‘Hah! No – that would ruin it. But it needs a better ending. Romance fans want to find out what happens after the HEA. The happily ever after,’ she clarifies when I don’t respond. But I know what an HEA is – that’s not what I’m stuck on. ‘You’ve never considered an epilogue?’ she asks when I still don’t say anything.
‘Er, no.’
‘It could be one or two years later and they’re in this gorgeous location and maybe she’s wearing an engagement ring, or she’s visibly pregnant and they’re on their babymoon or something…’
I lean against the arm of the sofa, pressing my lips together as I contemplate her idea.
‘You don’t like that?’ she asks. ‘Doesn’t have to be them on vacation – could be a slice of their real life – but a happy slice. Maybe they adopt a cat.’
These are all great ideas and I get how adding an epilogue could strengthen the ending. Right now, it’s a passionate declaration of love at the airport, but what happens to Finn and Lexi next is ambiguous. I’ve left it to the audience to decide.
But have I really written aromance?
‘Nick?’
I look up.
‘You’re already writing it in your head, aren’t you?’ she asks, her eyes lit up. ‘Oh! You could set the final scene on Capri! Nick, this is a research trip!’
She bounces on her toes and if Delaney’s usual level of enthusiasm is a nine out of ten, this is an eleven, maybe a twelve, and it’s unfair of me not to match it. Especially when she’s been so generous – reading it in the first placeandwith her praise.
‘First,’ I say, getting up, ‘thank you again for reading it.’
She waves me off.
‘No, I mean it. I know I’m not a random driver, but we did only meet a couple of days ago, and it was a big favour to ask.’
‘You didn’t ask – I offered.’
‘Even so,’ I reply, and she appears to accept my gratitude. ‘And Ilovethe idea of an epilogue – even setting it here on Capri –inspired.’
She beams at me for a moment, then her eyes narrow.
‘Hold on, I’m sensing abut.’
‘I thought I’d written a love story, not a romance.’
‘Ah, I get it.’ She points a finger at me. ‘You’re a romance snob.’
‘I— No, I’m not.’
She drops onto the armchair and looks up at me, her eyes extra wide like she doesn’t believe me.
‘But like you said, it’s real and raw andheartfelt, so?—’
‘You dork. There are a lot of romances that are real and raw and heartfelt –About Time,The Lake House. Evenromcomsthat are –Something’s Gotta Give,When Harry Met Sally,The Big Sick. I can list more if you like.’
‘No,’ I say, sniggering softly at myself. ‘No, you’re right. If they end up together at the end, it’s a romance.’
‘You gonna be okay with that? You could change the ending – make it a love story instead. Maybe he tells her he loves her but she’s like, “No, dude, this was a fling, nothing more. Thanks for all the sex.” Then she gets on the plane.’
‘Lexi’s not like that.’
‘You could kill her off – they agree to do long-distance, she gets on the plane,annndit crashes.’
‘Itcrashes? Now who’s being a dork?’ I counter.
She grins up at me, clearly pleased with herself.