‘No, shut up,’ Hennie objects, waving around a furious arm. ‘Definitely not.’
‘You have to see them, Josh. They’re onthechecklist that you’ve been neglecting all weekend because of me,’ I say.
‘The only thing I’ve neglected this weekend, my cherub, is my personal hygiene,’ he shoots back gleefully. ‘Don’t go blaming yourself for unnecessary nonsense.’
‘I suppose this is the end, then,’ Hennie declares, already reaching toward Owen and locking together in a long embrace.
With a gasp, I feel two arms wrap around me and my entire body being lifted off the ground and for an absurd second, I wonder if Elliot has initiated a wrestling match for the stick.
‘I’m going to miss you so horribly,’ Josh’s voice croons from behind me. Elliot observes us from the sidelines with a smile, probably keen to leave Owen and Hennie to say their goodbyes alone.
My feet touch solid ground once again and when I look up to take in his wild hair and enormous grin, I can’t help but pout.
‘It’s not fair!’ he says, mirroring my expression. ‘Come to Cherry Wave!’
‘I can’t, I’m sorry. But you go ahead, kiddo,’ I reply. ‘And I’m sorry Ransom wasn’t what you hoped it might be. I hope you’re not too disappointed.’
‘Are you kidding?’ he says with a bemused smile. ‘Nora, I got togo. I got to see Ransom with my own eyes after years of wondering what it could even be. Even if it wasn’t what I was dreaming up in this jazzy little brain of mine, it doesn’t mean I’m disappointed. It’s always worth checking out the dream for yourself if you get the chance. ‘Cos now I know. You know?’
I nod. ‘I know.’
He appraises me with a teasing glare. ‘Don’t you dare lose touch with us. I know where you live.’
‘Well, you don’t. But consider me warned.’
He laughs harder than the joke really deserves, before giving me a more level look and crossing his arms. ‘Thanks for calling me Josh, by the way. I think you’re one of the only people who do.’
I feel my face crumple slightly. ‘You don’t have to thank me. And I am really sorry about your checklist; I feel personally responsible for fucking it up.’
For a second, he looks genuinely offended. ‘What?’ he objects. ‘I have so manytales. I finally got intoRansom. It was a perfect weekend. Don’t you think?’
‘Yeah, it was.’ I smile, refusing to acknowledge the tears starting to burn behind my eyes. I let him engulf me in a regular hug before he pulls away and pats my tiara happily.
‘Let’s see this life-changing band of yours all together when they tour next,’ he says. ‘I need to see what thepissall the fuss is about after chasing them around all bloody weekend, as blessed as it was and – oh! Shit, hang on, we should do this one last time for good measure.’
Elliot sees Josh coming and ducks out of the way, but sadly isn’t quick enough as Josh mercilessly digs his fist into Elliot’s hair with a manic squeal of laughter. I join in, cackling madly as he tries to swat us off him, and then Owen and Hennie pile onto us too. Owen launches himself at Elliot a little too hard and he stumbles under the weight of it, causing all of us to follow suit and fall in a mangled heap of limbs. Hennie’s laughter rings out louder than anyone’s, and the image of Josh mounted on top of Elliot, still frantically fisting his hair, makes me laugh so hard I can’t breathe. Owen gets to his feet first and quickly snaps some photos of the absolute state we’re in. I know I’m going to look terrible in them but in this moment, I don’t even care.
‘Fuck all of you,’ Elliot’s muffled voice says.
When we’re all back on our feet, Josh runs over to Hennie with a squeal and they throw their arms around each other with a high pitched, ‘naaur.’
Owen appears with his arms outstretched, and I’m surprised to feel a sharp pang of sadness at our goodbye.
‘Thanks, Owen,’ I mumble into his chest as he winds his arms tightly around me.
‘Stop that,’ he replies with a smile wrapped around the words, his voice rumbling through me. ‘What for?’
‘I don’t know,’ I say truthfully. ‘Everything, really.’
He pulls back, leaving his hands on my shoulders. ‘We’ll see each other soon.’ He says it with ease, but also as if there’s no room for negotiation.
‘I hope so,’ I say.
‘We will.’
I nod with a smile, as he tips his chin at something behind me.
‘I’ll leave you two to it,’ he says, patting my arm as he departs.
