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No.

It couldn’t be.

I spun around and when I saw Romeo standing there my jaw dropped.

I blinked quickly, blinked again, then prodded his bicep, my eyes wide with disbelief.

‘We have not seen each other for more than a month and you greet me by poking my arm?’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘I was hoping for a better welcome than that!’ The corner of his mouth turned up into a smile.

‘Are you…?’ I rubbed my eyes, then prodded his other bicep. ‘Are youreal?’

I must be dreaming. There was no way Romeo was here.

‘The last time that I checked, I was very real. Perhaps if you allowed me to kiss you, that would prove it?’

‘Yes, please,’ I nodded, my eyes still the size of saucers.

Romeo stepped forward, dipped his head, wrapped his arms around me, then pressed his lips against mine.

At first, I was rooted to the spot, still questioning whether this was a vivid version of one of the millions of fantasies I’d had since I left.

But when he deepened the kiss and slid his tongue inside my mouth, a bolt of electricity rocketed through me.

And then I knew.

This was real.

Oh my God!

I snaked my arms around his back and pulled him into me.

The kiss grew frantic and emotional, like it’d been decades since we’d last locked lips.

As I melted into him, the rest of the world disappeared.

Romeo had come to me. We were together again.

This was a billion times better than all of my dreams put together.

When we eventually pulled away, we looked at each other in a daze.

‘You’rehere,’ I repeated.

‘Sì.’

‘When did you arrive? How did you know I’d be here? How long are you staying?’

‘So many questions!’ He laughed, before giving me another soft kiss.

‘The plane landed a couple of hours ago. And as for knowing you’d be here, I had a little help.’

Romeo looked over his shoulder and I spotted Stella about fifty metres away, grinning like an idiot.

‘You two!’ I shook my head. ‘I’m worried about how good Stella was about lying to get me here. But I’m glad she did, because it’s great to see you and because there’s something I need to tell you that’s long overdue.’

‘Let me guess. You have found another celebrity to compare me to,’ he smiled.

‘No! You’re an original. No one could ever compare to you.’ I took his hands in mine. ‘What I’ve been wanting to tell you, is that I… I love you.’