"Your blabbering Lily is so refreshing, now grab a seat, what can I get you to drink?" He walks over to the huge fridge and pulls the double doors open. "Water, coke, lemonade, orange juice, wine, beer, what do you fancy?" He peers at me around one of the doors awaiting my reply.

"Lemonade would be lovely, thanks."

He pulls out a can of the fizzy stuff and a bottle of beer for himself, grabs two glasses from the cupboard and settles down opposite me.

And just like that, having put the world to rights on boyfriends and girlfriends, the air is clear again between us and I sit over my drink as he puts the pasta onto boil.

"Thanks for inviting me for supper."

"No thank you, it's great to have your company Lily. In reality I am a person who prefers the company of others so the thought of spending six months completely alone terrified me."

"But you still did it anyway?" I'm intrigued at his logic.

"Yeah, I like to challenge myself. When I first bought my house in London I didn't sleep there for the first few months. It felt so big and isolated I ended up sofa hopping with friends until I finally found the courage to stay there!"

"That is very weird in an endearing way."

"That's me." He answers nonchalantly. I am almost envious of the contentment he has in his own skin.

"You said your family know you are here but have you broken contact completely with everyone else?"

"No but everyone else just knows I am away. I didn't see the need to go into detail. I've got a whole plethora of ways to communicate if anyone needs to get hold of me desperately. For the most part I've been left alone.

Initially there was panic amongst my management, my agent, my PA - where are you, what's going on - but a simple one line email put paid to that - I'm having 6 months off, if you need me for anything urgent call, text or email me. Those of my friends that understand sent me 'see you in 6 months best wishes'. There was no justification required, this is what I wanted, that's it. Those that understand get it, those that don't aren't worth my time."

Bearing in mind we are the same age, I am a little gob smacked but also in awe at the confidence he exudes. "Are you close with your parents?"

His whole tone changes to fondness when talking about his family. "God yes I am, my mum is my main support system, if I didn't have her I don't know how I would have got through sane and in one piece some days. What's your relationship like with your parents?"

"I think I said before that I suffer from middle child syndrome and it's a self inflicted habit that's hard to overcome. My older sister Nathalie is the academic, the protégé. She's smart and beautiful and she knows it. She has followed the same path through medicine that my dad did. She is destined for great things in the scientific field and Dad adores her. Then there's Thomas who is the golden boy. I don't say that nastily because he is a wonderful brother and I love him dearly. We are very close. But my parents went through a messy time when I was 7." I stop speaking, realising my mouth is running away with me again.

"Messy time?" Harry coaxes me to carry on as he serves up the pasta and sauce and places the plates down on the kitchen island, resuming his place opposite me.

"Yeah my dad was working away all the time in a top London hospital whilst we were still living here. Dad would come home on weekends but they became few and far between as he worked the longer hours that his job demanded. Mum and dad grew apart and it affected mum deeply. She missed him. We all did. But he put his career before us. She didn't want to move to London, away from the countryside and her parents. She loved it here and we had a good life. Dad couldn't understand that. He said we could have a brilliant lifestyle in London and it would be better because we would all be together. Mum disagreed. They argued so much. It was such an awful time. I think I spent six months in tears at the age of 7. My schoolwork and friendships suffered. I didn't cope well with it at all. Nathalie on the other hand was so hardnosed she understood exactly where Dad was coming from, "he's trying to provide for us" she'd say "mum's making it unnecessarily difficult for him."

"It all worked out in the end though right?" Harry questions.

"Well when push came to shove, dad chose his family over his career. Don't get me wrong, he is a doctor at the local hospital here but there is no doubt he had to make a choice between career and family and he chose us. Thomas is the result of their 'getting back together'. He is the precious gift of love. Mum fusses over him because he is the boy she craved and the youngest, Dad adores Nathalie because she is a female version of him and I'm just the awkward one in the middle that no one quite understands. Only my Grandma really got me that's why I miss her so much and that's why I like to spend time at Summer Haze." Tears fill my eyes and I have to look away to stop them falling.

Harry sits completely silently looking at me tenderly.

"I'm sorry I've said too much again." I look down at the piece of spaghetti I have been spinning around and around my fork.

Harry voice is calm and understanding. "Look at me Lily, no you haven't. I can see why you feel the way you do but at least your parents stayed together. Mine didn't."

"Oh so sorry, there is me going on and on."

