With a small laugh I said, “First you have to win me over, then you can worry about Josh.”
“I've already won you over. Now I need to make you admit it.”
He was absolutely right. He had won me over. But a
longside all of the newly discovered happiness, I needed to think about what the next step was.
'That's what today is about,' I reminded myself. 'All you have you have to do today is talk to him and be honest.'
After we’d eaten breakfast, Radleigh went back to his room to get dressed. He took the majority of my things with him so I could check out of my room after I’d sorted things out with Josh, and when he was ready, we went down to face him.
Josh and Jamie were already waiting, and the difference in reactions on seeing us together was huge. While Jamie's face lit up, Josh's clouded over.
“I'd better handle this on my own,” I said nervously, looking up at Radleigh.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay. I'll go and see if I can add you to my room for the night.”
I smiled up at him. “Okay. I'll see you in a minute.”
He winked at me, then headed over to the reception desk. I stared after him for a second, somewhere between excited and astounded that he was mine. All I had to do was give him the word and we would be together. I was still having trouble believing any of it was happening. I thought for sure this was all some elaborate prank and that at any second a camera crew were going to jump out from nowhere, proving I’d been well and truly “got”.
I took a deep breath before approaching Josh and Jamie. The expression on my brother’s face told me this wasn't about to be an easy conversation.
“Good morning,” I said, hoping my cheerfulness would make him a little easier on me.
“Please tell me you met him in the lift,” Josh said, without a hint of a smile.
“I didn't meet him in the lift.”
Jamie beamed up at me. “Are you and Radleigh friends again now?”
“Yes,” I told him. “We're friends.”
“Friends? It certainly looks like more than that.”
I was very aware that my nephew was eagerly listening to every word so I halted my response before I began. Although nothing had happened between us that would corrupt him, I didn't think he needed to hear the details.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a five pound note. Handing it to Jamie, I said, “Why don't you go to the shop and buy yourself a magazine for the journey home?”
There was a small newsagent type shop right by the hotel entrance, and when I pointed him in the right direction, he said, “Can I buy some sweets too?”
Laughing I said, “Yes, if you must.”
“Yay! Thank you!”
Jamie darted to the shop and Josh said, “I take it you're not coming home today?”
“No. I'll catch a train home tomorrow.”
“So what's going on? You two sorted things out?”
“Almost. Last night he came to see me after we got back from the club.”
“And?”