Page 78 of Kiss Me Ever After
Two summers ago, me, Amber, Alex and Justin had gone to the Old Dock for a night out. Justin had suggested it because he said he knew the singer. The evening was amazing, drinking and dancing, then… me and Justin almost kissed. My memory flitted back to the night, thinking about how we’d ended up in the pub garden, sheltering from the unexpected downpour, standing there staring into each other’s eyes without saying a single word.
Justin had moved forward, lips hovering inches from mine…
My spine tingled from the recollection.
“Hey, Lennon? Are you okay?” Carly’s voice cut into my reverie in the lull between songs. “Do you want another drink?”
I nodded. “Yeah, sure. Large rosé, please.”
While she went to the bar, I pulled out my phone. The usual plethora of messages from Amber cluttered the screen, but I opened my photo app without reading them. Pictures of Justin, me and Justin, the whole group, every single image from last summer, taunted me.
Why hadn’t I given Justin the chance to explain?
Why did I just run away?
Involuntarily, my hand went to the silver feather in the hollow of my neck. Despite everything, I hadn’t been able to take it off. It was my connection to Justin. Blinking back tears, I went to Amber’s messages. Each of them seemed to increase in urgency.
Amber: Lennon, you need to call me ASAP!
Amber: Where are you? I have to speak to you.
Amber: Lennon? Are you there?
Amber: Justin’s in hospital.
My hand flew to my mouth as I read the last message. I pushed my chair back and forced my way through the crowded pub onto the street. I dialled Amber’s number, and she picked up straight away.
“Oh, thank God!”
“Amber? What the hell happened?” I was frantic.
“Justin and Ted got into an awful fight. He’d only been home less than a day and this has already happened. He’s trying to get Candace to agree to him moving in, but she’s being really shady about the whole thing…”
“Amber, I don’t really give a shit about Candace. Tell me how Justin is,” I shouted. A pair of women walking past me jumped at the volume of my words.
“Sorry, no, of course you don’t… Shit, I’m rambling.” I heard Amber take some steadying breaths. “It looks like he’s got broken ribs and loads of bruising. His face is a bit of a mess, but don’t worry, apparently the nurses think they can get him back to his devastatingly handsome self quite quickly.”
Despite myself, I chuckled.
Amber lowered her voice. “Lennon, come home.”
Home.
Hearing Amber refer to Ealynn Sands as home seemed odd. It had been a place I’d spent time in, but never really stayed, until now. Over the course of the summer, it really had felt like somewhere I belonged.
“I, I-don’t know. I’ve got work, uni.”
“And Justin’s got two broken ribs, and a mashed-up face.”
My resolve wavered for a moment before I remembered. “He’s also got Candace.”
“Bollocks to her, Lennon. I don’t see her rushing to the hospital to be with him and she’s twenty minutes away, not three hours!” Amber’s directness almost made me change my mind.
Almost, but not quite.
“Justin chose her over me,” I asserted. “Besides which,” I added. “I can’t get on a train until the morning, anyway.”
Amber sighed. “Promise me you’ll come tomorrow?”
