Page 73 of The London Girls
Olivia gave her an impromptu hug and she returned it.
‘She’s going to be all right,’ Olivia whispered. ‘She’s tougher than all of us put together.’
‘I hope you’re right,’ Florence said, letting go and hurrying after Jack so she could open the back of the ambulance.
Sometimes, being tough wasn’t enough. She knew that better than anyone.
It had been a long day, made even longer by the fact Florence had worked a twelve-hour shift through the night before finding her friend and still hadn’t made it to bed. She was also due to report for work in the early evening, which meant that even if she managed to fall asleep, she’d barely get a few hours.
‘Come on, let’s get you inside.’
Ava had been allowed to leave hospital since they were full to overflowing, so long as she had someone to take care of her, and in her morphine-induced muddle she’d become agitated that someone might try to take her to her actual home.
Bless her, Florence’s grandmother didn’t even bat an eyelid when they arrived back, she just patted Flo’s shoulder and looked into her eyes with that all-seeing, all-knowing look that only she seemed to possess.
‘She needs somewhere to recuperate,’ Flo said. ‘I’m so sorry, but—’
‘Of course. You let me care for her; it’s time you got some sleep I’d say,’ her grandmother said. ‘She’s been living with us for months, I’m hardly going to kick her out now.’
‘Thank you.’ Florence could barely croak the words out, but she did lift her arms to give her grandmother a long, warm hug.
She turned to see Jack walking down the stairs, and when his eyes lifted to hers, she knew he had something he wanted to say. She waited as he said goodbye to her grandmother, watched as his face changed when he spoke to her, softening around the eyes as he smiled. But the usual serious look that bracketed his face returned as he walked towards the door, to Florence, and she followed him outside.
‘What a day,’ she said, leaning against the door after she closed it.
‘You can say that again. I can’t believe she walked most of the way on foot to deliver her message. Talk about doing whatever it takes.’
‘Not to mention making it all the way home.’ Florence shook her head, still in shock over the events of the past few hours. ‘I can’t believe she convinced someone to drive her, but refused to go straight to hospital. Whatever happened with her parents, it must have been bad; she was just so determined to keep it from them.’
Jack was staring out towards the road, towards where Petal was parked, and she mistakenly thought he must be thinking about the ambulance.
‘Do you think we need to take her back?’ she asked. ‘Petal, I mean. We’re breaking protocol by not returning her to the—’
‘Florence, I don’t give a damn about the ambulance.’
She crossed her arms, suddenly feeling the cold as she stared, wide-eyed, back at Jack. ‘It’s been a long day,’ she said. ‘I think we both need sleep.’
‘Florence, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you, something I want to say, but I’m not good with my words.’
She wrapped her arms even tighter around herself as she watched him, wishing he’d turn around so she could see his face properly, but he’d paced a few more steps away and he couldn’t seem to bring himself to look at her.
‘Jack, whatever it is, you can talk to me,’ she said, letting go of her arms and taking a step towards him. ‘No secrets any more. Remember?’
Jack’s eyes caught hers when he finally turned, and she had the most unusual sensation, as if her breath had been stolen from her. ‘Florence, I ...’ He took a step towards her, and then another, as she waited, her feet locked in place where she stood. ‘I was wondering, when we finally have a night off, whether we could see one another? What I’m trying to say is—’
‘I’d love that,’ she interrupted, wanting to put him out of his misery as he fumbled for the right words. Florence couldn’t help the smile that crossed her face. She’d been braced for him to say something terrible, and all he’d wanted was to ask her out.
When Jack closed the distance between them, his palm gently cupping her cheek and his lips so carefully brushing hers, she managed to forget about everything else. The night they’d had, how tired she was, the loss they shared between them. All she could feelwere his lips on hers and the overwhelming sensation that her legs were going to give way beneath her.
‘I’ll see you tonight,’ Jack whispered, his mouth barely an inch from hers.
‘I’ll see you tonight,’ she replied.
Jack walked backwards a few steps before turning, and with her fingers pressed to her lips she watched him go, wondering how she’d ever manage to sleep now that he’d gone and kissed her again.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
OLIVIA
