‘You really are ridiculous.’ She rolled her eyes.
Fin rested his head gently on her shoulder. ‘But you love me anyway.’
A ripple of warmth bloomed inside her stomach. ‘The only person I love in this world is Leonardo DiCaprio.’
‘Eurgh,’ Fin grunted. ‘So typical.’
‘Don’t get jealous,’ she teased.
‘Jealous? You wish!’ He ran his hands through his wild flaming hair. ‘Leo wishes he was as good-looking as me.’ Fin proclaimed arrogantly.
‘You’re deluded,’ she snorted.
Fin sighed and rolled over on to his back. ‘You’re my best, Elles.’
‘You mean I’mthebest, Fin,’ she corrected.
‘No. You’remybest.’ His voice had dropped to a whisper. His eyes lifted and locked with hers.
Eleanor’s throat tightened as she felt his words hit her heavy in the chest. She prayed with every piece of her that she could press pause on this moment.
‘You’re my bestest, Fin.’ She smiled.
‘Of course I am, that’s why you just agreed to marry me.’ He winked and then suddenly stood up. ‘I’m hungry. You want to get some pizza?’
And just like that, someone had pressed play again.
Now: Aged 34
Eleanor
Eleanor woke slowly, a heavy fog pressing in on her from all sides. She stretched out and felt the satisfactory click of her joints welcoming in the morning. She tried to sit up but a surge of nausea floored her.
Oh God.
The sweet taste of wine tickled the back of her throat, making her want to retch. Slowly she became aware of the heaviness in her body. The dull ache behind her eyes and the sandpaper that coated the inside of her mouth. She groaned pathetically and willed herself back to sleep. Suddenly a sound pierced her consciousness.
No!
Leave me alone.
But the loud beeping refused to go away. Eleanor reached for the source, her hands scrambling around until she found her phone discarded between the sheets. Without even thinking, she answered.
‘Happy New Year, darling!’ The unmistakable voice of her mother trilled down the phone. Eleanor cursed silentlyto herself, wishing she hadn’t been so hasty in answering. ‘Eleanor? Can you hear me?’
‘Urgh.’ Her mouth was devoid of any moisture and her voice was husky and cracked. ‘Yes, I can hear you.’ She rolled over and placed the phone on the pillow next to her.
‘Ah, good. I’m out for a walk and it’s a bit windy,’ her mum continued to shout. ‘What are you up to? No doubt lolling about like a wet blanket. You sound awful. Were you drunk last night? How much wine did you have?’
‘Please, Mum. Not so many questions,’ she groaned.
‘Remember to eat something, won’t you? Soak up any lingering alcohol that’s left swishing around in that stomach of yours.’
‘Uh-huh.’ Eleanor felt her insides contract.
‘So, is your plan to wallow all day, or do you have at least one productive thing scheduled for the start of this brand-new year? You know what I always say … opportunity awaits around every corner!’ Her voice was reaching even greater heights of enthusiasm.
‘Yeah, well it turns out there’s not that much to do when you’re an old spinster.’
