Page 270 of The Sun Sister

‘Yeah, girl, that’s what I’m saying,’ he smiled. ‘I mean, look at you! You’re famous, rich, with the world at your feet. You could have anyone, have had everyone...’

‘Hey! I haven’t hadeveryone,’ I countered indignantly.

‘I meant, superstars like Mitch Duggan, and that socialite guy with the stupid name...’

‘Zed Eszu, you mean.’

‘Yeah, him. If you’ll excuse me for saying, he looks like a total prick.’

‘Oh, he is, but that’s another story. And it’s true, I haven’t been a vestal virgin, and if you want one of those, don’t come knocking on my door.’

‘I’m not judging your morality, Electra, you’re single and free to do what you want. Though if you were ever with me and you cheated, then that would be the end.’

‘Good to know.’ I rolled my eyes at him. ‘Wow, Miles, you sound like a total lawyer, listing all the possible problems to our hypothetical relationship before we’ve even begun it! So, would you want to drag me into that church of yours and make me take vows of chastity?’

‘I sure would, yeah. In an ideal world, that is,’ he grinned. ‘Anyway, you telling me about Mariam and Tommy makes everything I’ve been worrying about seem small and insignificant in comparison. Put simply, I just dig being with you. You brighten up my day, I can’t wait to speak to you...’

‘Me too,’ I said. And we just sat there and smiled at each other.

Then Miles reached out his hand across the table to me and I took it.

‘The point is, despite all my reservations, I think we’re good together, Electra, aren’t we?’

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I know we are.’

I woke up on Saturday morning not knowing whether I wanted to open the blinds and give the world the biggest hug ever for making me feel so happy, or run to the bathroom and vomit my guts up. I chose the former, just because it was so dark and the blinds needed to come up so I could actually see something. Thanking the world and a higher power for giving me Miles, I then felt my stomach roll at the thought of what I had agreed to do later today. My hands shook as I grabbed the speech that both he and Stella had helped me write yesterday. With the sheet of paper in front of me, I closed my eyes and tried to recite it, but my voice came out as a squeak.

‘Shit shit shit!’ I pulled the duvet over my face and lay there, contemplating asking Mariam to book me a jet to anywhere that wasn’t near New York. In my entire life, I’d never been as terrified as I felt right now.

I got up, feeling my tummy churn and my heart beat hard against my chest, and went in search of coffee. Lizzie was standing in the kitchen, her wonky face devoid of make-up.

‘Morning, Electra. Sleep well?’

‘Nope. Next question?’ I said as I pulled the coffee pot from its stand and poured some into a mug.

‘Seriously, you’re going to be great, I just know it.’

‘Lizzie, I amsonot, and I wish I’d never agreed to it. I’ll probably just run off stage in fright, if I ever manage to get my legs to walk me onto it in the first place and...’ I then swore loudly and thumped the table. ‘How did I ever allow myself to get talked into this?’ I groaned.

‘Because secretly, underneath all that understandable fear, you want to do it. For your mother, your grandmother, and for all those kids out there who need you to speak out for them,’ said Lizzie sagely.

‘That’s if Icanspeak...I tried to go through my speech and I could barely talk. Shit, Lizzie, what have I done?’ I sat down at the table and rested my head on my arms.

‘Darling Electra, we’re all going to be with you and I just know you can do it. Now, why don’t you go out for a run and clear your head whilst I make breakfast?’

‘Because A, you’ve all banned me from running in the park since my mugging, and B, I’ll just vomit up any breakfast you offer me.’

‘Get dressed, Electra, and go downstairs. There’s someone waiting for you in the lobby. He’ll look after you, okay?’

‘Really? Who?’

‘You wait and see. Now, off you go,’ she said in her best maternal voice.

I did so, still trying to work out who it could be that was waiting for me downstairs. Miles maybe...although when he’d kissed me goodnight yesterday (and it had been a very long and wonderful kind of kiss), he said he’d be round with Stella to collect me at three this afternoon.

There wasn’t anyone in the lobby, so I jogged outside and nearly had a heart attack as someone tapped me on the shoulder. I was obviously still suffering from the after-effects of the mugging.

‘Hi, Electra. Gee, I’m sorry to startle you.’