Instantly, I tried to break free of his hold. ‘I… I can’t.’ I tried not to cry. ‘I don’t feel the same way.’

He held onto me tightly and studied my face.

‘Anna, if you tell me you don’t want to see me anymore, I’ll go. But if you don’t want to travel because you want to stay close to your mum, then I’ll stay.’

My throat contracted. How could it be that he knew me so well, but how could I ruin his plans? His trip?

‘I want to stay. I want to meet your mum,’ he said. ‘I want to hear more about your dad. All you need to do is say yes.’

Tears came and this time I didn’t try to hold them back. ‘Yes,’ I whispered and then louder, ‘Yes!’

I leaped into his arms, not a flicker of doubt that he’d buckle under my weight. Knowing with certainty that he’d always catch me.

My heart was bursting, singing with happiness and hope. Singing so loudly other passengers stopped and smiled at the couple so smitten with each other that there wasn’t a single part of her that wasn’t touching a part of him. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her face buried in his neck as he spun her around. We were that couple. Unselfconscious and unashamed. In that moment our love was absolute. Our hopes for the future circular, no beginning and no end. Just the unequivocal knowledge that whatever life threw at us, there would always be an us.

I never thought of a time we wouldn’t be together. As he spun me around, I felt dizzy with joy. Now I’m dizzy with sorrow. If we had known what lay ahead, would we have done it anyway?

I’m not sure that we would.

Chapter Ten

Adam

‘You look like shit.’ Josh stood behind me. I was trying to shave with an unsteady hand. In a few hours I’d have to face Anna Adlington. Explain my shabby behaviour.

I studied my reflection. Ten months ago in Spain my skin had tanned to a warm brown, now it was pale. Washed out. Dark bags bruised the skin beneath my eyes, a deep furrow of anxiety between my eyebrows. Pieces of tissue speckled my chin where I’d nicked myself with the razor, the blood seeping through.

I felt like shit too. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept properly.

‘Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you today?’ Josh rested his hand on my shoulder. ‘I can drive and then leave you to it. You’re knackered and it’s a long way.’