Page 48 of When We Were Young

‘I don’t know.’

‘She was going on about a song you wrote. She said the lyrics were about me. Then she started crying and asked me to get her a drink.’

‘Sorry you got dragged into this. She’s upset. She’s not thinking straight.’

‘She’s got a bottle of vodka up there.’

‘Oh Christ, she’s already had a bottle of wine. Don’t worry, I’ll go up and—’

Emily shook her head. ‘That’s not a good idea. She doesn’t want to see you.’

‘Okay, I’ll send Mum up.’

Emily stared at him, pinning him to the spot. ‘Will, she said “Forbidden” is about me. It’s not about me, is it?’

Will scolded himself: he should have realised those lyrics would be obvious to Izzy.

‘You can say no,’ she prompted. ‘Just say it’s not about me.’

Will swallowed. ‘What if itwasabout you?’

She paused, frowning.

‘But I’m with Aidan,’ she said at last.

‘You don’t have to be…’

‘Will––’

‘Emily, I’m mad about you. I have been ever since I saw you get off the train when I was busking at the station.’

‘You never even spoke to me…’

‘I was going to, but I got arrested, remember? Then Aidan asked you out before I got the chance. Look, if you’re happy with him, I’ll walk away. But if not, maybe you could think about…us.’

Her eyebrows were drawn up in the middle of her forehead.

‘But if it’s “no” – that’s fine, you can tell me now. I’ll get over it.’

Emily opened her mouth to speak, but Aunty Sandra burst into the kitchen. ‘Right, everyone out of here! I’m putting the sausage rolls on. Will, can you put this rubbish out?’

Chapter 24

April 2016

Emily

I don’t want to be in this bar – everyone here is half my age – but FHD is back from his holiday and this is finally happening. I feel sick.

But why worry about your first date in twenty years when you’ve jacked in your job and have no way of paying the mortgage? That helps put things into perspective.

If I hadn’t quit my job, I’d have agonised for hours about what to wear tonight, but with the help ofperspective, I chose a low-cut top and a pair of ancient but well-fitting jeans in minutes. With indifference, no less. I even put on my sexiest underwear (only M&S black cotton but with lacy bits). Thank you, perspective.

I’ve almost finished a large glass of wine – I should slow down, but I take another mouthful. Let’s get this over with.

‘Hi!’

I jump out of my skin.

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