Page 125

‘Oh yeah. Travelling between cities on a tour bus can be a lonely and introspective time. We all talked about our families and friends. Jay knows all about my weird and wonderful upbringing and the culture clash of my dad’s Chinese-American side and my mum’s Italian and French background. He knows all about my hopes and dreams. And in return I heard about Jay’s nearest and dearest and Drumkeldy and of course, the amazing Bartoli-Barrs that he grew up with and thought of as his second family.’

‘The amazing Bartoli-Barr family?’

‘Oh yes, quite amazing and awesome and incredible. I know all about your grandparents’ trattoria and how your grandmother would always make you supper when you’d been out at the pub.’

‘She was a feeder.’ Valentina smiled at the memory.

‘I know about your beach parties and the impromptu band sessions in your parents’ kitchen, where you and Frankie played percussion to Jay and Rocco on guitar.’

Valentina laughed, remembering these good times. ‘When you say percussion, it was more Frankie banging a wok with a wooden spoon and me vigorously shaking risotto rice in a plastic cannister in lieu of maracas.’

‘It sounded like the best place in the world. It was the sort of image we all clung to when we were travelling through the arse-end of nowhere.’

‘I wasn’t as close to Jay as Rocco was,’ Valentina said.

‘Yeah, you were a bit older.’

‘Not that much older,’ Valentina quickly piped in.

Arlo smiled. ‘I know Jay and Rocco and Frankie hung about all the time. He came across Frankie’s TikTok video where she’s advertising the dog walks? He watched that clip hundreds of times!’ Arlo paused. He pulled on his top lip in uncertainty before adding, ‘And I know Jay still hasn’t gotten over the argument he had with Rocco.’

Valentina sighed. ‘To be honest, I don’t think Rocco has either. He refuses to talk about Jay at all.’

Arlo puffed out his cheeks. ‘Jay was worried you wouldn’t want to come backstage after the gig.’

‘I very nearly didn’t. Rocco would be furious if he knew I’d met Jay. He’d see it as a massive betrayal.’

‘He never needs to know. Will Leanne say anything?’

‘Doubt it. I only see Leanne once in a blue moon.’

‘You’re not upset she left?’

‘No, I’m used to her impulsiveness. And had she not gone, I wouldn’t have come here…’ Valentina stopped herself from adding “with you” at the last minute.

They wandered back through the museum and out via the exit. It was late in the afternoon and the sky had a grey solidness to it and a strong wind had whipped up. As they descended the steps a couple of large raindrops hit the ground.

‘There’s a cosy pub not far from here that does pretty decent food.’

‘Sounds ideal.’

Arlo paused and looked up at the sky as rain started to fall harder. ‘Come on, let’s get there before the heavens open.’ He held out his hand and it felt the most natural thing in the world for Valentina to take it.

CHAPTER 56

VALENTINA, THEN

Valentina and Arlo sat in the pub for hours. Arlo had been right; it was cosy, with a real fire crackling cheerfully in the corner. The food was also very good and they each tucked into a plate of beer-battered fish with vinegar-sodden chips and a side order of mushy peas.

And they talked. And laughed. And realised they had many things in common, not just their friendship with an exhausted, slightly lost, most probably depressed, super-talented musician in one of the world’s biggest rock bands.

Valentina noticed as the evening wore on that she and Arlo became closer; literally as well as figuratively.

By the time they were on their fourth round of gin and tonics, they’d managed to shift slightly in the snug booth they sat in and were now in such close proximity that their shoulders and arms brushed against each other’s. And it wasn’t that they had to be close to hear themselves over loud pub chatter; it was quiet, with only two other tables taken. Valentina could see the rain streaming down the window and the trees opposite bend over in the gale-force winds and realised most people had the good sense to stay home. Yet despite the wildness outside, Valentina felt sheltered and protected with Arlo, in their oak-panelled cocoon.

They were joking about the injuries a drummer could sustain in comparison to the risks to an accountant.

‘I get callouses, although I’m very stoic and never complain!’