Page 57 of Away We Go

I watch as he barks out a laugh and feel a warmth inside that has nothing to do with my fever.

Nicky

I’m not doing that.

Cherry

Come on. It will cheer me up…

I hold my breath and watch as he peers right down the barrel of the camera and moves his arms lighting fast up and down.

He did it. I can’t believe he did it. And I didn’t even need my dimple this time.

Cherry

You are my hero.

Nicky

Now seriously, how are you feeling?

Cherry

Seriously, I’m fine. It’s just the sniffles.

A wracking cough makes me a liar and I’m glad he can’t see or hear me.

Cherry

Concentrate on the race.

Nicky had qualified in P3 yesterday and has his work cut out for him if he wants to take the win today. Imola is a track where cars can overtake each other, but it’s difficult.

Nicky

Are you sure you’re okay?

I see the way he frowns at his phone and I chuckle, then sneeze, then cough.

Cherry

YES!

Go win this race.

Another smile, smaller this time, tips his lips and he pockets his phone, turning to give the crowd his attention. They adore him here, his fans holding up ‘We Heart Nicky’ signs and chanting his name in Italian accents.

I watch the parade until my heavy eyelids droop close. Everything hurts; I’ll just take a little nap now and then I’ll be ready for when the lights go out and away they go.

• • • • •

A loud knocking draws me from the darkness and I sit bolt upright; unsure of where I am, what day it is, what time it is, and who could be banging on my door right now.

“Hang on!” I call out through a mouth filled with cotton wool. Or at least that’s what it feels like.

I look around the room, searching for a clue as to what’s happening. The scene on my TV fills in the blanks a little. There’s an Italian game show playing—it looks like a version ofDeal or No Deal.

What happened to the race? How long was I asleep?

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