‘In that case, I’ll say “Goodbye and good luck”, and let you get on.’
When I go in to hug him, his body feels strangely unfamiliar. Like I’m hugging someone I hardly know. Then he lets me go and I take a step back. And then another.
It’s only as my foot fails to move that I know there’s something wrong. By the time I look down and see the loop of my laces caught round a wheel, there’s nothing I can do – the rest of my body is committed. My feet stay rooted, I put my arms out to save myself as I topple, but I’m like a tree that’s being felled. My backbone crashes against the paving slabs and a second later there’s a resounding thud as my skull hits too and a pain explodes through my head.
I hear Dillon’s cry. ‘Floss!’
Then as I look up at the blue sky high above me, there’s another deeper, more familiar voice.
‘Say something, Flossie, tell me you’re okay?’
I mumble, and silently thank my lucky stars that Kit is here.
Kit starts again. ‘It’s Dillon, isn’t it? I can probably take it from here.’
I prop myself up, and as Kit’s arm slides around my shoulders, I can see Dillon looking down on us.
‘I can see you’re in good hands there, Floss.’
I shade my eyes as I look up. ‘We aren’t actually a couple, Dill!’
Dillon smiles. ‘She’s one in a million, look after her.’He’s staring at Kit. ‘Hang on – aren’t you…?
Kit looks up. ‘The one who made your rings, yes.’ He laughs. ‘A long time ago.’
This is an ideal opportunity, so I’ll seize it. ‘I still have those rings, Dill. If you don’t mind letting them go, I’ve an idea to put them to good use.’
Dillon steps back. ‘It sounds fine to me. They’re yours to use as you wish.’
I give a silent cheer. If Kit melts them down, we can donate the gold for a ring-making day and run an online auction. My head might feel like my skull is cracking open, but I can still plan fundraisers for the sea pool.
There isn’t time to say any more, because Plum comes running over then, followed by Milla and all her friends, who all start bouncing around Dillon. As I stare up into the sea of faces Rye stoops down and puts his hand on my forehead.
‘You can’t be too careful with a bang on the head, Floss. Stay with her for twenty-four hours, Kit. If she gets blurred vision or is sick give me a shout, and we’ll ring through to A&E.'
Twenty-four hours with Kit?I’m trying to think of anyone else. ‘I could stay with Clemmie. Or Nell. Or Mum. Or I can go to Sophie’s!’ Once she’d have been my last resort, now she’s my go-to choice.
As Clemmie steps out from behind the crowd, Shadow dives towards me and starts to lick my face.
She hands Kit the lead. ‘It’s a shame to miss the fun, Flossie. Why not sit with us as long as you feel up to it, then Kit can drive you home?’
Dillon laughs. ‘In the meantime, the ice creams are on me.’ He’s immediately mobbed by Milla’s group, and fighting off twelve teenagers.
As I untangle my laces and Kit helps me to my feet, I know I’ve got a couple of hours tops before I move on to the hardest night of my life.
It’s one thing keeping my hands off Kit when he’s in the studio. When he’s in The Hideaway, it will be a whole different matter.
48
The Hideaway
Arm’s length and an unfortunate playlist
Saturday
It’s almost eight by the time we get back to The Hideaway. Kit walked along the beach to the hotel to collect his car, then we drove back from town without a word, with the Manic Street Preachers playing ‘You Stole the Sun from My Heart’ in the background. As soon as we’re home I grab a bottle of No-secco from the fridge, slide it into an ice sleeve, and put it down with two glasses on the living room coffee table. When I step over Shadow and sit on the opposite end of the L-shaped sofa to Kit, there’s a decent distance between us.
He raises an eyebrow. ‘I have two things to say now we’re here.’
