I run my fingers through my hair, digging my nails into my scalp. ‘God, see? I haven’t got the faintest idea.’ My voice becomes so quiet Reeni has to lean forwards to catch my words. ‘I don’t know if I can get rid of it though.’
She leans back into my headboard and neither of us speak because I think neither of us knows the right thing to say.
‘What does Jackson think?’ she says, pulling some pink lip gloss out of her pocket and smearing it over her lips.
‘I don’t really know.’ I grab the lip gloss off her and use it myself. ‘It’s been impossible to get him on his own to talk.’
‘He’s not dumped you, has he?’ she says sharply.
This is why Reeni is my best friend. We complement each other perfectly. She is logical, no nonsense and forthright. She has no problem sticking her head up above the parapet to be seen and counted and doesn’t give one hoot what anyone else thinks. Which is a good job because some people are horrible to her because of how she looks. I, on the other hand, am forever second-guessing myself, worried I’m letting everyone down and generally trying to solve everyone’s problems and make everyone feel good, so life will run as smoothly as possible. Bit like Mum, really. I overreact at the slightest thing while Reeni takes everything in her stride. So, there is no one I would rather have in my corner right now.
‘No, of course he hasn’t. I’m supposed to be meeting him after school, tomorrow.’
‘Why don’t you take him to Daisy?’
I know what a big deal it is for her to suggest it. Daisy is our abandoned and paint-peeling beach hut. Well, she’s not exactly ours. About six months ago when we’d been messing about, we’d discovered that if you twisted the doorknob in a certain way, it would open for you. We hadn’t told anyone else about our discovery. It was our place to hide away from the world in.
Over the weeks we’d brought bits and pieces to decorate it and although the outside is a wreck, the inside now looks cute and homey. We’d made such an effort that even the other beach hut owners smile and say hi to us now when they’re around. Quite by accident, we’ve become legitimate illegitimate owners of numbereight the beat-up, tatty, peeling yellow beach hut that no one else wants.
My brow crinkles. ‘But we decided never to tell anyone.’
Reeni shrugs. ‘I know we did, but you two could do with the privacy. One condition though.’
‘What?’
‘No sex allowed in Daisy, please.’
‘Eww. Reeni!’
‘There’s no way I’m relaxing on my cushions if I have to think about you two getting naked on them.’ She chuckles and pushes me on the arm.
I grin. ‘I promise. No naked bodies. Anyway, I’ve had enough sex to last me a lifetime.’
Chapter Five
‘Have you got him?’
I pull the phone away from my ear as Reeni’s voice screams down the phone.
‘Have I got who?’
‘Olly. We were at the library. I started talking to someone. Now he’s gone. This is all my fault.’ Her last words are swallowed up in a sob.
‘Slow down. Where are you?’
‘On the green.’ She gives a snotty sniff. ‘I thought he might have come to get some ice cream from you.’
‘He’s two. He’d not get here on his own.’
‘But if he tried, he might.’ Her voice is high-pitched and frightened, and I can hear someone in the background talking calmly.
‘I’m sure he’s not come down the road. He’s probably playinghide-and-seek. He loves that,’ I say, keeping my voice low and level.
‘Do you think?’ The hope in her voice pulls at my heart. ‘I’ll never forgive myself if anything happens to him.’
‘It won’t. I’ll come to you. If he’s on the road, I’ll see him.’
‘Everyone’s looking for him, but he’s not here. Oh, Ellie …’ I can hear her sobs.
