“My what?”
“Oh, God, yeah, you don’t even know about THAT. Check your follower count.”
My heart beating faster, I scroll back up to my account details. And stare.
4.97M shines up at me. I’m almost at five million.
“Turns out going viral has its perks,” Lulu drawls. “I’m ninety-nine percent sure you’ll hit it during the party. We’ll do a live countdown. The engagement will be bananas.”
She’s right. It will be bananas. I read some more comments.
You’re my fave influencer
I LOVE YOU SUMMER!
You guys are all twats. Summer did nothing wrong
I wait for the usual warm glow to hit me, but instead I just feel…weird. Empty. Kind of gross, like I’ve touched something slimy. A week ago, these people despised me for crying. Now they’re celebrating me. “But…I didn’t do anything,” I say slowly. “How can I be forgiven if I didn’t do anything?”
Lulu sighs heavily. “It was never really about you, babe. It was just a viral video that led to a passing fad. Hey, do you need me to book your taxi to the airport too?”
“I’ll…let you know if I can make it,” I say slowly.
“What? No, you need to be here tomorrow so we can get your dress fitted. I got you the most gorgeous little Valentino number.” She pauses.“Are you still not feeling great, is that it? I’ll handle everything, don’t worry. You can stay on break back in London, I can take your pics and make your posts and negotiate everything for you. Hell, I’ll bring you coffee and order all your food, if that’s what you need. But you do have to be physically here. I can’t have you missing out on this opportunity. And the party is going to be huge, sponsors are already losing their shit—” I don’t respond as she natters on, her words all blurring together.
This is what I wanted, right? Then why does it feel so hollow?
There’s a sudden crash against the side of the house, and I look out of the window. The storm is getting worse. The rain is horizontal, and the trees are waving frantically. As I watch, a tiny beam of light pricks through the dark. I squint, trying to make it out. Horror slides down my back as a hunched, shadowy figure emerges from the gloom.
It’s Alec. He’s bent against the rain, flashing his torch at the base of a tree. Oh my God. He’s not inside at all. He’s still out there.
He’s going to get killed. I have to get him.
“I’ll let you know,” I tell Lulu again. She starts to argue, but I hang up. Crumpetbaas at me as I run to the front door and throw on Cameron’s coat. “Stay here,” I tell her breathlessly, yanking open the front door and stepping out into the screaming storm.
SIXTY
ALEC
It’s been years since we’ve been hit by a storm this bad.
The wind is up—has to be forty knots, maybe more—and it’s just getting worse. I ignore the icy rain smacking my skin as I stomp around the lambing barn, shining my flashlight at the roots of several large elms. They shiver and groan over my head, tossing their branches. A twig whips off one and snaps at my cheek. I feel the warm drip of blood.
Don’t be weak, boy,my father murmurs in my ear. He’s right. Even though this weather is dangerous, I have to check that everything is secured. My father built this barn too close to the elms. If one of the trees falls, it could crash right into the barn’s roof. My mind helpfully plays out the scene. The tree falling. The roof caving. The sheep screaming and crying in pain as they get flattened to death. Panic fizzes in my veins.
I wipe rain off my numb face. I have to pull myself together. Nothing should happen to the trees. I’ve checked them multiple times and braced the trunks with extra supports. Reasonably, I know I should call it a day and head inside before I get hurt.
But I can’t make myself do it. My head is a mess. I’m worried about Fraser and Cameron in Inverness. I can’t stop thinking about Summer leaving in a week. I called the council thismorning about the taxes, and they told me they’re removing our stipends. It feels like everything is falling apart.
Suddenly, the wind gets even more intense, buffeting me so hard I’m slammed back against the trunk of the elm. I squeeze my eyes shut against the deafening rumble of thunder. I can’t breathe. Can’t breathe.
On nights like these, it feels like I’m back there. Kneeling next to the harvester as the sky falls over my head. I swear I can almost hear screaming…
I snap my eyes open again. No.No. Stay focused. Don’t lose it. I sweep my torch around the dark landscape to reorient myself and blink hard as it catches on a pale smudge by the farmhouse. At first, I think it’s a trick of the light, but when I wipe the rain from my glasses, it solidifies into a person.
It’s Summer. She’s soaked to the skin but ploughing determinedly towards me, slipping in her boots.
I don’t think. I just run. When I reach her, I grasp both of her shoulders. “What are you doing?!” I roar over the wind.
