‘I think I need to sit down.’ She quivered as the zenith loomed above them.

‘Course,’ said Chance, scrambling to her assistance.

Simi closed her eyes as he led her to the middle of the capsule where she lowered herself onto the bench. Once her breathing had returned to normal, she opened her eyes.

‘So, should I cancel our dinner reservation at the top of the Shard?’ Chance smiled, kneeling in front of her.

Simi felt the blood drain from her cheeks.

‘I’m joking. Sorry,’ he said as he rubbed her arm.

Her face broke into a smile and they laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. As the capsule finally approached ground level, Chance helped Simi stand. Despite her wooziness, his touch felt good. No, better than good. It felt amazing.

Chapter 38

Jemima

The girls were at their usual brunch spot, Des Oeufs! a bustling Upper Street café where the staff knew them well. They were in their usual booth having their usual order but today everything felt different. Where once the atmosphere was light, now it was thick like tar; dark and unforgiving. Meagan’s refurb update had been monosyllabic. Congratulating Simi on her new job had been heartfelt but perfunctory as was the praise for Jemima completing her book. So much for a nice birthday brunch for Meagan, Jemima thought as she swirled her mimosa. Things were beyond tense and she had no idea how to untangle this ungodly mess. There were so many things she wanted to ask, like what had happened on Simi’s date with Chance two days ago? Normally, information poured from Simi like a waterfall but today there was nothing. Then again, Jemima hadn’t exactly been forthcoming about the secrets she held. All at once, her shoulders became heavy with her unsaid burdens – stolen stories, her feelings for Chance and conversations with Miles. And piled on top of all that, Rebecca had been in touch – again. She’d received an offer on her apartment but was giving Jemima first refusal. She had three days to decide. Though everything that made Jemima want to stay was crumbling, she still couldn’t pull the trigger. The centre of her world was sitting right in front of her and whatever rocky terrain she encountered, all roads still led to these two women. How could she give them up?

Simi pushed her plate aside and cleared her throat.

‘Sorry to bring this up now but I’m stopping the game. Definitely this time,’ she said at Jemima.

‘Good,’ Meagan said, draining her mimosa.

‘What? You can’t. Why?’ said Jemima.

The game couldn’t end like this. Simi finding Chance was like watching the ball on a roulette wheel bounce into the one gulley you absolutely did not want it to. Black. Thirty-five. The game couldn’t end on Simi with Chance. It just couldn’t.

‘But we didn’t all get dates last time. Let’s give it one more week?’ said Jemima in desperation.

‘Come off it, Jem. We’ve had enough. You should be pleased,’ snipped Meagan.