‘And then you did kind of let everyone think they were stolen.’
‘That was because Betsy was going on and on about it.’
Fitz pouts. ‘So, you thought you’d jump on the bandwagon?’
I sigh. ‘Fitz, I just want to get out. I don’t want to produce music anymore. I don’t want to find the next big voice. I want a simple life. Play my own guitar. Do a few gigs every week. Read the paper. Get a dog. Get a life.’
She bites her lip, clearly trying hard not to smile. ‘Get a Clara.’
‘No, I–’
‘Oh, come on.’ She laughs. ‘It is so obvious. Besides, I like her.’
‘Great,’ I say, glad of any approval I can get. ‘Only I’m not sure she feels the same way about me. Not now anyway.’ I sigh, edging my body into the mattress a little deeper, wondering why I can’t get comfortable. Oh course, that would be because my body got hit by a truck. ‘I messed things up at the gala.’
Fitz frowns. ‘You messed more things up?’
I shoot her an irritated look.
Suddenly, her face looks deadly serious as she takes her hand between mine and stares into my eyes. ‘You’ve got to stop the drinking.’
‘But I-I…’ I stutter, my hand shooting up in protest.
‘Ughh uh.’ She shakes her head. ‘Not good enough. Not anymore. No excuses. You need to get yourself straight.’
I can feel myself bristling. ‘It’s not as if I can knock anything back in here.’
‘Marco, drink is messing with your life. This girl is great, wonderful. I genuinely do like her. She doesn’t deserve a weekend drunk.’
She’s right. Okay, so maybe I’m not an alcoholic, or at least not a regular drinker, but the binge drinking is messing up my life. If Clara was in it, I’d want everything to be perfect. I feel a wave of disappointment.
‘Yeah, you’re talking like we’re a thing. We’re not. I don’t even know how she really feels about me.’
‘Oh come on, Marco.’ Fitz gets to her feet, leans forward and plants a kiss on my forehead. ‘Just tell her how you feel. That’s all you have to do. It’s a great start, and don’t worry about the,’ she waves one arm, attaching the back of her sling-backs into place with the other, ‘work thing. I don’t want you back.’ She smiles. ‘I think I can pull it off. Find the voice. Manage the office. Deal with Betsy and the guitars. Bring them back when you’re ready. I’ll draw you up a chit, saying you’ve loaned them to us. Get everything above board.’
‘Wow,’ I say, laughing. ‘You really have got the whole thing figured out.’
She squeezes my arm. ‘So have you. In your own way. You just need to tell her.’
Easier said than done. I watch Fitz swagger away, smiling at the other sick people on the ward. They all smile back, putty in her hands. I kind of wish I’d realised what a force that woman was before, but I have to admire her for keeping it quiet. Some people are all shop windows, whereas others run deep. Fitz runs deeper than the Marianna Trench, which is thirty-five thousand feet deep and counting – so pretty deep!
CHAPTER 20
MARCO
‘I have had the most bonkers day.’
The guy I saved from the truck, well, okay, not truck, transit van, is sitting in the exact same place as Fitz had been sitting only hours before. He’s an odd chap but always glass half full. In fact, more like glass flowing over. I get the feeling it would be impossible to burst his balloon. I have no intention of asking why he’s had such a bonkers day. I’ve only known him for three days. Sadly, these three days have been on the trot. Once in the ambulance as we sped towards the hospital. The second time was the following morning when he came in smelling of diesel oil and carrying flowers, which was kind of sweet especially as no one’s ever bought me flowers before. And then today. So, three times total, and every single time he’s told me that he’s had the most bonkers day. The man should be in my shoes. His name’s Minty. Which in itself is a bit odd. Because he’s not Minty, anything but. Each time he comes in, I can see the nurses worrying about where he’ll sit and what he’ll touch.
‘I did buy you a little something,’ Minty says, putting a wrapped bacon sandwich onto my sheets. ‘Jack sends his love. And Lennie and the greengrocers.’ He pulls a stack of fruit from his other pocket. ‘You’re a hero, to be honest Everyone saw you do the dive. Man, I wish I had it on camera. You practically flew.’
I certainly flew after the van hit me.
Minty looks around the ward, smiling at all the other people that are laid up. Most of them ignore him. ‘I mean, mate.’ He grabs my hand, looking earnestly into my eyes. ‘You’re the best.’
‘Thanks,’ I say. ‘Anyone would have done it.’
He laughs. ‘No, no. You are a star, and…’ He clears his throat. ‘How do you feel about dating?’