"I think a kid whose parents divorce will always wonder what if they'd stayed together. I am no exception to that. I used to pray they would get back together when I was young but as time went on and I got older I realised it just wasn't going to happen. They separated before I was old enough to understand love, to understand what being in a relationship is. They were just my mum and dad. I was heartbroken when they separated. I cried lots. But as time has gone on I've realised it was best for their happiness and ultimately mine and my sister's too. My stepparents are both loving and caring and we get on well. Most importantly they make my parents happy and that makes me happy and content. I just want those around me to be happy, if they are happy, I am happy, that's how my mind works."

"You are such an amazingly kind person Harry, has anyone ever told you that?" I glance at him admirably.

He doesn't respond, instead he gazes at me with a beatific smile, the speckles of his olive greens sparkling in the overhead lights.

"And humble with it!" I beam at him. "I know Mum and Dad are happy and they love each other but I also sense resentment still present in Dad even after all this time at being forced to make the choice between two lifestyles. High city living, working all hours to find cures for diseases and being recognised by his peers and the medical industry for his outstanding contribution to medicine or living the simple life in the countryside with 2.4 kids, a mortgage and a dog. He chose the latter but a little piece of him still resents that. Is life fate and destiny or it is just messily random and full of coincidence?"

"But what you are saying is true for everyone. Look at me, if I hadn't have gone to that audition that day, I would have stayed on at school, got A-levels, gone to University to perhaps study law and I would just be finishing my three year degree now. Look at the different path I have taken. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imaged it would turn out the way it has. The last 5 years was my 'university' life, I just experienced it in a totally different way to everyone else. We all have to make lifestyle choices Lily."

"Yes and it is those choices we make that shape our future. If dad hadn't had mum and us when he started working in London he would have chosen the London life, I am sure of it." I imply resigned.

"But he didn't, did he? Our lives are shaped by so many different factors but ultimately by the choices we make everyday." He counters.

"Life only becomes complicated if you allow it to. Keep it simple and limit the choices." I suggest unsentimentally.

"But life is for living Lily, experiencing different places and cultures, don't you want a taste of that." He replies passionately.

"Not if it complicates things, I don't want to go through what my parents went through." My tone is emotionless and flat.

"You can't limit yourself because of that. You are not your parents." He is desperately trying to make me see the positives.

"Well it's not something I will ever have to worry about, I've already got my whole life mapped out." I'm being pragmatic.

"Really?" He sounds shocked.

"Yep, when I finish college I am going to set up my own florist locally, build my business, buy my cottage with roses around the door and life happily ever after for the rest of my life."

"What about love Lily?" He's staring right at me.

"What about it?" I pout my lips questioningly.

"Well don't you want to meet the man of your dreams, settle down, have kids?" He asks as though he cannot believe that it is not everyone's ultimate dream.

"What 2.4 kids, a mortgage and a dog? If it happens yes, if not then no."

"You're a third of the way there already, you've got the dog!"

"Oh ha ha, ha, Mr Funny." I sarcastically smile at him.

"Seriously Lily what's the point if you don't have that someone special to share it all with?"

"You would say that because you are a romantic creative songwriter."

"Yes I am and I know if there's one thing you can't control its love."

"Then don't fall in love." I answer dryly.

"Wow, life isn't that cut and dry. It's easier said than done sometimes." He frowns unable to comprehend my terseness.

"So, you've been in love have you?" I ask directly.

"No, well yes, I thought I was but she broke my heart." He answers honestly.

"See, why bother, it always ends in heartache and resentment. Rely on yourself and yourself only is my motto."

"I thought you said you were over Mr Cheater?"

"I am."

"You can't fool me Lily Jefferson, there is a romantic in there I absolutely know it."

"If you say so, if I ever find it I'll be sure to let you know." I giggle.

"Yes you do that." And the way he looked and me and the weight of his answer suggested there was more to it than purely an amusing comment.

After our banter about life and love, Harry shifts off the stool and puts our empty plates in the dishwasher. "Fancy some ice cream, I think there's some in the freezer."

"The pasta was fab and ice-cream would be great, thanks."

He pulls out two tubs, two bowls and two spoons. "Right, mint choc chip or vanilla chocolate brownie?"

"Got to be mint choc chip for me please."

"Good choice, my favourite too, a girl after my own heart." He puts the scoops in the bowls then hands me mine. "I was planning on watching a film if you fancy it."

"Ok, what did you have in mind?"

"Currently trying to catch up on everything I've missed film and TV series wise and I think the new James Bond film is premiering tonight."

"What Spectre?"

"Yeah have you seen it?"

"No, sounds great."

