‘So what was it?’

I wasn’t sure I could answer. I still couldn’t be sure this wasn’t all a dream or heaven or a cruel, strange trick of the light, but I could taste him on my lips and I didn’t want to stop.

‘Are you working today?’ I asked.

He nodded. ‘At twelve. You?’

‘Eleven.’

‘Do you need to go home first? I can give you a lift.’

I hesitated. ‘No, it’s fine. I’ve got spare work clothes in my locker.’

He opened his mouth as though to say something, ask a question.

‘King Street is a nightmare,’ I went on, maybe a little too fast. ‘It’s really not worth the trouble, but thanks.’

He nodded, easing back. I pulled myself up to sit, picked up the coffee. I had to let go of his hand and he put it in his lap, seemed to study it.

I took a sip. ‘This is perfect.’

‘Probably not as good as you’d make.’

I smiled. ‘I didn’t just mean the coffee.’

‘Oh?’ The eyebrow. The dimple. Those eyes, drilling into me. Waiting.

I took a breath. It shook on the way out. I sat forward and put the coffee down. It was going to get cold but I didn’t care.

One thing.

I looked down at his hands in his lap. Mine, in front of me, not sure what to do. My eyes got hot, the way they had the night before, and I couldn’t speak.

‘Cait,’ he said, sighing, filling in the silence. ‘I know. It’s okay. You don’t have to—’

I felt a sound escape my throat, a protest.

‘I’m not going to lie. I’m glad you came here last night. I’m glad you’re still here.’ I heard him swallow. ‘But I know you’re not into all of this. If you don’t want—’

I kissed him. Put my hand on his cheek and pressed my mouth onto his and caught his breath. I almost didn’t mean to, except that I meant to. I wanted to. He kissed me back, like I’d known he would. After a minute, I pulled back, hand still on his cheek. His were still in his lap and something thrummed inside me at the memory of them on my skin.

‘I want this,’ I said, before I could think myself out of it. ‘You. So much. Probably—’ My voice cracked. I wanted him so much. I’d wanted him for weeks, felt like I’d wanted him my whole life. ‘Probably more than I should. I don’t know what it is and maybe it’s a terrible idea but I want it anyway.’

His eyes flashed. His face was perfectly still. Perfect. Eyes locked on mine, big, warm.

He took a breath and his whole chest rose and fell and I felt it, right in my bones, so deep it hurt.