silence. Max tried to avoid her gaze.

‘Unless it’s me you’re not sure about? I thought you said you felt the old spark still.’

‘My god I do… it’s just that…’ He moved towards her and pushed a fallen length of golden hair behind her ear. He had to tell her about his family, put an end to this fantasy. ‘You wouldn’t like me being away all the time, I know you.’

‘I’ll get used to it.’

‘Could Jamie though? I couldn’t guarantee exactly when I’d be here. He’d be disappointed all the time.’ He pictured her face if he told her about Maddy and the girls. She wouldn’t let him see Jamie again, just when he was getting to know him. ‘It would drive you insane.’

‘Not if I knew you were coming back to us, to our home.’ She buried her head in his chest. ‘Isn’t this what we always talked about? What we dreamt of all those years ago?’

He buried his face in her silky hair, breathing in the warm aroma of perfume. She was right, it had been their dream, but they were kids then and life wasn’t straightforward. He moved her hair aside and kissed her neck. He couldn’t help himself wanting her. There had to be a way to make this work so he could see all his children and not hurt Maddy or Alison.