Page 75 of A Colourful Country Escape
‘Right, I’ll get straight on it.’ And before Lexie could stop herself, her yellow-painted nails were all over her phone screen arranging dates with the Fortescues and booking three flights to Marrakech. Well, none of them could back out now, could they?
Before long, they were a few miles from her parents’ house. Lexie was just trying to think of a suitably distant place for Ben to drop her off, when a call rang through on Ben’s hands-free and an older man’s voice filled the car.
‘Ben, Ben, Ben … Was it today we were meeting? Something’s come up. Can we make it another time?’
Lexie stiffened. What? Who was this buffoon, and didn’t he know about manners? You didn’t go cancelling plans willy-sodding-nilly and leave people stranded. What was Ben going to do for five hours? Sit in a layby?
‘It was today, Malcolm. I’m nearly there, in fact.’
Ben ought to be outraged, but he seemed almost pleased. Was his mouth twitching into a smile? Who would be happy about driving for three hours to be stood up by a joker named Malcolm?
‘Never mind,’ Ben continued. ‘I have a backup plan. I was invited to a commitment ceremony, so I’ll crash that instead.’ He dealt with the usual niceties and hung up on Mr Stand-up.
Lexie did not feel nice. The cruel hand of panic was tightening around her neck.
‘Well, this will be even better,’ said Ben, seeming distinctly more chipper than he had for the last hour. ‘Sky did say I was welcome, and I’d love to meet your parents and see where you’re from.’
Lexie swallowed hard; she could not think of anything worse than Ben pulling up outside her folks’ zero-class home in his S-class Mercedes, wearing an absurdly smart designer suit. Urgh. Why was he even wearing that? He looked more like he was attending a special occasion than meeting no-show Malcolm. Had he planned this?
‘Maybe I don’t want you to,’ Lexie said to her window, trying to hide the wobble in her voice.
‘What? Why?’
Lexie took a deep breath. Was it really that difficult? ‘It’s just … embarrassing.’
‘What are you, ten years old? Who cares about their parents being embarrassing? It’s just a given, isn’t it? Look at my mother. She’s a haughty bloody monster, but I don’t hide her in a cupboard.’ He scratched his head. ‘Although maybe I could?’
‘It’s not that they’re my parents.’ Lexie was ignoring his stupid jokes, even if his mother really did belong in a cupboard. ‘It’s just that we’re from different worlds. Worlds that don’t exactly mix.’
‘Right. Then you’re embarrassed of me?’
‘No! I don’t think I’m embarrassed about anyone in particular. Maybe just myself. My past. Our different roots.’
Ben laughed and Lexie became even more conscious of their surroundings. They’d entered her parents’ council estate. How did he even know the way? And what was so funny?
‘Are you mocking this?’ she asked him, turning her body around to face him. Surely not even he would be that rude. Not in front of her, anyway.
‘Did you ever even ask about my roots, Lexie?’
‘No,’ she conceded, her bottom lip jutting out.
‘Well, maybe you should.’
And with that, he pulled up a few doors from her parents’ house and jumped out. ‘Now, it’s down here somewhere, isn’t it?’
Lexie clambered out too and eyeballed him across the roof of the car. Oh, for the simpler times of three hours ago, when all they had to dispute was a pair of Pat Butcher earrings.
‘You should always Google stalk your destination before you set off – rookie mistake not to. I do believe you taught me that on the first day we met. You’re a lot savvier than you give yourself credit for.’ He winked at her and beeped the lock on the car doors.
Lexie reluctantly conceded it was time for her worlds to collide. She only wished she’d brought a crash helmet.
Chapter 37
‘Do you, Sky Trixibelle Summers, promise to unite your soul, spirit and heart with the soul, spirit and heart of Billy-Bob Heavenlybody, in a truly soulful, spirited and heartfelt way for the rest of your days, or until one or other of you prefers not to?’
Lexie had purposely chosen a seat towards the back of the commitment ceremony, as she didn’t trust herself not to bounce up and protest. She hadn’t banked on it being quite so hilarious. She was clinging on to Ben’s arm, trying to hide her laughter behind his shoulder.
‘Do you think that’s his real name?’ She giggled, crossing her legs so she didn’t actually wee herself.
