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I start to walk away. It’s the right thing to do. He’s cute, and he’s funny, but he’s not the man for me. Even as I think it a little voice nags in my head. He wasn’t the man for you, but you’re changing. Who knows who the man for New Emily might be?
‘No.’
I stop and turn back towards him. The grin he always has is playing at his lips. He catches my eye, and I feel my lips curling into a smile. ‘What?’
‘Let’s not say goodbye. Let’s say until we meet again.’
I shrug. I mean that’s fair enough. I probably shouldn’t rule anything out completely on day one of my new life.
‘So, what about this? Six months from today.’
‘What about it?’
‘Meet me.’
I don’t understand. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘Six months from now.’ He looks at his watch. ‘Eight p.m. I will be back here waiting for you.’
‘Why?’
‘Because you need to prove that you can cope on your own, but once you’ve proved that, you’ll have the choice, won’t you? You’ll be able to choose whether you want to carry on your journey on your own or ...’
‘Or with you?’
‘Exactly.’
It’s a crazy idea. ‘I don’t know where I’ll be in six months.’
He takes a step towards me. ‘That’s fine. I’ll be here. Everything else is up to you.’
He’s mad. ‘So you’re planning six months ahead. Are you sure?’
‘Yeah.’
‘I thought you didn’t like to plan beyond your next meal.’
He takes one step towards me. ‘I’m making an exception for you.’
It would be so easy to do this now. I could kiss him, and take everything he was offering. I could accept that he could be the guy who makes plans, and settles down. He says he wants to be that guy. Do I want to be that girl? I remember the date. Midsummer’s Day. ‘Six months today will be Christmas Eve.’
Alex grins. ‘I’ll bring some mistletoe then.’
‘Okay.’ And this time I do walk away, because if I stay I’ll change my mind.