Page 83 of Fury

“Aww, I like Coop,” she replies.

“As a stepdad?” I ask, and she laughs.

“I’ll be Lexi’s sister.”

We head out to my bike, and I take a deep breath. The doctor gave me the all-clear to drive when I feel ready, but it’s the first time since the accident, and I can’t pretend I’m not nervous. As if she senses it, she squeezes my hand. “You’ve got this.”

I take her helmet and push it on her head, fastening the strap. I throw my leg over the beast and carefully put my ownhelmet on as Xanthe slides on behind me. She wraps her arms around me, and it’s the best feeling.

I start the engine, and my entire body relaxes. For the first time in weeks, I feel like my old self, and as we pull out onto the road, it’s as if nothing ever happened. The rumble of the engine is all the medicine I needed.

Ten minutes later, I park the bike up in a quieter part of town and remove my helmet. When I first arrived in London, I came to this restaurant for a traditional curry, and when I opened my eyes after the accident, it’s one of the few things I remembered. I tell Xanthe the story as we enter hand-in-hand.

Once we’re seated and have placed our order, I take her hands across the table, tracing my thumb over her tattoo. “I need one.”

“I’ve never had my name on anyone’s skin before,” she says thoughtfully.

“Good.”

“I know this is a huge thing for you,” she adds, “but I was thinking, maybe we could get married.”

“If that’s what . . . you want.”

She stares open-mouthed, “Really?” I nod. “But you didn’t seem keen before . . .” She trails off, realising I don’t remember, and I smile.

“I was an . . . idiot before. Now, I will do . . . anything to make you happy.”

“It doesn’t have to be a big one, or even soon, just one day.”

But I’m already thinking of ways to get her up the aisle soon. “Kids?” I ask. It’s not something I’ve ever thought about. When Jo got pregnant, I was terrified. After my childhood, why wouldn’t I be? But Xanthe is different, and with her help, I know I’d be a good dad.

“I always said I didn’t want them,” she says, and my heart drops, “but when I imagine you holding our baby, it makes me feel differently.”

I grin. “Good, cos I wasn’t waiting for . . . your consent. We’re having babies.”

“Babies?” she repeats, laughing. “As in more than one?”

I nod. “There won’t ever be a time . . . when you’re not filled with . . . my babies.”

She leans over the table, hooking her hand around my neck and pulling me closer for a kiss. “At least we get to practise a lot.”

“First, we eat,” I whisper against her lips. “You need to be . . . strong if you’re going to be a . . . mum to a football team.”

She sits back in her seat. “Imagine Mum with grandbabies.”

“She will need to . . . be closer.”

“She’s not that far from us,” says Xanthe.

“I was thinking she could . . . move into the clubhouse.”

Xanthe stares wide-eyed. “You want my mother to move into the clubhouse?” I nod. “Why?”

“I don’t like the . . . thought of her being alone.”

Xanthe’s face softens. “You’re too cute.”

“Don’t tell my brothers.”

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