We venture into the sitting room and I plonk myself down on the big sofa opposite the huge TV hung on the wall over the fireplace. Whilst Harry turns on the TV and finds the film in the planner, I text Mum to say I've met a friend and will be back late.

The day outside is drawing in and Harry closes the curtains then switches on a floor lamp that drapes the room in a dim light. He sits beside me and the film starts.

The beginning as always is fast and exciting as the story unfolds but as it nears the middle and drags a little my interest wanes as my eyes begin to feel heavy. The dark room, the chatting and not forgetting I did hit my head a few days ago cause me to feel so weary. I close my eyes, my head bobs forward, and then I jerk it back and open my eyes. This action repeats itself several times before sleep takes over, as I am physically unable to keep my eyes open any longer.

I have no concept of how much time elapses but I stir, my heavy eyes trying to focus in the dim light of the room. The TV is on but it's not the film from earlier, it's a late night chat show, the sound is turned down very low.

Harry and I are still sat side by side but during sleep my head has found its way onto Harry's shoulder and I'm nestled into him. His grey tee feels soft against my cheek and his cologne that lingers on the soft skin of his neck smells alluring against my nostrils. His cheek rests lightly against top of my head. When I realise I'm snuggled against him, I jerk my whole body back up to sitting again.

His head rests back against the sofa and he glances across at me, a raspy whisper, "Hi," slips from his lips. Has he been asleep as well I wonder?

"Oh sno snorry for falling asleep on you." My voice is drowsy as I rub my eyes.

"Don't worry about it, it's been lovely to have some company."

"What even asleep company." I try to make light of it but in reality I am embarrassed.

"Yes, even 'snoring' asleep company." He must sense my angst and tries to make light of it as well.

"Hey I don't snore." I retort.

He raises his eyebrows filling me with utter doubt. "Really, I don't do I?"

"No but I nearly had you there for a minute." He throws his head back and let's out a low gruff laugh.

"Cheeky' I say swatting his arm playfully. "What happened in the end?"

"Well you missed over half of it so we'll have to watch it again another time." He yawns indicating he obviously missed some of it too.

"Yes I'd like that. I'll try not to fall asleep on you next time. I'd better be getting off though."

"It was lovely Lily, we'll have to do it again sometime."

"Yes I'd like that."

We both rise off the sofa and Harry follows me. I put my shoes on and grab my bag and car key and head for the door. Harry puts on the outside lights and the garden illuminates. I turn when we reach the door but he motions to carry on following me.

"Walking me to my car?" I question.

"Well it's dark and secluded so yes I am." He answers protectively.

"Well thank you kind Sir. Chivalry certainly isn't dead." I curtsey playfully.

He chortles and shakes his head. I click my key fob and the car lights flash. He reaches for the driver's handle and pulls open my car door. Before I get in I turn and face him. Shadows from the garden lights fall in streaks across his face. His man bun is pulled high up on his head but is now messy and lose from sleep, the tautness still at the sides accentuates the prominence of his cheekbones. His eyes shine brightly through the low light.

"Thanks again for a lovely evening." I lean forward and wrap my arms loosely around his neck, pulling him into me to hug him goodbye. His large hand snakes behind me to press gently in the curve of my lower back and I stumble into him. The warmth radiating from his strong body into mine ignites feelings deep within the pit of my stomach and down to my core.

As I attempt to pull away, my cheek, burning despite the chill from the summer evening, brushes against his until the corners of our mouths align. We remain almost suspended in that moment unable to move.

Our exaggerated breaths mirror each other at being so close. His exhale slides across my cheek, skimming my earlobe seductively. I can feel him, all of him, pushed up against me. Every contour of my body is moulded into his. His grip increases as he continues to hold me but as he turns his head and his lips begin to brush across mine, I bury my head deep into his shoulder letting out a huge exhale I didn't even know I was holding.

Despite my rejection of his attempt to kiss me, he still doesn't release me. He squeezes me tighter to him, wrapping his other arm around my waist holding me closer. He buries himself in my hair nuzzling against my neck. His soft lips skim along my jawline leaving tiny pecks in their wake and he places a final delicate kiss against my cheek. The feeling of his mouth against my skin is exquisite and I let out a gasp as I lightly push away from him and he finally releases me. My chest is rising and falling so rapidly, I am almost out of breath.

"I'll see you on Wednesday." Rushes out of my mouth as I turn and quickly get into my car.

"Yeah, see you Wednesday." I sense the smallest hint of disappointment in his tone but I am unable to look at him as I drive away.