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“I just miss your body,” she says, pulling back and grinning at me. “As for conversation. We’ll see how tonight goes.”

I chuckle as April wiggles her brows before walking further into the apartment. She returns a moment later, clutching her bag.

“Ready?” I ask, holding out my hand.

“I think I am.”

She interlocks her fingers with mine.

“So what are the plans?” she asks as she turns and locks up. All I’ve told her is we’re going for dinner.

I pull a folded piece of coloured paper out of my pocket, one identical to the ones from our date jar.

April stops, her brows furrowed. “Ajar date? I don’t remember…”

I place a finger over her lips. “I may have added a few of my own to the jar, while you’ve been gone. We were getting a little low,” I lie, making her laugh.

“Low?”

I shrug.

“Lead the way,” she says smiling as she links her arm through mine.

We make our way downstairs to where Mason is waiting.

“Evening, Ms April. Lovely to see you again,” he says, opening the car door.

“It’s lovely to see you too, Mason,” April replies.

Mason grins at me as I shake my head. Smooth operator. Another one, April has charmed.

The drive to the restaurant is relaxed. We talk about our day, our fingers still interlinked. We’ve been messaging and talking on the phone, but this is the first time we’ve seen each other since she moved out.

The restaurant is busy, as always. Robin greets us at the door, taking us to the table I requested. A table tucked away in the corner. I recognise a couple of other guests, nodding in their direction. Their eyes drift to April with interest.

“Enjoy your meal,” Robin says, having settled April in her chair.

“Thank you,” April says, smiling up at him. My heart jumps.

I raise a brow and shoot it in Robin’s direction, earning myself a smirk when April looks down. We’ve been friends for a long time, and I’ve been a customer for years. What is it with my friends finding my love life suddenly interesting?

“This is lovely. I’ve heard great things about the food,” April says, picking up her menu.

“Robin knows how to create the perfect customer experience,” I say drily.

April chuckles. “You deserve all you get,” she says, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “The playboy, dating. Ouch. What will it do to your reputation?”

I growl. “I’ve given up my playboy ways. There’s only one woman I’m interested in.” I lean across the table and take her hand in mine. “I mean it.”

I rub circles on the back of her hand with my thumb. Her eyes drop to the movement.

“I need time,” she says, her eyes meeting mine.

“And I’ll give it to you. Just don’t shut me out. I know we’ve been intense, and it’s all happened so quickly. But when I tell you I love you, I mean it. I just need you to believe it.”

Our waitress arrives before April can reply, taking our drinks order. I decide against pushing any further. April needs to find her own way back to me. Although I’ll do everything in my power to prove to her, she’s the only woman I want from now on.

“Well,if it isn’t Caleb Frazer. Long time, no see.”