Lee spent several minutes sitting on the sofa just staring at the closed door of Lucy's bedroom, wondering what she was doing in there. He couldn't hear the hot water, so clearly she wasn't actually washing her hair. He considered going to get a drinking glass and use it to listen at her door but thought better of it.

He was thinking about what he was going to say to Lucy when she eventually came out of her room, when his phone rang. He jumped, the sound startling him. It was Kate. He almost didn't answer it, then thought about what a coward he'd been to run out on her earlier. He had to be grown up about this.

"Kate".

"Lee".

"Sorry about earlier, I..."

"You think he's yours don't you?"

"Err...yeah well I...you mean he isn't mine?"

"No, he isn't".

Lee felt the weight of the world lifting from his shoulders.

"Phew. Thank god".

"You could have tried to hide your joy a little bit".

"Sorry, it's just..you know".

"I know".

"If he's not mine whose is he then? He can't be Tim's right?"

"He's not Tim's. It was a guy who worked at my publishers. There was an party a few weeks after I started at the San Diego office. You know what office parties are like...oh no, you've never worked in an office have you? You can't get drunk and have sex with an ice cream cone can you?"

"Well you can try but they're not big enough, the ice cream's too cold, and wafers chafe".

"I may have just been a little bit sick in my mouth".

"I was joking. How can you be so sure Hunter isn't mine anyway? We did have sex, three times".

"Because we used protection. And I've worked out the dates".

"There might have been a defective condom, and what if you've done the Maths wrong?".

"There's also the fact that Hunter looks exactly like his father, and his father is from Nigeria".

"Oh, I see. You could have put that reason at the top of the list".

"If you'd stuck around long enough to meet him at the hotel, you'd have seen for yourself".

"You don't have to answer this but why didn't you tell him...the father? He might have wanted to play a part in his son's life".

"He's married, I didn't want to be a home wrecker. Speaking of which, why haven't you told her?"

"Told who what?"

"Lucy. That you love her?"

Bloody hell, maybe Kate really was a mind reader.

"How do you know I love her?"

"You're not denying it then?"

"I don't suppose there's any point. The truth is I've never told anyone before. I mean, my dad guessed, so did Daisy, and probably Tim, though I've never actually fully admitted it to any of them. I think even Toby knows and I've only known him a few months".

"That's because it's obvious. You confirmed it for me at the end of yesterday evening".

"When I turned you down?"

"Yeah, though I spotted the signs earlier. You mentioned Lucy loads, and when you talk about her you get this sort of whistful look in your eyes".

"Do I?"

"Yeah, big time. So, why haven't you told her?"

"It's complicated".

"Seems fairly simple to me".

"Okay then, because I'm scared".

"Scared of what?"

"Scared of what might happen. There's a possibility I'll end up rejected, heartbroken and not to mention homeless".

"And if you don't, if telling her pays off?"

"That thought's scary too, because it means..."

"A proper relationship, commitment, responsibilities, having to grow up?"

"Yep, that. But it's also...letting my guard down you know".

"I know, allowing yourself to be vulnerable, letting someone into your heart. You've put up walls, to protect yourself, we all do. To let those walls down, it's scary, but it's also rewarding".

"It's not even just that. It's not just me I don't want to get hurt, it's her. I don't deserve her, she's too good for me".

"There it is, that low self esteem of yours again. You are a good person Lee, sweet, handsome, kind and an excellent lover. Lucy would be lucky to have you. You're good friends already, she would't be your friend if she didn't like you. To be friends first, to like each other, that's such a good foundation for everything else. Be confident Lee, remember what I said yesterday".

"That's nice of you to say, but I still think I have to be a better person, for her. Don't get me wrong, if means I can be with her I'll not hesitate at working my hardest be the person she deserves. It's just, change is scary. Anyway, this is a pointless conversation because I don't think she's interested in a relationship with me".

"Oh, she is".

"You can't know that, you only spent a few minutes with her".

"Lee, are you blind? She's clearly head over heals for you. It was written all over her face when I saw her".

Perhaps Kate was right. Perhaps he knew this deep down too, but was pretending he didn't because this seemed a less scary option than having to voice his feelings.

"You really think so?"

"I think she's waiting for you to tell her, so just do it. She might not wait forever. Remember what I said, you are in control of your own happiness. Make it happen Lee, you know what you need to do".

Something hit home then. She might not wait forever. What if Kate was right? He couldn't risk losing Lucy. To hear Kate say she was sure Lucy loved him gave him hope. Kate was really good at reading people after all, presumably a skill she'd picked up from all the therapists she'd spent time with. This was it, the confidence boost he needed. He could do this, he was going to do this. Even if Lucy stayed locked in her bedroom, he'd just talk to her through the door.

"Okay, wish me luck".

"You don't need it".

"Wish me courage then".

"You'll be fine. Just think...by this time tomorrow your life might have changed forever for the better, you might finally be completely happy".

"I hope so".

"Look, if you want to meet up again before I go back to California, call me. I really would like you to meet Hunter, I think you'd get on. But don't even bother pick up that phone if you don't have good news for me about you and Lucy".

'Just one thing, why...given our past why are so so keen for me and Lucy to get together?"

"Because I recognise love when I see it. I'm kinda sad that we were never meant to be, but I care about you Lee, and I just want you to be happy".

"Thanks Kate...that means a lot to me".

"Until next time then?"

"Yeah, bye".