‘Watching you doing what I told you to, using all the moves I do made me cringe because I had to see those guys all wanting a piece of you.’

‘A piece?’

‘They thought you were hot.’

‘Hot?’ I say, pleased with myself. Result!

‘And it was doing my head in.’

I raise an eyebrow.

‘I didn’t want other guys to want you, Rosie. I wanted to keep you for myself. That’s why I kept blowing them off and telling you you’d got it wrong!’

I let this sink in. ‘You really were jealous?’

Noah nods. ‘And even if you don’t want me, Rosie. I don’t want you to hook up with some guy for all the wrong reasons because I fed you a load of shit.’

‘It wasn’t …’

‘It was.’ He holds a hand up. ‘Just listen eh? This is hard. This isn’t a chat-up line; this is a whole speech I’ve got prepared.’ He actually looks sheepish, awkward. More like the person I am when I’m faced with a potential date, than the person he is.

It’s cute. Endearing. ‘I’ve fucked up and I don’t want to fuck you up as well. Rosie.’ He takes a deep breath. ‘I’ve missed you. I’ve not been on a date since you blew me out cos I realised I didn’t want to. It’s meaningless if I’m not with somebody I want to be with, who means something. And you do.’

‘I do?’ Our thighs are actually touching now; I feel a bit heady and faint if I’m honest.

‘You do. Mean something. It’s you I want to spend time with.’

‘Oh.’

‘I’ve been using those lame moves and chat-up lines to keep myself from getting close to anybody; it was strictly a first date thing, but then being with you fucked it up.’

‘It did?’

‘It made me realise I want to be close to somebody, at least take the risk, try it.’

‘You do?’ I squeak.

‘You’re the first woman since I grew up, apart from Gem and Millie, that I’ve spent real time with, talked about real things.’ He rests a finger on my lips briefly. I want to lick it. I don’t. ‘That I’ve been me with. That I’ve missed like hell when I’ve not seen you.’ He’s gazing at me with such sincerity in his eyes I’m trembling inside. ‘That I’ve wanted to be more than mates with, that I’ve fancied.’

‘You fancy me?’ I say, my voice distant even to my own ears.

‘Oh God, do I fancy you, Rosie Brown. I can’t stand seeing you going out with all those idiots, unless,’ he pauses uncharacteristically, unsure again, ‘you’re into one of them?’

I smile and a strange feeling of warmth starts to seep through my body and make me feel like laughing out loud. I repress it. There’s plenty of time for him to find out just how loopy I am later. He needs easing in gently. ‘I’m not into any of them.’

‘That’s handy seeing as,’ he trails his finger along my cheek, and I lean into it, ‘I need to start again. Dating. Do it right this time. Will you help me?’