When I get outside, luckily there’s a line of taxis and I zip up my jacket and jump in the first one.

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

‘Melody?’ I open my bedroom door and prod her sleeping figure. She’s cocooned in the duvet.

She wasn’t at home last night when I returned from the show. Skipping dinner, and with barely a greeting to my grandparents, I fell asleep immediately.

‘You awake? It’s nearly lunch already.’

‘Hi, love.’ Melody yawns, stretching her arms above her head and opening one eye. ‘How are you? What’s been happening the last few days?’

‘Everything’s okay.’ I plonk down on the foot of the bed. ‘I suppose.’

‘Suppose?’ She arches into a backbend and then curls her shoulders forward.

‘I kinda nearly got shot,’ I say, realising how ridiculous it sounds.

‘What?’ She sits up abruptly, abandoning the yoga stretches. ‘What the hell are you talking about? Seriously, Sky, I leave you for one minute.’

‘It’s fine. I was just trying to save a moose.’

‘Saving a moose?’ She snorts a laugh.

I feel my lips spreading into a smile. It does sound quite funny when I say it now. ‘Yep, just a regular day in my life.’

‘First a chicken, then a moose.’

We are both giggling now.

‘And how are things with your dad?’ she asks, piling her wavy red hair on top of her head and pinning it with a clip.

‘Let’s not talk about it,’ I say.

‘You sure? Talking is helpful and—’

‘I know … Later, maybe.’

‘Where is Adam, anyway? I didn’t see anyone when I got back last night and you were curled up on the side of the bed, peaceful like a kitten.’

‘I guess I fell asleep early … and I haven’t seen my father for ages. I think he was helping Jaxon’s dad, once again.’ I sigh.

‘Oh, they found him?’ Melody asks.

‘Totally wasted,’ I say. ‘Adam got him out of the police station, but now he’s babysitting him. He didn’t even come to Jaxon’s concert last night, which was strange because he knew how much it meant to him.’

‘Do you think I should call him?’

‘I’ve tried a million times,’ I say.

She nods, then says, ‘So, Saturday …’

‘Can’t believe the time’s up. It feels like we’ve been here forever, and it’s only been …’ I start counting on my fingers.

‘Eighteen days?’ she says.

‘Something like that.’ This trip has been like dog years; every day has felt like seven.