Page 17 of Five Things I Love About You

A laugh bursts from me. ‘I do know that. And I also don’t blame her because I’d feel exactly the same way if the situation were reversed.’

‘But?’

‘But the more I think about it, the more I just think, why not?’

Sophie steps towards me and I feel her hand press against my arm.

‘I’ll support you, whatever you decide to do.’

‘I know. Thank you.’

She pulls me in for a hug and we stand like that for a few moments, her heart beating against me. When she pulls away the air between us feels cool.

‘So where do you think you might start?’ she says.

Good question. ‘I think I should go to Newcastle,’ I say, surprising even myself.

‘Really? You mean go and live there?’

I shrug. ‘Maybe. For a short while at least.’ I smile. ‘I’ve never been to Newcastle and the thing is, even if I hadn’t been having these dreams, and you hadn’t done this reading for me, I keep thinking that a change of scenery might be just what I need right now. You know, to reset myself and get a fresh perspective on what I actually want to do with the rest of my life. I’ve been drifting along for too long now.’ I jump off the swing. ‘So I just think – why not?’

Sophie nods thoughtfully. ‘Like sticking a rocket up your arse?’

I grin. ‘Exactly like that. And if I find Jay at the same time, then even better.’

Sophie hooks her arm through mine. ‘Shall we go inside and break the news to Kirstie?’

‘Do we have to?’ I say as we start walking.

She grins, her face lit up by the light from the kitchen as we get closer. ‘If you do it quickly it’ll be less painful.’

‘Like pulling off a plaster you mean?’

‘Exactly.’

* * *

‘Finally decided to come back and join me, have you?’ Kirstie’s words are slurred as we step back inside the house and I wonder how much vodka she’s had. A glance down at the bottle reveals it might be quite a lot.

‘Sorry, Kirst,’ I say, folding myself into the sofa beside her. Sophie pulls the patio door shut and sits down opposite us.

‘So what were you two off gossiping about then?’

I pick up my glass and twirl it round. Sophie fiddles with a stray piece of cotton on her kaftan. Kirstie looks from me to Sophie and back again, then folds her arms.

‘Come on, you two, out with it. What have you been plotting?’

I glance at Sophie but she’s refusing to meet my gaze. I’m on my own here.

‘I’ve decided to go and look for him.’

Kirstie’s eyes flit back and forth again and she scrunches her face up. ‘Who? What are you talking about?’

‘Jay.’

The word hovers like a bubble in the air between us. Then, pop! Realisation dawns.

‘You’re… you’re not serious?’ she says. Her eyes are wide, disbelieving. She picks up her glass from the coffee table but it’s empty so she slams it back down again and points at Sophie. ‘This is your doing.’

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