‘As if.’ He screwed his face up in mock disgust.
‘I know. Fin told my mum in the end because he was scared that I was becoming addicted.’ She smiled nostalgically at the memory. ‘She took all my pocket money away in an act to curb my habit.’
‘I knew Fin was a stand-up guy.’
‘Please, you have no idea. He was the worst!’
‘It’s so nice that you stayed in touch. Is he still in London?’ Ben asked innocently.
‘Erm …’ Eleanor felt a pang of guilt. ‘I think so.’
‘Maybe we could all go for dinner sometime.’
‘Why?’ she asked, a little too brusquely.
‘Because I’d like to get to know him properly. If he’s important to you then he’s important to me.’
‘Hewasimportant to me,’ she said sadly. ‘We aren’t close any more.’
‘How come?’
‘You know.’ She shrugged, scouring the restaurant for any sign of their waiter. ‘People change, I guess.’
‘Ah, I see what happened.’ Ben nodded solemnly. ‘He was completely in love with you and you broke his heart, didn’t you!’ he teased.
Eleanor forced a smile on to her face. ‘You got me.’
‘I knew it!’ He clapped his hands together. ‘And who could blame him? You’re pretty lovable, aren’t you, Eleanor Levy?’
‘I don’t know about that,’ she mumbled, her body temperature rising rapidly.
‘I do.’ He moved closer to her, squeezing her hand gently. ‘Oh, and by the way,’ he whispered, his lips inches from hers, ‘are you free next Tuesday night?’
‘I think so, why?’ she murmured, knowing that quite honestly she’d likely agree to anything he suggested right now.
‘I have a surprise for you.’
Before she could say another word, he kissed her hard on the mouth, and just like that nothing else seemed to matter.
Then: Aged 16
Eleanor
‘We have to be back by eleven, otherwise Mum and Dad will literally kill me.’ Eleanor pulled Fin’s hand so that he was facing her square on. ‘I mean it, Fin. I’ll leave without you if you’re not ready.’ She was trying to be as serious as possible, something she found incredibly hard around him.
‘Eleven o’clock and not a second later.’ He swayed a little on the spot, clutching his litre bottle of pre-mixed drink close to his chest.
‘How much of that have you already drunk? You can’t even stand up straight!’ She pulled him upright, the pungent smell of whiskey and Coke pouring out of him.
‘Not nearly enough, my dear,’ he cooed in her ear, then knocked loudly on the door. ‘You ready for your first experience of a wild house party?’ His green eyes glinted mischievously.
Eleanor fiddled with the hem of her denim skirt. It had taken an hour and four different changes before she finally settled on her outfit. Apparently, dungarees and Converse were not appropriate for such an occasion, which madeEleanor instantly decide this was not the type of event she would be likely to attend again.
‘Do I look OK?’ she asked nervously, adjusting the halterneck top she’d reluctantly borrowed from Kate, who was already inside the party and waiting for them.
Fin turned to her and cupped her chin. ‘You look beautiful.’
Eleanor laughed. ‘You’re drunk.’
