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I choked on my sundae as Alex stared on at me seriously. His eyes turned wide as I spluttered and tried to catch my breath.
'Oh my god,' Alex said, reaching over to me. 'Are you okay?'
I waved my hand and nodded, finally recovering from my coughing fit as I gasped for air and blinked away my tears.
'Jesus, Ava,' Alex chuckled. 'All good?'
'Fine,' I croaked.
'I'm guessing you didn't expect me to say that,' he murmured.
I laughed softly and shook my head. 'Not exactly.'
'I'm sorry,' he sighed.
'No, please do not apologise,' I told him, reaching over for his hand. 'It's sweet of you to say that to me but honestly Alex, I don't think you're in love with me. I think you maybe just really like me and you think it's love. I really like you too and there's plenty of time for it to develop and become that.'
'No, I do love you, Ava,' he sighed, again. 'I know it's soon but you know that I want to be honest with you.'
'We've only just been going out a week, Alex,' I told him. 'It was a week ago that we had our first, disastrous date.'
'But I walk past you everyday at work and I just find you mesmerising,' he replied. 'I think you're perfect. You're perfect for me.'
'That's so lovely of you to say,' I told him.
'But now you're weirded out and are about to tell me that you're not ready for a relationship yet?' he murmured, looking saddened.
'I was totally ready for you to ask me that,' I told him. 'I was ready to say yes.'
'You were?' he asked, his face lighting up.
'I really was,' I said, nodding. 'But, I think maybe we need to slow things down a little.'
'Oh.' His face dropped in disappointment and just about broke my heart.
'I'm not saying no, Alex,' I told him. 'But I want you to just realise that there's no rush, it's been nice just taking things easy and taking our time to get to know each other and I do think that you and I being in a relationship is the right thing for us. I think maybe it's best that we just wait a little longer.'
'Because I told you I love you?' he asked.
'Yes,' I sighed. 'Because I don't think you do and I want you to realise that first. It's okay, Alex. Don't look so disappointed. I really like you and I'm excited to see where this is going!'
'You are?' he asked.
'I absolutely am,' I replied, squeezing his hand tighter. 'Stop looking so worried. Let's just keep doing what we're doing, okay? It's been amazing.'
