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‘Of course not, off to a party?’ Valentina was relieved Leanne wasn’t trying to coax her along to join her.
‘Kind of. One in Spain. Micky is heading to Barcelona tonight to tour with another band and said I could come along.’
‘Oh, but what about your work?’
‘I’m not due back for a couple of days and I’ll just phone in sick if I want to stay on a bit longer. You only live once, you know.’
‘But you’ll need your passport,’ Valentina said, ever practical.
‘I always have it with me, just in case of moments like this! I need to head back to the hotel to pack.’ Leanne hugged Valentina in a haze of hash before hotfooting it back out the fire exit.
‘Oh well, I guess I’ll be heading home tomorrow then, instead of Monday,’ Valentina said.
‘Why?’ Arlo asked.
‘I came to spend time with Leanne and I spent all my money clothes shopping.’
‘What about sightseeing?’
‘I didn’t have time for any of that.’ Culture hadn’t been trending enough for Leanne to want to do any. ‘Which is a shame because I’ve always wanted to visit the British Museum. But that’s for next time.’ Valentina also didn’t fancy trudging around London on her own.
A look of delight lit up Arlo’s face. ‘I love the British Museum. I grew up here and I could show you around as it would be a shame to cut your stay short. Jay, want to join us?’
‘Definitely!’ Jay grinned.
CHAPTER 53
VALENTINA, NOW
Valentina looked down at the shoe rack in Rocco’s cloakroom, gazing longingly at her lovely new lace-up, fur-lined snowboots before resignedly sliding her feet into her Wellingtons. Tying her own laces involved contortionist-style movement and far too much huffing and puffing now.
She put on her coat, picked up her keys from the little console table and opened the door. She got to her car as another Braxton Hicks took hold.
This one was strong.
Valentina panted for a couple of moments before the wave of pain wore off and she got behind the wheel.
She needed to see Frankie.
Valentina had woken around four in the morning and was unable to fall back asleep due to grumbling back pain. She’d lain awake thinking about the events of the last few days.
Valentina decided she didn’t want secrets anymore.
As soon as it got to half past seven, Valentina knew what she had to do.
It was time to tell Frankie everything.
And she really meant everything.
* * *
Valentina reversed out of the driveway, using just her mirrors as she was unable to twist round to fully look out of the back window.
Even now, so many months on, thinking about that lost weekend in London made Valentina’s face flush. It had been magical and amazing and still got her hot and bothered whenever she thought about her break from reality spent in a cocoon of lust.
It had also been life-changing, but not in the way of romance books and happy-ever-afters.
When Valentina finally resurfaced, she headed home with a large dent in her credit card (especially as Leanne had left without paying her half of the ever-so-trendy hotel, great reduction or no great reduction), some serious stubble rash and unbeknownst to Valentina, a little something that would start to make its presence felt within a few weeks and would end up being far more impactful on her life.
