Page 138 of How We Began

“Getting stuff.”

“What sort of stuff?”

“Surprise.”

“For our date?”

“Better believe it, Mister.”

“Can’t wait. Is there a strict time schedule?”

“Nope.”

“Excellent,” he said as he pulled me closer.

Two hours later we were in Deathtrap Cooper and heading for the park. “Oh God, Lilah, you’re not going to make me watch you jog, are you?”

“Do I look like I am going to jog?”

His appraised my denim skirt and knee-high boots.

“No, not at all.”

“Stop moaning then.”

After the car was parked, well more like died in a vacant space, I took Ben down one of the central paths, the one I found on Friday, which leads to the most beautiful place that exists in South London.

“Shit! This is amazing,” he said as we walked in through wrought iron gates. The blues flashed as they took in the view around us and he gave my hand a squeeze.

“I know, and it gets even better.”

Around us, the Queen Elizabeth Plantation showed off its springtime bloom, with rhododendrons and azaleas vying with each other to win the Bright Flower competition. The whole place was awash with bright pinks, reds, and purples. It was astounding. I led him by the hand toward the best bit, the woodland spring with its earthy scents and bubbling water.

He looked at me for the longest time as we stood there, tethered to each other by our tangled hands and surrounded by nature. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I hope you’re hungry.”

“Always,” he said, but the look in his eyes made me think he wasn’t hungry for bread and cheese followed by strawberries.

Guzzling Tristan’s champagne and clinking our glasses, we shoved strawberries into our mouths so they exploded with the bubbles. This created lots of giggling and dribbling strawberry juice down our chins as we attempted the perfect mouthful. Once the food was finished, we turned on our backs and watched the blue sky overhead. A sky the blue of cornflowers and Ben’s eyes.

“Where do you get your blue eyes from?” I asked.

“I am a genetic throwback.”

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone else in my family has brown eyes. I’m the only one with blue. No one knows exactly where the blue comes from, but it has something to do with my Gran.”

“Really? How do you mean?”

“It is a long story. I’ll tell you one day.”

“Tell me now, I’m in the mood for a story!”

He rolled onto his side and pulled me towards him across the blanket.

“I’m saving it for a special occasion,” he murmured, then proceeded to push the thought from my mind with his lips.