“Dylan?” His voice was faint and croaky.
“It’s all right, mate. I’m here.”
Dylan reached out and stroked Frank’s shoulder, a gesture so tender it made Libby’s chest ache. With one last look at them both, she turned and hurried down the hill.
CHAPTER
16
Hector, we’re going to be late!” Libby shouted up the stairs. She glanced in the hall mirror, then bent down to pick up her rucksack, filled with posters.
Hector appeared at the top of the stairs. “Why are you wearing that?”
“What?”
“You never normally wear dresses.”
“Oh, well... it’s too hot for jeans today.”
Hector wrinkled his nose. “You look weird.”
“Thanks, buddy. Thanks a lot.” Libby snatched up his bag and let them out of the house. It was the warmest day of the year so far, so it made perfect sense to wear a dress. There was no rule that said she could only wear jeans, was there?
“Do you have lipstick on as well?” Hector said as they set off down the road.
“Enough chatting. Hurry up or we’ll be late for school.”
Once Libby had dropped Hector off, she considered running back to the house to get changed, but it was already ten past nine, so Dylan would be there any minute.
As she reached the bus stop, Libby felt her phone vibrate. When she pulled it out, she saw a message from him.
Sorry, running 5 mins late
A moment later another text came through.
Am bringing Esme with me.
Libby slipped the phone back into her pocket. Dylan had mentioned his friend Esme a couple of times; she was a young woman with Down syndrome, and apparently she loved Frank’s story and was keen to join them. Besides, Libby told herself as she smoothed out her yellow dress, the more people who helped, the quicker they could finish the route and get back to their lives.
She spotted Dylan walking down the pavement before he saw her. His hairstyle was back in place, but he’d abandoned his leather jacket in the heat and was wearing a tight black T-shirt, so for the first time, Libby could properly see the tattoos running up his toned arms. She usually hated tattoos, but somehow they suited him. Still not seeing Libby, Dylan turned and said something to the woman walking next to him. She was a good foot shorter than him and was dressed in a red-and-black polka dot dress with matching red sunglasses, like a colorful ladybird next to Dylan’s long-legged black spider.
Dylan turned his head forward and spotted Libby for the first time. She saw him take in her dress, his eyes lingering for a moment too long on her breasts, and Libby felt her cheeks color.
“You all right?” he said when he reached her, and his voice sounded strange.
“Good, thanks.”
“Cool. Eh... this is Esme. Ez, this is Libby.”
“It’s lovely to meet you,” Libby said, extending her hand toward Esme, but the young woman stood there, unsmiling.She was still wearing her sunglasses, but Libby got the distinct impression she was being stared at. There were an awkward few seconds as Libby held her arm out, feeling like an idiot.
“Here’s the bus,” Dylan said, signaling for the 88 to stop.
He boarded first and Libby went to follow, but Esme slipped in front of her. Dylan took a seat by the window and Esme promptly slid in next to him, leaving Libby to take an empty seat across the aisle. As the bus pulled off, Esme removed her sunglasses and turned to face Libby.
“I have some questions for you.”
“Okay,” Libby said.
