possibly maybe

"I wish you'd stop changing your mind," Chloe told Craig on a walk after supper at her place in the country. "Don't go back."

"I dunno." It was hard to look her in the eye without feeling some sort of guilt. She had a very kind heart, and he didn't want to change that.

Sure, there were things that made him want to stay. And he'd stayed on the pull-out in the livingroom when the nights got too late or the weather was unbearable. She'd taken care of him when he was ill.

"I do love being here," he managed a quiet smile. "I do love the company, loads." He shook his head. "Its just really not my place, you know."

"You're happier here. All those footballers are so annoying. You belong here. Not there." She touched his hand then, and it wasn't for a moment or two that he realised they were holding hands.

"But there's work, studies, I shouldn't." He broke free then. He could imagine being comfortable here with Chloe.

"Quit the pub." She bit her bottom lip. "Its getting you no where."

"But thats what I do." He shrugged.

"No, it isn't," she squinted. "Bottlewasher extraordinaire? I don't think so."

"Just temporary," he said and looked back at her little pout that was irresistible.

He took her hand then, drew her in. "Come here. I'm not going anywhere."

She hugged him warmly. "Promise?"

"Promise." He hugged her back. It was something more than just a friendly hug. He stroked his fingers through her glossy hair. He wished this was enough, but it wasn't.