His hand is on her shoulder and his thumb is rubbing minute circles over the top of her arm. She wants to reach up and lay her hand on his but she can’t move. All she can do is gaze up at him, her eyes moving from his face to his throat – his Adam’s apple rising and falling as he swallows – to the droplets of water pooled in his collarbone, and then back to his face, to his eyes, to his lips. She is no longer aware of where she is, or why. It’s just her, and Tom, and the space between them.

Kiss me.

She looks from his lips to his eyes, but his lips draw her back.

Kiss me.

The air is so charged she’s breathing shallowly, her chest rising and falling.

Kiss me.

She wants to wrap her arms around his neck and pull him towards her. It’s unbearable, this waiting, this wanting, this needing.

Kiss me.

Tom’s gaze shifts from her eyes to her lips as he moves towards her. It’s the tiniest motion, a dipping at the waist that brings his face a fraction of an inch closer. Jenna slides a hand through the water. She wants to touch him, to cup her hand around his jaw, to feel the roughness of his stubble under her fingertips, to feel his lips against hers. Tom’s hand slides across the top of her back and he pulls her closer. She twists in the water and reaches for him, to close the space between them. Tom lowers his face to hers and she can’t bear it, this terrible, wonderful longing and—

‘Evening!’

They spring apart, pool water sloshing around them as Damian steps out of the shadows on the opposite side of the pool, a cigarette glowing between his fingers. He raises it to his mouth, inhales and holds. Not once does his gaze flick towards Tom. Instead, he watches Jenna, his eyes not leaving her face. She shivers; the water that was so cool and refreshing just minutes ago now feels icy cold. Damian puffs a plume of grey smoke into the air then turns and walks back into the shadows. The smoke remains, twisting and shifting like a ghost.

Chapter 35

Now

KATE

The sound hits Kate first, then the smell. One of the guests in the living room has just vomited loudly and the others are rushing around, cooing, exclaiming and sympathy gagging. Kate descends the last few stairs and glances around the banister. She can see the hulking shape of Damian, Phoenix’s wild woolly hair, Renata’s short blonde bob and the back of Joy’s – no, Kate catches herself – Caroline’s pink fluffy jumper.

They’re all gathered around someone on the sofa, offering water, tea towels and sympathy.

‘I think I need my bed.’

Geraldine’s low gravelly tones carry across the living room.

‘I’ll take you,’ Kate hears Caroline say.