Page 80 of Hello Darling

“Notting Hill, yes I know.”

“You’ve seenNotting Hill?” This girl really is full of surprises, but I think this shocks me more than anything.

“Only very recently.”

“Because of me?”

“I mean. Also because of hormones.”

“I’m so sorry. Did you hate it?”

“Of course I did, it’s terrible. It made me miss you so much. Hugh Grant reminded me so much of you.”

“Oh piss off.”

She cackles.

Christ, I’m so in love. I push strands of hair out of her face. I can imagine staying in bed with her here for three days straight, no problem. “Tell me something you’ve never told any of the blokes you’ve been with.”

“Like what?”

“Like anything you have rules about not telling someone you’re shagging.”

“Mmmm. I will, but you go first.”

“Hmmm, let me think.”

“Anything that you’ve never told one of the girls you’ve been with.”

“Okay, but it will sound insane. And I’m not just saying this because of theNotting Hillthing.”

“Okaaaayyy.” She looks at me like she’s expecting me to say I’ve dated Julia Roberts.

“I sometimes have the voice of Hugh Grant in my head.”

She exhales, relieved. “Explain.”

“Do I really need to? I mean, everyone has that voice in their head. It’s the part of me that I struggle with, but I’ve cast him in the role. Like instead of a little devil on my shoulder whispering in my ear, it’s Hugh Grant.”

She laughs so hard. “That is so…Oh my God! That’s so…”

“Incredibly alluring?”

“Fucked up and awesome!”

“I knew you’d understand. Okay you next.”

“That is hilarious! Did he say anything about me?”

“Who—Head Hugh? Oh he’s always been very much in favor of shagging you.”

“Are you friends with him? I mean in real life, outside of your head.”

“Well, we all know each other from around, you know, but he’s not a mate or anything. We’ve never worked together. Quit stalling. Tell me something.”

“Okay, well…” She sits up, covering herself with the top sheet. “You know about my mom.”

“The lovely painter.”