Page 121 of More Than Just Friends

When I opened it up I saw it was a photo of a flat with some bullet points written beneath it. I read the description out loud: ‘One bedroom flat in Clapham, South London with views overlooking the common. Large reception and dining room, garden and excellent transport links.’ I paused. ‘I don’t follow?’

‘This is a gorgeous flat, in South London with enough room for a table tennis table and a couple officially starting a serious, long-term, once-in-a-lifetime relationship. In other words, I thought this place would be perfect for us. To live. Together. Not as friends. But as boyfriend and girlfriend. I’m ready to go all in with you Noah. I love you. No. I don’t just love you. I’m in love with you. The deep, romantic, head-over-heels, I didn’t even see it coming kinda love.’

My jaw dropped.

My eyes popped.

Wait? What?

Ali said she loved me.

No. Not just that she loved me, but that she was in love with me.

Whoa.

I was not expecting that.

For years I’d longed to hear those words. Dreamt about them. But now I’d finally heard them fall from Ali’s lips, I was stumped.

This was huge.

It was a lot to take in.

I should say something.

I should react.

But I needed a minute.

Actually, make that two…

40

ALICIA

Noah stared at me, his eyes wide. I could hear the wheels in his brain turning. They were going so fast that any minute now there’d be steam coming out of his ears.

‘Say something… please,’ I winced. ‘Even if it’s to tell me to fuck off and that I missed my chance. Just put me out of my misery.’

My heart thundered against my ribcage.

My throat was drier than the Sahara Desert and my pulse raced as I waited for his response.

What seemed like ten hours passed.

Still no response.

If I looked in the mirror, I swear I would’ve aged about twenty years.

That was how long this silence felt.

I’d blown it.

I was too late.

I should’ve been more decisive.

I should’ve told Noah that I loved him sooner.