Page 66 of Sunny Skies and Summer Kisses

‘Charming, Lukes.’ Anoushka chuckled.

‘Could’ve been worse, I could’ve farte—’

‘Thank you, Lucas,’ Kitty said, the corners of her mouth twitching.

‘Well, it’s true.’ He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth and flashed her an impish smile. ‘Anyroad, all my mates are talking about you, Noushka. Saying how hot you were in Gabe’s video. Chester’s asked me if you’d go out on a date with him, but I told him he had no chance.’ He took another generous glug of his lemonade, eyes peering over at his mum who was giving him a warning look.

Anoushka shook her head, her smile fading. She didn’t like the thought of being talked about. ‘You’re right there, Lukes. Chester has no chance. I’m not in the habit of dating seventeen-year-olds.’

‘That’s what I told him. I mean, you’re not exactly gonna date him if you won’t date Gabe, are you?’ With that he polished off his drink and headed out of the room, calling, ‘See ya,’ over his shoulder. His words were followed by another loud belch that rattled down the hall.

Anoushka and Kitty looked at each other in disbelief before falling into a fit of the giggles.

‘He’s shocking,’ said Kitty affectionately. She took a sip of her lemonade. ‘But, getting back to you and Gabe, I would really urge you to have a think about your decision to avoid getting involved in a relationship with him, and the reasons behind it.’ Kitty paused, taking a deep breath. ‘And I hope you don’t think I’m over-stepping the mark here, lovey, but I’ve got a bit of a suspicion it might have something to do with your mum leaving the way she did too. I think it’s left a scar, made you wary, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of, it’s perfectly understandable. But if you let her actions define you, or define your future, then you’ll run the risk of denying yourself the opportunity to be properly happy. Don’t let her, or your experience with Damon, ruin your chance of a potentially wonderful relationship with Gabe, because it’s pretty obvious to me, flower, you’re as in love with him as he is with you.’ Kitty lowered her head, peering into Anoushka’s eyes. ‘Am I right?’

Anoushka’s head dropped, knowing when she was beat. Kitty had seen right through her. When she’d started her relationship with Damon, Anoushka had always been subconsciously aware that her attachment to him didn’t run deep; that if they split up, it was never going to break her heart. But with Gabe there’d always been something different, something more, and she knew it was powerful. In moments of quiet, she’d begun to allow her thoughts to wander to what being in a relationship with him might be like. Something told her that they were right for each other, just as her parents were. But each time, she’d quickly dismiss the idea, telling herself she needed to prioritise her dance school, that there was no room for love in her life. And each time, she’d ignored her deepening feelings for him.

But the time had arrived to be honest with herself and with her step-mum.

Anoushka sighed and nodded slowly. ‘Yeah, you’re right. I’m in love with him.’ She felt suddenly overwhelmed with tiredness, her bad night’s sleep catching up with her. Before she could stop them, tears started streaming down her cheeks. She covered her face with her hands and let them flow.

‘Oh, lovey, come here.’ Kitty rushed to Anoushka, wrapping her arms around her and sweeping her up in a hug.

‘I’ve been such a cow to him,’ Anoushka said, sobbing into her step-mum’s shoulder.

‘No, you haven’t, you’ve just been cautious. He knows that,’ Kitty said, smoothing Anoushka’s hair. ‘And he’ll respect you for it.’

‘You think?’

‘I do.’

Ten minutes later, her tears finished, Anoushka was dabbing her eyes with a paper tissue when Brogan and Kristy burst through the door, the pair of them out of breath. Kitty and Anoushka turned, startled while Ethel and Mabel jumped to their feet, barking at the sudden rumpus.

‘What on earth’s the matter?’ asked Kitty.

‘Noushka, have you heard?’ Brogan asked.

‘Heard what?’ Her pulse started racing.

Kristy sucked in a deep breath. ‘Molly just bumped into Lady Caro who said she’s been trying to call you, but your phone keeps going to voicemail.’

‘It does; we tried it too,’ said Brogan.

‘It’s turned off.’ Anoushka had turned it off afterThe Tina Stone Showyesterday evening, not strong enough to face the inevitable barrage of phone calls that would ensue.

‘Anyway, Lady Caro was going to tell you that Gabe’s been in an accident,’ said Kristy.

‘An accident?’ Panic flooded her veins.

‘Yeah, he’s in hospital,’ said Brogan.

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Kitty gasped, her hand flying to her mouth while Anoushka’s face drained of colour, her heart going into freefall. ‘What… what do you mean, he’s in hospital? What’s happened? Is he okay?’Please let him be okay.

‘We don’t know all the details, but from what Caro told Molly, he was riding a motorbike and came off it. Happened yesterday. He’s in hospital over at York. Molly was going to ring your landline but we said we’d come and tell you and take you there, if you want?’

Stunned, Anoushka nodded, nausea burning in her stomach. She felt suddenly dizzy. ‘Yes, yes, I want to go, I want to see him.’ The horrible thought that Damon could somehow be involved swirled around in her mind.

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