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‘I’m not. It’s just that she would’ve normally replied by now and I’m worried she’s changed her mind about, I don’t know, whatever it is we are.’

‘Well, don’t start crying again. Does my head in.’

‘So much compassion,’ I say.

‘I’m plenty compassionate, it just has limits, is all.’ Her phone pings. She snatches it up, grins, then taps the screen.

I gesture to her phone. ‘That’s Leila, I take it. Thought you were going out tonight.’

Jaz’s eyes flick up from the screen and she gives a sly smile. ‘We’re catching up later.’ She places her phone face-down on the table.

I look at it, and then at her. ‘You’re definitely being shifty. I’m not going to read your dirty texts, if that’s what you’re worried about.’

She laughs. ‘I am worried about that. You’ll get excited. You must be gaggin’ for it by now.’

My phone vibrates on the table and Holly’s image flashes on the screen. My heart skyrockets. ‘Finally.’ I hit the answer icon. ‘Hiya.’

Her lovely face and warm-tropical-seas smile fill the screen.

Chapter 41

Holly, London

‘How are you?’ Casey asks.

From my vantage point across the road, I casually look over the top of my phone to the pub windows. Jaz just texted to say they were at the table fourth window from the door. I spot them and my stomach flips. ‘Good. I think.’

‘You think?’

My smile widens and I focus on the screen again. ‘I’m never sure these days.’

‘Where have you been? I’ve not heard from you. I was getting … well, I was worried.’

A lovely warmth spreads through me hearing that, especially since I was so nervous about showing up unannounced, but Jaz assured me Casey would be ecstatic. If Casey and I are going to do this, then I want it to happen in the same city. So I spent two weeks plotting my arrival with Jaz, packing, and saying tearful goodbyes. ‘I’ve been travelling.’

‘Travelling?’ Confusion flitters across Casey’s face. ‘I thought your Mum’s house was in Melbourne. Did you have to go somewhere to sort it?’

I step out of the doorway, check for traffic and cross the road, keeping the phone close to my face in an attempt to disguise my location. ‘It is in Melbourne, and all dealt with. I meant, I couldn’t reply to you because I was offline while travelling across the world.’

Her brow furrows as the comment processes. ‘Across the world? Like … a fair way across?’

‘You could say that.’ I hover outside the door to the pub, pulling the phone away so that the background is visible.

She gasps. ‘Wait, are you…’

I take a few steps along the footpath so that I’m closer to where she and Jaz are sitting. ‘Maybe you should look out the window.’

She spins and I hold up my hand in a wave. The shock on her face will stay with me forever. Behind her Jaz beams and gives me a wave.

‘Oh my God,’ Casey says, dropping the phone and rushing out.

I tuck my phone and headphones away as she stops short in front of me, her mouth open. ‘Hi,’ I say.

She lets out a short laugh. ‘Hiya.’

We both take a tentative step forward and then she swoops me up, crushing me against her body. I laugh-cry as she kisses my forehead, my temple, my cheek, and then finally my mouth, and my body dissolves at the touch of her lips.

She grips my face. ‘You’re here. You’re actually here. Does this mean you’ve forgiven me?’