Alex swallowed a lump in her throat. She gave Zara some medicine. ‘OK, we’re going to leave you to rest. Do you want anything?’
Zara shook her head.
‘Let us know if you do or if the pain gets worse,’ Alex said.
Zara nodded and rolled over to face away from them. Clearly Alex wasn’t forgiven just yet.
She ushered Quinn out of the room and back down the stairs.
‘Thank you so much,’ she said sincerely. ‘The fact that you would drop everything to help Zara means so much to me. I know how much you were looking forward to tonight as well.’
‘It’s a party, it’s one night. You two are the rest of my life. Of course that’s more important. There was no question about me picking her up.’
God, she loved this man so much. He was right. He was her future, she knew that with all of her heart. And now she knew what she had to do.
‘I love you so much.’
‘I love you too, that’s why I’m here.’
‘Please, go back to the party, you won’t have missed much if you go now.’
He shook his head. ‘No, I’d rather be here and make sure Zara is OK.’
‘It’s probably just a bug. Her friend had it early in the week and it turned out to only be a twenty-four-hour thing.’
‘I’d still rather be here.’
She leaned up and kissed him, although it was slightly weird to kiss him when his face was so wrinkly with all the make-up he was wearing to make him look like an old mad scientist.
Suddenly an idea came to her. ‘Will you do something for me?’
‘Anything.’
‘I know you promised me a custom bauble of Jacoband I still really want that. But will you do me one more?’
He smiled. ‘Of course. What do you want?’
‘I want a bauble that just says the word “Yes” on it.’
He looked at her in confusion. ‘What’s that for?’
‘I can have secrets of my own. Besides, it’s something for Zara, a little idea I’m playing with.’
‘I’ll bring it round tomorrow night.’
‘Mum,’ came a wobbly voice from upstairs.
‘Yes, honey?’
‘I’ve just been sick.’
‘OK, no worries, get back into bed and I’ll be up to sort it out in a second.’
‘I’ve thrown up in my bed.’
‘OK, get into my bed then.’
Alex turned back to Quinn. ‘Are you sure you want to stay for this? It could get messy.’
