‘What’s going on, Sky? Was he in the car with you when we talked? And what about the concert? I was wondering who you’d met there and you wouldn’t tell me anything, never around to video chat, didn’t answer my texts.’ He lets out a groan. ‘I’m such an idiot. It’s starting to make sense.’

‘No, Oliver,’ I implore. ‘It’s not like that.’

‘What’s it like then?’ He waits.

‘It’s like …’ This is super awkward with Jaxon sitting right here.

‘Have you kissed?’ Oliver asks.

‘No, I mean …’ I jump up and walk away from the table quickly. I need to get away from Jaxon so I can explain it to Oliver. ‘Not really,’ I whisper, still not sure if I’m out of earshot.

‘Not really? It’s a yes or no question, Sky.’

I hear a loud whistle and turn around.

‘Sky!’ Melody calls from the magazine stand. ‘Adam, mate! It’s boarding time. Come on.’ She waves frantically. ‘We have to go to the gate.’

‘It’s just been a super-weird few weeks,’ I say, speaking quickly, still not sure how to explain why I kept Jaxon secret, not even sure if I know myself. ‘Full of crazy stuff, and I will tell you all about it. But I’m boarding now.’

‘Sounds insane. Lucky you have a new boyfriend to help you work it all out.’ The screen goes blank.

‘Oliver?’

‘Sky!’ Melody shouts again, this time walking towards me, waving like a lunatic. ‘We’ll miss our plane.’

I’ve mucked things up with Oliver. How did I get myself into this mess? But we’ll talk when I’m home and it will be okay. Won’t it?

Jaxon comes over, and we rush to join Melody and my dad at the boarding gate.

‘Just this guy, huh?’ Jaxon says, as we hug goodbye.

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t—’

‘No, I’m sorry,’ he interrupts. ‘I didn’t mean to ruin anything, seriously. I hope it works out with Oliver and your dad and everything. Maybe I’ll come visit one day.’

‘Really?’

He gives me another squeeze. ‘Really.’

I make him swear he’ll tell me how his single recording goes, before my dad and Melody say their goodbyes too.

We present our tickets and soon we’re boarding the small plane. The flight attendant stops me at the door to check my boarding pass. ‘Look at your vintage brooch.’ She points to my grandmother’s heirloom pinned to my lapel. ‘And I love your leather jacket.’

‘It’s pleather. But, thanks,’ I say. ‘They’re both gifts from my family.’

‘Lucky girl,’ she says.

I watch my dad find his seat—he’s swapped with Melody to be next to me. He waves me over, his smile wider than the moose’s antlers.

‘Thanks, I am lucky,’ I say.