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She was right. He was late, and he’d been running. He took deep breath. What was it about this car park that seemed to compel him to do physical exercise? Six months ago he’d almost given himself a heart attack trying to run Dominic Collins through. ‘My car broke down.’ He pointed back towards the road. ‘Had to walk. And then I was late. Had to run.’
Emily laughed. ‘You broke down?’
Alex scuffed his toe against the floor. ‘I ran out of petrol.’
‘But you’re here.’
He nodded. ‘But I’m here.’ A thought struck him. ‘How did you get here?’
Emily pointed towards the silver hatchback at the end of the car park.
‘You passed your test?’
‘Yep.’
He raised his hands in a tiny round of applause. ‘Miss Independent.’
‘That’s the idea.’
They fell into silence. Emily was still standing at the top of the stairs. Alex was eight feet away on the gravel. This wasn’t how he’s pictured the scene. He’d imagined there would be romance and spontaneous leaping into one another’s arms. He’d also imagined that he’d manage to get here without ending up with burning lungs and a scarlet face from the unscheduled run up the driveway.
‘So what are you up to these days?’
‘Sorry?’ Alex was surprised by the segue into chit-chat.
‘I’ve not seen you at the university. Did you finish your PhD?’
Alex shrugged. Finished was probably too strong a word. ‘I stopped. I’m drawing now.’
Emily beamed. ‘As a job? That’s fantastic.’
‘Illustrations. I’m doing a children’s book about medieval peasants. It’s all fighting and pooing in woods.’
She smiled. ‘I’m pleased. You’re a fantastic artist.’
‘Thank you.’ Alex found himself tongue-tied. He was proud of his new career but still nervous of telling people, as if they might spot him as an interloper in amongst the proper artists. ‘So how about you? Still at the university?’
She nodded. ‘I got promoted.’
‘Really?’ Alex heard the disbelief in his voice. ‘I mean, not that I’m surprised.’
She held up a hand. ‘It’s okay. I didn’t know I was good at my job until dad left. I never really had to try before. Anyway Faculty Manager now.’
Alex nodded. So it sounded like they’d both moved on. What if she’d moved on too far? What if the reason she was still at the top of those stairs was that she’d come here out of politeness to let him down gently? He’d spent the last six months working towards this moment, alternately telling himself he was crazy and pushing himself to be a better man. A man a girl like Emily might want to be with. Six months. One new career. One new home, admittedly still a room in a shared flat, but the new career was in its fledgling stages, and he was up to date with his rent and on top of his share of the cleaning rota. Zero one night stands. He’d almost had one a few weeks after the last time he’d been here with Emily. He’d met a girl. He’d talked to the girl. He’d got as far climbing into a taxi with her, and then he’d felt grubby. He’d stopped the cab, given the driver twice the fare he needed to get the girl home, and walked. And that had been that. He raised his gaze towards the woman at the top of the steps. ‘So ...’
She smiled. ‘So ...’
Alex paused. What would be the right thing to say? He didn’t want to dress things up. He didn’t want to lie. Something honest. Something simple. ‘Come here.’
Emily took the three steps back down to the car park. ‘I’m glad you came.’
Two paces forward to meet her. ‘I’m glad you came.’
She tipped her chin up towards him and leant forward slightly. This was more like what Alex had been picturing. He bent his lips towards hers, and stopped. He stepped backwards. ‘Wait.’
‘What?’ Her face started to crumple.
‘No. Just wait.’ Alex took a deep breath. He was being crazy again. He was also trying to be a better man. ‘I lied to you.’
‘When?’
‘Six months ago.’ The words were seared in his memory. ‘I told you I could be the guy with the nice safe car, and the family house and the child seats.’ Alex shook his head. ‘I’m not that guy. I can’t promise you those things. At least not yet. One day, but not yet.’
Emily stepped back. ‘So what can you promise?’
That was the big question. Alex closed his eyes for a second. He needed to be honest. Above anything else, he wanted to tell her the truth. Maybe he could start there. He opened his eyes. ‘I’ll always tell you the truth, even if it’s not what you want to hear. I will love ...’ He listened to himself use the word. It was true. He’d fallen in love with her months ago. ‘I will love you even when you annoy me, and even when we fall out. I can promise you that we’ll have so much fun together, and I can promise you that I will be there when you need me.’
She stepped back towards him. He held out a hand. ‘I will probably be late. I might be broke. I will definitely be disorganised, and I can’t promise that I’ll be able to fix the things that make you sad, but when you need me I will be there. So is that enough? Am I enough?’
Emily paused. ‘I don’t need anyone to save me.’
He nodded. He knew that. He’d known that before she did. ‘So?’
‘You love me?’
He nodded.
She took a deep breath. ‘I think I love you too.’ She smiled, her beautiful radiant smile. ‘Did you bring the mistletoe?’
Alex patted his jacket pockets. He groaned. ‘It’s in the car.’
Emily laughed. She bent down, flicked open her bag, and pulled out a sprig covered in soft green leaves and white berries.
Alex folded his arms. ‘You thought I’d forget.’
‘You did forget. I, on the other hand, am very organised.’
‘So you saved me?’
She nodded. ‘Absolutely.’
He reached forward, took the mistletoe from her hand and held it above her head.