Page 65 of Date with Destiny

‘Oh, hey, don’t worry,’ Old Zach shrugs. ‘It’s OK, it’s not the end of the world. It’s been great for my CV, and my business account’s gained five thousand new followers on Instagram thanks to your mum sharing my stories! I’m grateful really.’

God he’s nice. This is so…nice. Celeste has screwed him over and he’s still looking on the bright side.

‘And,’ he grins, ‘I got to meet you. I hope we’ll be able to keep hanging out? Now we won’t be work colleagues anymore, we don’t have to be so professional.’

This hits me hard. Is that why he’s been keeping his distance? Because we worked together? I was so sure there was more between us and – oh god – the words are coming, the vomit overflows: ‘Is that why you didn’t want to kiss me?’ I say in a rush, as the real Ginny inside me somewhere screams at me to stop. ‘At Diane’s funeral? Is that why you said you only wanted to be friends?’

He swallows, looking at the floor. ‘No,’ he says slowly. ‘Um, there’s a… this isn’t really the time to talk. But there’s… I…’ He gulps again. ‘Look, I do really like you, Gin, but I’m not looking for anything like that with you. It’s not… I just… I don’t think of you in that way but I’m really glad we can be pals.’ He looks nervous and then adds, ‘Sorry.’

Why are men always saying sorry to me? They’re always discarding me and then saying sorry, like it makes up for everything. Why can’t they try justnotbehaving badly in the first place and see how that goes? Why don’t we – as a human race – just try being nice to each other and then we wouldn’t have to keep saying sorry.

I realize I have solved all of humanity’s worst problems and I spin around, looking for Myfanwy. She’s the best person to tell that I’ve solved the world; she can implement my plan. She’s always so organized and good at solving crises. Where is she? I keep turning, looking and looking.

Wait, what was my plan again?

The old man has his hands on my shoulders now. Have they been there the whole time? They feel warm and nice. What a warm and nice old man.

‘You’re warm and nice,’ I tell him and he peers at me closely.

‘Sorry,’ he says again. ‘But you were spinning round and round in circles, shouting “dizzy dinosaurs” and I was worried you were going to fall over.’

Was I? It sounds like a lot of fun; maybe I should do it again.

We are interrupted by a shouting person.

‘HIYA!’ It’s Mikey! I remember Mikey, he’s lovely. Much nicer than the other two men here who keep pretending to like me then rejecting me. Mikey is the only good one.

In fact, I think he must be my soulmate. I don’t need to find the fortune teller after all. I need to tell Myfanwy this as well.

‘I need to find my best friend,’ I say loudly and Mikey jumps in the air.

‘Oh my god, you cantalk,’ he says with amazement.

‘Of course I can talk,’ I declare, outraged. But doubt creeps in. Maybe this is the first time I’ve ever talked?

‘You sound just like Ginny,’ Mikey says now, moving closer and stroking my face. ‘But you look like a beautiful unicorn.’

‘I am a beautiful unicorn,’ I say proudly, knowing for sure that I am. ‘I like being a unicorn.’

‘Just wait here, you two,’ I instruct the old man and Mikey, remembering now that I need Myfanwy. ‘Just wait, I need to gallop over to my friend.’

I leave them both and trot around the room, braying andneighing as I go. I find Toni, sitting with Myfanwy and Sonali still on the sofas in the corner. It feels like years since I left them and I’ve learned so much about myself in that time. I’ve learned that I love Daniel but I’m not in love with him anymore. I’ve learned that we don’t belong together. I’ve learned that Zach definitely isn’t interested and he’s sorry – and also that’s he eighty or ninety years old. I’ve learned that human beings can be fixed, if we all just decide to benice. And most importantly, I’ve learned that I am a unicorn, and isn’t that justwonderful?

Myfanwy and Sonali are serene and peaceful, staring up at the ceiling with their hands intertwined. There is classical music playing on a phone between them. I slump down beside them and Toni. Toni snuggles into my side.

‘Can I tell you something, Gin?’ Her lovely voice floats through me. ‘I think I might be asexual.’ I try to focus because this feels important. ‘I’ve never really felt… attraction.’

‘To Shawn?’ I ask, turning to wrap my arm around her.

‘To anyone,’ she blinks. I search for the right words to reassure her; to let her know it’s all OK because we’re all unicorns, and unicorns are wonderful and precious.

‘I—’ She is asleep. I stroke her lovely face. ‘Love you Toni,’ I whisper, hoping I can always be a good big sister to her when she needs me. I close my eyes for a few minutes, letting the feelings and music wash over me. It’s lovely. Then I remember.

‘Myfanwy, I needed to tell you something,’ I say and amamazed again that I can talk. I must be an extra magical unicorn. ‘I solved everything! These mushrooms are incredible, I get everything now, I know what the fortune teller wanted me to do. I know who my soulmate definitely isn’t. I get it.’ Myfanwy looks baffled by my words butI knowI am making sense. I know it. ‘This is big stuff,’ I tell her with urgency. ‘I’ve spent six months feeling confused and scared, but I don’t anymore. I know who I am and I can be brave. I know how to fix my life!’ I feel my eyes widen as it hits me. I understand the rest of it suddenly, too. I take a deep breath, gripping Myfanwy by the shoulders. ‘Oh my god, Myfe, I get it now. Iget it. The prediction! The honeymoon wasn’t it – it’s tonight.’ She blinks with confusion. ‘TONIGHT,’ I shout in her face. ‘This is my life-changing trip!’

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The next morning, it takes approximately six minutes for me to remember my conversation with Zach and die a thousand deaths.

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