‘So you’ve been a bitch to me as payback to God?’ he asks, his eyebrow raising as a soft smile appears on his lips.

‘Not quite. That would make me totally crazy,’ I say, rolling my eyes. ‘I didn’t fully believe in love until you came along. I thought it a thing in films and books, I didn’t believe that two people could slot together in the way that we managed to. I didn’t think such respect and understanding were possible. I dated frogs and I dated good guys, but somehow none of them truly captured me. And then there was you and you won me over with a chicken katsu curry and vegetable gyoza.’

‘It was a good speedy service,’ he recollects with a smile.

‘I didn’t believe in love until there was you. But now I have it I’m so scared of losing it. And I know that’s ridiculous when it’s been me pushing you away – it’s been me working hard against the love, but I love you so fucking much the thought of being without you makes my heart actually hurt.’

‘It does?’ he asks, a slight tease in his voice.

‘Yeah,’ I say, aware of the snot and tears running down my face, quickly wiping them away with the back of my hand. ‘I could psychoanalyse myself until the cows come home, think about all the different things that have led me to become who I am and handle things in the way that I do – but the past can only be held responsible for so much of the future. At some point you need to take accountability for your actions and own them. So yes, I have been a total twat but when I look to my future all I see is you. Nothing else comes close.’

‘Not even a new Gucci bag?’

‘No.’

‘Not even the green one you’ve had saved to your desktop for the last year?’

‘That is an absolutely stunning Marmont with the double G on, but no. Not even that,’ I say through sobs before cuddling into him.

‘It has hurt, Zaza,’ Liam says quietly into the top of my head. ‘But I see all of you. I knew you were struggling and taking it out on me, and I could’ve done more to help. Been more understanding, cut you even more slack so things didn’t build –’

‘Hate to say it but I think I would’ve found another way,’ I say, coming back up so I can see him.

‘Very true,’ he says sadly. ‘But I’m marrying the worst parts of you as well as the best. I don’t have the ability to pick and choose which Zaza bits to take and leave, and I’m glad. I’m here for all of it. All of you.’

‘You still want to marry me then?’ I ask.

‘Abso-fucking-lutely,’ he says, cupping my cheek.