Page 54 of Hot Girl Summer

“You were so born to do this,” I say, reassuringly.

Room service arrives, and we gorge ourselves on prosecco and tapas while we become acquainted. I talk about Kiki, Alex and Ryan, but I keep Danny to myself. Ellie talks about her family, and work, and how learning tarot with her mum’s cards helps her feel closer to her.

In one evening we bond like two old friends reuniting. We talk into the early hours, and once Ellie leaves, the crisp white linen beckons me to sleep.

The following day, the group is split into teams. In separate studios, we’re shown how to set up the equipment, record and edit videos, and showcase them to the class. The entire day, my head pounds, and my muscles ache. Worst of all, when it’s my turn to take on the influencer role, my hands don’t stop shaking.

I’m disappointed in myself for drinking too much last night, and for ruining my chances of making a decent first video—one I can actually use for Ivy Rose’s YouTube channel. Something I can be proud of. By the end of it, I’m drained and exhausted, and I can’t wait to go home.

Before Ellie and I part ways, we exchange numbers and social media handles, and promise to keep in touch. I love London, but it makes me feel dirty, and I can’t wait to be home by the sea again and in a steaming hot shower. Popping in my earbuds, I listen to The Wandering Dragons on Spotify, and let my thoughts drift to Danny.

I let myself think about his hands, and the way he holds his guitar, the way his fingers move, so deft and effortless; the vein that pops from his bare forearm every time his fingers change position. I think about his hazel eyes, and his permanent five o’clock shadow. How I felt being alone with him in that room, and how badly I wanted him to stop playing his guitar and touch me instead. Then my mind wanders to the humiliation I felt in the moments leading up to my departure, and the way my name rolled off his tongue when he said it for the final time.

Maybe a change of scenery is what I need. A spiritual, nomadic lifestyle like Ellie suggested. I’m single, and Kiki’s getting better. Does anyone really need me anymore?

Maybe the universe dangled Danny in front of me as some kind of test. I could bypass my teacher training in Brighton and go further afield. Greece, maybe? Or perhaps even India? It would mean learning from the best of the best. But a quick Google search tells me that the expense of doing that is far out of reach, and it pulls me back to the drawing board.

Chapter Fourteen

“Something’sdifferent,”Isay,taking a sip of Prosecco.

April says nothing, but the quiet curl of her lip makes it obvious that she’s hiding something.

I shoot her a pointed look. “Who is he?”

“Nobody,” April says, drawing out the word.

I raise my eyebrows, and she turns away from the mirror to face me.

“I didn’t want to say anything yet, because I don’t want to jinx it, but I’ve been chatting to Ollie.” Her emerald eyes brighten a thousand watts when she says his name.

My stomach is in knots. “Danny’s Ollie?”

“How many Ollies do you know?” April says. Her gaze returns to the mirror as she swipes a blusher brush from her makeup bag on the floor.

“When did this happen?”

“Right after the gig. You disappeared with Danny, so we went out for a few drinks. He made sure I got home safe. Nothing happened. I don’t think he’s like that, anyway.” Her expression falls a little. It would be unnoticeable to the untrained eye, but I know her well enough to know when something’s niggling her.

“So, you like him?”

“I think so. He’s lovely. And gorgeous. I just find it odd that heisn’tlike that. I haven’t even had a dick pic. All we’ve done is flirt.”

Wow, an actual decent human being. I can’t contain my sarcasm. “Could it be? No...that maybe he’s just a bit more mature than other guys our age? He obviously likes you, I could see it at the gig. He couldn’t stop looking at you.”

“Really?” She brightens up again. “He does make me laugh.” Her phone chimes. As soon as she reads the message, a megawatt smile spreads across her face. “He said they’re out tonight. They might come and meet us.”

My stomach lurches again at the thought of seeing Danny for the first time since the incident. April sets down her phone and carries on with her makeup.

“Anyway, what about you and Danny?”

“Technically he’s off limits. I googled it.”

“But you’d go there if he wasn’t?”

“Well, he’s not, so I don’t know why we’re even talking about it.”

My thoughts flash back to the studio as I draw wings on my eyeliner. I try to shake the image of him out of my head, but it’s pointless. The self-inflicted distraction causes my hand to jerk, throwing my makeup application off course.

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