Chapters (50)
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication Page
- Contents
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Ninteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Twenty-five
- Twenty-six
- Twenty-seven
- Twenty-eight
- Twenty-nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-one
- Thirty-two
- Thirty-three
- Thirty-four
- Thirty-five
- Thirty-six
- Thirty-seven
- Thirty-eight
- Thirty-nine
- Forty
- Forty-one
- Forty-two
- Epilogue
- Letter From the Author
- Acknowledgements
- About the Author
‘No, I like it. I always think I’m at my most attractive when my teeth are chattering and my nose is red.’
As we neared the London Eye, where Charlie had asked us to meet her, the morning crowds thickened. A street performer covered head-to-toe in silver robot make-up was setting up and the skater kids were already doing their stuff. Outside the National Film Theatre, early-morning shoppers browsed second-hand paperbacks. Then, in the distance, I saw Charlie and my heart did this little skipping thing.
‘That’s her.’
‘Where?’ Tilly asked.
‘The beautiful one.’
Tilly pointed to a bag lady enjoying an early-morning can of cider on a nearby bench. ‘What, her?’
‘Yes. It was the scent of her crusty hair that first drew me to her.’
Tilly laughed. ‘Hey, do you remember that homeless guy who used to live in Eastbourne – what was his name? Bobby Pole?’
Charlie had spotted us. She waved and walked towards us.
‘Yes. Bobby Pole. Mum said she saw him once in the indoor market.’
‘When he stopped and shook his trouser leg.’
‘And a fossilised turd fell out.’
Charlie arrived. She was wearing a long black coat and was wrapped in a scarf with a green woollen hat completing the winter look. Spots of pink burned in her pale cheeks. She looked adorable. She grinned, showing the little gap between her two front teeth. ‘What are you two laughing at?’
I told her the story of Bobby Pole and Charlie laughed like this was the funniest thing anyone she’d ever heard. Tilly and I joined in. I had never laughed as much as I had the last few days. I didn’t know if my stomach could take much more.
‘Tilly, this is Charlie,’ I said when I’d got my breath back. ‘Charlie, Tilly.’
They shook gloved hands.
‘So you’re the girl,’ Tilly said.
‘Oh no, don’t embarrass me,’ I said.
Tilly held up her hands, mock-innocent. ‘Hey, I’m not going to say a word.’
‘Please do,’ said Charlie.
‘So what are we doing?’ I asked, redirecting the conversation.
Charlie gestured behind her. ‘I’ve booked us tickets on the Eye to start with. Have you been on it before?’