‘It was good while it lasted, though, eh?’ he said, trying to keep the atmosphere light. He chucked her gently under the chin when all he really wanted to do was hold her tight against his chest.
‘I’ve had the best time,’ Gabi agreed and managed a smile.
‘But you have to go and be the best stuntwoman in the world. . .’ he said with a roll of his eyes.
‘And you have to be the everyday hero of Honeybridge,’ she countered with a laugh.
Although he would never ask her to turn down the job, he suddenly wished she would say she couldn’t bear to leave, that he was more important to her than any role in a film. But that wasn’t fair. He knew that, and what her job meant to her.
He wrapped his arms around her shoulder, squeezed hard and then tugged her to her feet. Turning on the towpath, he set off in the direction of home.
‘Let’s go,’ he said. ‘If we only have the next week before you go, then we’d better make the most of it.’
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Gabi
Friday night was Walker’s next night shift, and therefore Gabi’s first night back at home with Amber since the weekend. When Walker had said he wanted to make the most of their last week together, he’d certainly meant it. They hadn’t left each other’s side for days. He’d driven her to physio, they’d had sex, they’d gone for coffee, they’d had sex, they’d watched a movie– and interrupted it with sex. He’d turned her every which way and now she was home for a rest. It felt odd to put her hand out and not find him there beside her. Instead, Amber was there, at the other end of the sofa, and Jayden was on the floor doing his homework and the radio was playing in the background.
‘Bet you’ll be glad to get your house back to yourselves,’ Gabi said, looking round the cosy room. She noticed a new photo in the frame on the windowsill– a selfie that she and Jayden had taken at the park one afternoon after school. She was grinning, Jayden’s face full of laughter, his eyes shut and mouth opened wide. The frame was nestled next to a group photograph of Amber with Isabella, Rosie and Wren, gathered around a table sharing a bottle of wine. The bookcase was overflowing with magazines Gabi had bought to flick through. She had ‘her end’ of the sofa and a specific mug in the cupboard that she liked for her morning tea. This house had turned into more than just a place to stay.
‘No way, I’m going to miss you.’ Amber threw a cushion her way. ‘It will take some getting used to, being on our own again.’ Gabi nodded, having been thinking just the same thing.
‘At least you won’t have to put up with my singing in the shower any more,’ Gabi joked.
‘True. And you won’t have to hang out with ten-year-olds any more. . .’ Amber laughed.
Gabi glanced at Jayden where he lay on the carpet, chin resting on his hands, fixated on his workbook, and realised, with a sharp pang, how much she would miss him too. His endless energy, his cheeky smile, his sense of fashion. Plus, he’d taught her basic sign language and shared some of his breakdancing choreography with her. Skills that surely could come in handy, especially in her line of work.
‘Believe me, Jayden’s been the highlight of my day more times than you know!’ Gabi said. ‘I’m really going to miss you guys too,’ she said.
‘But America awaits you,’ Amber said. ‘Whereas here, the only thing waiting for me is the washing-up.’
Gabi threw the cushion back.
‘I’ll do it, it’s the least I can do,’ she said.
The now very familiar introduction to Alex’s song started on the radio and Amber gritted her teeth and groaned out loud. She jumped up from the sofa and stamped across the room to change the station, cutting Alex off rudely before he got halfway through the first line. Gabi laughed.
‘Personally, I think it’s quite catchy.’ Gabi began to sing the chorus, ‘You might not hear these words, but you know what I’m saying. . .’
Amber put her fingers in her ears and stuck her tongue out. Gabi continued, ‘You’re deep in my heart and that’s where you’re staying.’ Amber threw the cushion at her head.
‘Seriously, though.’ Gabi giggled as she caught the cushion. ‘Maybe you should hear Alex out. You might be lonely when I’m gone.’
Amber snorted. ‘No way.’
Gabi hesitated, hugging the cushion to her chest as she thought about what Walker had told her. But that was a conversation between him and Alex. Was it her place to pass it on? Seeing now how stubborn Amber was being about Alex, Gabi realised it could be the turning point to get them back together.
‘Walker told me something, Amber,’ she said decisively. ‘Alex only left you to keep you safe. Because the gangsters he owed money to had tracked him down, and he wanted to put distance between them and you.’
She held Amber’s eye and saw the knowledge land. Amber pressed her lips together and Gabi held her breath.
‘Still left me without a word, though, didn’t he? And after Jayden told him he loved him. How could he leave like that?’
‘He did what he did for you. And Jayden. He put your safety first.’
‘Jayden deserves someone who he can rely on. And until I find that– and see it for myself– then it’s a no from me,’ she said firmly. ‘However much I think Alex Martin could bemynext big thing, I can’t build a future with him.’
