‘Yes,’ she said quietly. ‘The voice.’
‘The one that calls me “handsome” and tells me to lighten up?’
Beth grimaced. ‘That sounds like him.’
Kieran leaned back, staring at the sky as if hoping for written instructions.
‘OK,’ he said eventually. ‘Right. There’s a genie in the pub. In a pinball machine. And he’s been … chatting to me.’
‘Yes.’
‘Bloody hell.’
‘You’re taking this better than I expected,’ Beth admitted.
‘I’m not sure I am,’ he said. ‘I’m just delaying the freak-out.’
Before she could respond, a camp, disembodied voice drifted from the doorway: ‘You’re welcome, darling.’
Kieran yelped.
Beth groaned. ‘Gigi, go away!’
‘I can’t help it if the man radiates confusion,’ Gigi said breezily. ‘Honestly, you humans take everything so literally. “Oh no, the genie is meddling again.” Well, yes. That’s literally my job.’
‘GO,’ Beth snapped.
A beat of silence, followed by a wounded sniff. ‘Rude,’ Gigi muttered, before vanishing with a faint crackle.
Kieran stared at the empty space where the smoke had been. Then at Beth. Then at his coffee.
‘You have a genie,’ he said, faintly. ‘A real genie.’
She nodded.
His gaze softened, confusion giving way to something like understanding. ‘And you’ve been dealing with that alone?’
Beth’s throat tightened. ‘I didn’t know how to tell you.’
Kieran reached across the table, covering her hand with his. ‘Beth … you could have told me anything.’
A wave of emotions rushed through her. A mixture of relief, fear and hope. ‘Are you … all right?’ she whispered.
‘No,’ he said bluntly. ‘But I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.’
She managed a shaky smile. Then, without knowing why, she sprang away. ‘I have to go. Now. Immediately.’
‘Go where?’ Kieran tried to grab her hand, but she dodged him.
‘I need answers. They’re waiting for me. I’m so sorry.’ And she took off, running as if the hounds of hell were snapping at her heels.
‘Beth, wait!’
But Beth kept running until Kieran’s shouts faded and she was alone.
Chapter Fifty-Two
How did I get here?
