Page 46 of When We Were Young

‘Do they like me?’ she asked.

‘Who?’

‘Your parents. Everyone.’

He kept his eyes on the lane ahead. ‘Of course they like you.’

‘Your aunt asked me how long we’d been together. Have you never mentioned me?’

‘I don’t see them all that often…’

She stopped walking. ‘Will, I can’t keep pretending this morning didn’t happen.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I meant what I said.’

‘What?’

‘Don’t play dumb. I told you I love you.’

‘Oh… that.’ Will kicked at stones on the path.

‘I can’t pretend it doesn’t matter that you didn’t say it back. It’s not like I’m rushing things. We’ve been seeing each other for eleven months now. I need to know how you feel about me.’

Rain pattered on the umbrella. ‘Well… I care about––’

‘Oh, come on, Will! Not “I care about you”,please.’

‘I don’t know what you want me to say…’

‘There’s a conventional response, and if you can’t bring yourself to say it, then I don’t know what we’re doing here!’

The dog whimpered at his feet. ‘I like you; I really do. You’re a lovely girl. It’s not you, it’s––’

She slapped him hard across the face. He sucked air through his teeth at the sting of it.

‘Don’t give me that one as well! Don’t give me all the fucking clichés, Will! It’s like you’re waiting for someone better to come along.’

He said nothing.

‘Oh my God, there’s someone else!’ Her voice was shrill.

Will stalled, trying to find the right words. ‘I have…feelings…for someone else, but I haven’t—’

‘It’s Emily, isn’t it?’

‘What? No––’

‘The way you look at her. You’re always looking at her. She’s your brother’s girlfriend, for God’s sake!’

‘It’s not Emily, Izzy. Look, it doesn’t matter who it is. What matters is, if I’m thinking about someone else, it’s not fair on you.’

‘So we’re finished?’

He paused. ‘I think that would be best.’

She tips her head skyward to stop tears from falling. ‘Right.’