Above them, a solitary firework burst into the sky, its golden sparkles fizzing above their heads. Libby looked back at Dylan, but he was staring at his hands clasped in his lap.
“That’s why I got so pissed off when Simon turned up at your birthday and tried to blame you for his shitty behavior,” he said. “I know he’s not the same as my old man. But that behavior when he tried to say that the breakup was your fault... It triggered something in me from all those years ago with my dad.”
He stopped, and Libby wanted to reach across and put her arm round Dylan’s shoulder. “You must be so angry at your dad.”
“I was for a long time. I became a right tearaway, got expelled from two different schools. And then I fell in with the wrong crowd, got into drugs and all sorts of trouble. It waspunk music that saved me. This might sound weird, but when I discovered it, what it stood for, I found somewhere healthy I could channel all that anger.”
“But still, it’s amazing that you’re able to live with your dad now. I think if it were me, I’d never want to see him again.”
“I didn’t see him for a long time. But he got diagnosed with lung cancer last year; he’s not a well man. And I know he’s made a lot of mistakes in his life, but I can’t abandon him now.”
Libby watched Dylan as he spoke. She wasn’t sure she’d ever met such a kindhearted, generous person, someone who was so willing to see the good in people.
“I think you’re extraordinary, Dylan,” she said, and she saw his cheeks color.
“I dunno about that. But we should really get you inside; you’ve started to shiver again.”
“Okay. But before we go, can I check one thing?”
“Sure.”
“Are you saying that your dad and Sam were both wrong about the girlfriend thing?”
“Of course they were wrong,” Dylan said, sitting up straight. “The woman they were both referring to is Cass, an old mate of mine. She has a band, and she called me on that Monday to say her drummer had broken his arm and would I stand in for him? That’s why I texted you to say I couldn’t meet you that afternoon, because I was helping her out at a gig. And then I got beaten up when I was on my way home after the gig. Cass was there, so she saw it all, and she came to the hospital to visit me the next day.”
Libby felt relief flood through her body so strongly that she was sure Dylan must be able to see it.
“Right” was all she managed to say.
“I would never have said those things I said at your birthday if I’d had a girlfriend, Libby. I’m not that sort of guy.”
“I know. And I’m sorry for doubting you.” Libby glanced down at her lap, feeling suddenly stupid. When she looked back up, Dylan was staring at her with a look that made her heart beat a little faster.
“What a mess this has been,” he said in a voice so quiet it was almost a whisper.
“It would be funny if it weren’t so tragic.” For some reason, Libby found she couldn’t take her eyes off his lips.
“I’ve missed you so much, Libby.”
“Really?”
“I’ve wanted to call you every day and I nearly did a thousand times. But I knew what a difficult decision it must have been for you to go back to Simon, and I didn’t want to make things any harder for you.”
“And this whole time I’ve been convinced that the man I love had lied to me.”
Libby realized what she’d said and flicked her eyes up to Dylan’s, worried she’d see them fill with panic at the word “love.” But instead, she saw his pupils dilate as they moved closer to hers. Libby’s breath caught with anticipation, but then she pulled her head back.
“Dylan, I’m thirty-six weeks pregnant. Are you sure you—”
But she didn’t get to finish her sentence, because suddenly Dylan’s lips were on hers, his hands twisting into her hair as he pulled her toward him.
CHAPTER
48
By the time they went back into the venue, the tables had been pulled aside and the dancing was well under way. Esme and Johnny were in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by their friends and family. Frank was sitting in a chair to one side, talking to another of the older guests, and Libby and Dylan walked over to join him. He looked up as they approached, and Libby saw his face light up when he saw they were holding hands.
“Well, this is very good news indeed,” he said.
