‘I know. I’d just be happier if I knew you were all right.’

I try to look at him sternly, but the concern on his face completely disarms me.

‘Fine,’ I tell him. ‘You can stay on one condition.’

‘Which is?’

‘Because it’s what you want to do, not because you feel guilty.’

He smiles. ‘Deal. What do I need to do?’

‘I’m going to climb into bed. Can you take my phone and call Mike to find his hot chocolate recipe? Wrapping up with hot drinks and chocolate is the best way to deal with this, and that ticks all the boxes.’

He looks alarmed. ‘Where is your phone? It’s not…’ He glances at my other jeans pocket.

‘Relax. It’s in my coat.’ I reach for the zip to undo it, but my hands are still refusing to cooperate.

‘Let me,’ Will says, stepping forward and gently unfastening it. Thankfully, this feels a lot less intimate than him rummaging in my trouser pockets, and we manage it without further awkwardness.

‘Are you warm?’ I ask him as he puts in the unlock code I give him and looks up Mike’s number.

‘Well, I’m not as cold as you, that’s for sure.’

‘Good. This is going to sound weird, so please don’t take it the wrong way.’

‘Go on.’

‘Once you’ve made us hot chocolate, would you come and join me under the duvet? Your body heat will help warm me up.’

‘Umm, I guess so.’ Will looks uncertain and I have to resist the urge to laugh as the reality of what I’m asking him to do hits home. I’ve dreamed of getting him into my bed for weeks. Now, I’m finally going to achieve it, but the only thing I’m interested in is using him as a hot-water bottle.

31

‘How are you feeling now?’ Will’s voice asks from behind me.

‘Mmm,’ I reply softly.

Nearly an hour has passed since we got back to the flat. Mike’s initial reluctance to hand over his secret hot chocolate recipe was swiftly overcome when Will explained the situation and, according to Will, he wouldn’t hang up the phone until he was certain it was right. As I knew it would, the combination of hot chocolate and being under my warm duvet kick-started the defrosting process. Will was initially very wary about getting into bed with me, particularly when I asked if he’d mind if we both stripped down to the bare essentials so I could maximise the amount of heat I got from him, but he saw the reasoning in it and shuffled in beside me. Normally, I’d have been ridiculously aroused watching him strip down to his T-shirt and underwear, but all I could think about was how warm he’d be.