Page 42 of The Truth About You and Me
I didn’t do anything.
Is he her boyfriend?
Slick bastard.
He should have watched where he was going.
‘Did you see him fall?’ I ask.
No.
I walked back to Becca’s.
What did Mags expect?
It’s not like I was getting much from her.
I move my hand a fraction. Pushing down the sense of hurt and betrayal that within minutes of breaking up with me, he went to her house.
‘No. I carried on walking. Look, I’m sorry this happened to you, mate, but it wasn’t anything that I did.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘Certain. There were a couple of smokers outside… They could confirm it, maybe they’re local?’
I look to Jack, but he’s already getting up.
‘Thanks for your time,’ Jack says, standing now. ‘It was good meeting you. And I apologise. For bumping into you.’
‘You too, and I hope you find out what happened.’
‘Thanks.’ Jack waits for me to unfold myself from the bench.
‘How’s Becca by the way?’ I ask.
‘Becca?’ I can see him trying to piece together how I know her name. ‘Wouldn’t know. Um, my album?’
‘Oh that! Sorry,’ I say, grimacing. ‘Turns outSergeant Pepperdidn’t quite make the cool placemat that I thought it would.’ He takes it from me with a look of horror, hands already scrambling to pull the disc out.
Jack and I head back to the car. The rain starting to spit. ‘Did you really use it as a placemat?’
‘Nah, but it was worth it to see the look on his face.’
Jack’s deep laugh fills me with warmth.
‘Did it help you remember anything?’ I ask, as he double clicks to unlock the car.
‘A bit.’ Jack opens the door for me, like it’s second nature. It’s old-fashioned but he doesn’t make a show of it. ‘I remember him telling me to watch it, so that’s new. And he’s right, I remember stumbling into him. It wasn’t the other way around.’
I climb into the car. Jack joins me. ‘He’s telling the truth. Just so you know.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘Mmmhmmm.’
I click the seatbelt buckle into place.
‘So what’s next?’ I ask him as he turns on the ignition and begins pulling out.
