Chapter 32 #2
‘I’m saying,’ he said, ‘that I’ve been going out of my mind all week because last weekend I realised that I haven’t only been thinking about you Skylar, I’ve been falling for you, and I have been from the moment we met.’
‘You’ve been falling for me?’ I whispered as the hope of a genuine Big Love blossoming began to edge its way further in.
‘Hook, line and sinker,’ he said. ‘And I know you don’t feel the same about me because you’ve been playing by our rules, but I had to tell you—’
‘I do feel the same,’ I blurted. ‘I absolutely do.’
‘Really?’
‘Cross my heart,’ I promised. ‘I only didn’t say anything because I thought you were going along with what we’d agreed, and when you went away this week, I just assumed you were happy to move on.’
‘I was trying to distance myself,’ he explained as the crossed wires were untangled. ‘But I couldn’t do it. I knew as soon as I’d gone that I wanted to be here, and more than that, I wanted to tell you that I want to be with you.’
‘I know this isn’t what either of us expected to happen…’
‘But I’m so happy it has.’
Without another word we embraced and the distance between us we’d both attempted to keep was banished for good.
We didn’t kiss straightaway but held each other close as the misunderstanding ebbed further away and the joyous prospect of what was to come sank in.
It was in those seconds that I let the hope rush all the way in, and it immediately turned into a feeling of unbridled excitement and unadulterated joy. At last, I was following my heart.
‘We’re both staying in Norwich,’ Erik whispered.
‘And we’re staying here together.’
We kissed for a long time and then I led Erik up the stairs to my room where we stayed for the whole of the day making up for the week we’d lost.
It was late in the afternoon when hunger of a different kind drove us downstairs to the kitchen.
Erik fed the cats while I made a huge plate of sandwiches.
Knowing that Rafe and Hugh wouldn’t be back until later, neither of us were properly dressed.
Erik was barefoot and wearing his trunks and I had pulled on his henley shirt.
It swamped me, but it felt thrilling to be wearing something I’d long admired him in.
‘You still haven’t told me who recorded that video so you could see it on your phone,’ I reminded him. ‘Or how your dad reacted to it.’
Given what Erik had previously told me about him, I couldn’t imagine his shock tactic had been well received.
‘Catlyn, who would have been my co-presenter, recorded it,’ Erik grinned. ‘We’d gone out one evening, hence the photo in the paper, and I’d filled her in on what I intended to do. I thought it was only fair.’
‘Oh, my goodness!’ I gasped. ‘Whatever did she say?’
‘When she heard there was a love story at the centre of the plan, she became a willing accomplice. She said she’s a romantic at heart and that it was only fair that you got to see what I did with the good advice you’d given me.’
‘I rather like the sound of Catlyn.’
‘She was great and my agent was understanding, too.’ I hadn’t even thought about them!
‘With regards to Dad,’ Erik carried on. ‘Let’s just say he took a while to calm down, but when he did and I’d talked to him some more, he finally began to see the situation from my point of view.
He didn’t even baulk when I suggested he might consider grief counselling.
Mum’s passing might have happened a long time ago, but I know Dad still hasn’t mourned her properly. ’
‘I’m so pleased you were finally able to have an honest conversation about that,’ I said, feeling relieved that the impact of what Erik had done had hit its mark and been accepted.
‘It’s still going to take a lot to change the parameters of our relationship,’ he went on, ‘but thanks to you we’re on the same page.’
‘I can’t take the credit,’ I told him. ‘You were the one who acted on what I suggested and that was so brave. I’m not sure I would have had the courage to do what you did.’
‘Oh, now you tell me!’ Erik grinned and rushed over to tickle me.
I squealed and shoved the plate of sandwiches between us.
‘Offering advice is one thing,’ I laughed, ‘but acting on it is another. Now, come on, we need to eat.’
We were cosily snuggled under a blanket in my sitting room when Rafe and Hugh arrived back.
‘I don’t think I should come right in,’ I heard Hugh say. ‘I’ll wait here while you get the lie of the land.’
Erik looked at me and frowned.
‘They knew you were coming to see me today,’ I whispered, ‘and thought I might well end up heartbroken.’
‘Oh Skylar,’ Erik swallowed and kissed me. ‘We’ve been such fools, haven’t we?’
‘We have.’
‘Skylar!’ Rafe called.
‘In here!’ I called back. ‘You can come in.’
His head appeared around the door.
‘Oh,’ he gasped. He looked amazed, then grinned. ‘If that photographer could see you now!’ he laughed. ‘Come and look at this, Hugh.’
My father walked right in and Hugh followed.
‘Well, I never,’ he applauded. ‘This is a happy homecoming.’
‘They’ve finally got their act together,’ Rafe grinned.
‘Hey!’ I objected.
‘I don’t think you can refute that, Skylar,’ Erik laughed. ‘It has taken us a while.’
‘Um, it has. Did you have a nice day?’ I asked my father and Hugh.
‘Fabulous,’ Hugh smiled.
‘Though perhaps not as good as yours,’ Rafe said. ‘Now, who fancies a takeaway?’