There was nothing else to say. She and Patrick sat waiting until Cheryl’s Toyota Yaris rumbled its way toward them. The driver’s side window rolled down. “Need a ride?”

Eden smiled. “Thanks, Bernie.”

“Anytime, George.” Cheryl smiled at Patrick. “Thanks for waiting with her.”

“Anytime. You’re a fucking babe, by the way.”

Eden did a double-take. “You waited with me to hit on my friend, didn’t you?”

Patrick shrugged, adorable as a basket of kittens.

“Well, nice try, but you’d have to be thirty years older to get anywhere with Bernie. Thirty years at least.”

Cheryl scowled. “Stop talking about me and get in.”

Eden headed for the passenger side.

“Hang on,” Patrick said. “Cheryl, have dinner with me?”

Cheryl laughed. “Maybe in thirty years. Thanks for looking after my mate.”

“Yeah, Patrick,” Eden said, getting in the car. “Thanks, heaps.”

He gave them a disappointed wave. “See you girls.”

Cheryl glanced at her as they drove back along the bumpy dirt driveway. “You okay?”

“Not in the slightest. Can I have a smoke?”

“I didn’t bring any.”

Eden was quietly relieved. “We got the tour. Franky’s tour.”

“I know. Kieran rang me. Neither of us could get ahold of you, though.”

“My phone’s dead.”

“I figured. Either way, congratulations, George. You did it.”

Eden rubbed a thumb over her quivering lip, trying to hold back tears. “Did I do it? Or does Francis just want to fuck me?”

“Who cares?” Cheryl’s voice was sharp. “You’re the most talented DJ in the world, Eden. You earned this.”

She smiled. Cheryl had said her real name. Things were serious. “Thanks. I’m excited to go on tour.”

“Good. And I’m sorry it didn’t work out with Willow. At least, I’m guessing that’s why I’m taking you home.”

“Can we not talk about him? Like maybe for the next nine months?”

“Okay.” Cheryl reached into her dash and pulled out a packet of cigarettes.

“I thought you said you didn’t bring any!”

“Not for you. You wanna stop smoking, remember?”

Eden pouted, but she was still relieved.

“Let’s go get pancakes,” Cheryl said, sticking a cigarette in her mouth.

“Right now?”

“Yup. You’re about to sign your first tour. That’s fucking amazing.”

“I just wish it felt better.”

Cheryl snapped her lighter in front of her face. “Baby, if being the best was easy, everyone would do it.”

Eden smiled. Cheryl was right. She’d made the correct decision; she was going on tour. But that didn’t stop her from seeing the look on Willow’s face when he’d said he loved her. And it didn’t make leaving him any easier.

17