‘Your nightmare.’

‘Oh, that. It’s just a bit of work stress. Sorry, Grace, but I’ve got to get this done. It’s for Monday and I’d rather get the prep over with now than spoil the rest of the weekend. I’ll be all yours tomorrow.’

I keep hold of his wrist, lingering, until he pulls away and turns back to his screen. I wait a moment, before quietly closing the door behind me.

Nick can’t bear people worrying about him.

TAISIE

July 2000

SHE STARED FIXEDLY OUT OF THE WINDOW AS THE countryside swept by, trying to tune out her siblings. She had been looking forward to spending time with Nick on holiday, sort of scared but excited, and now she couldn’t think of anything worse. She couldn’t rid herself of the image of Nick kissing and fumbling in the shadows with, of all people, Rosa. And she wasn’t the only one who had seen; so had all her friends.

Her father kept glancing at her in the mirror. He did it every bloody five minutes. Honestly, what had it got to do with him? But at least he knew she existed. Her mother was oblivious. She wouldn’t notice if her eldest daughter was dying, let alone at a crisis point in her life.

Why had she boasted to Rosa like that? Snap my fingers and he’ll come running. God. She felt sick to her stomach. She had never felt anything like this before. She didn’t think she would ever get over the humiliation. All she could do was stalk off with her head held high, but she had been followed by Rosa, who ran after her insisting that it wasn’t what she thought.

‘And anyway,’ Rosa had said. ‘You told me you weren’t into him.’

No doubt she had relayed the whole thing to everyone by now. They would all be laughing behind her back.

‘Are you looking forward to seeing Pansy and Freya?’ Izzy asked.

Taisie dragged her gaze from the window. ‘You’ve asked me that, like a million times.’

‘Sorry.’

‘You’re not to be a pain and follow us around.’

Izzy scowled. ‘I don’t see why you have to keep them all to yourself.’

‘Because we’re fifteen and we need to be able to talk about things that you’re too young to hear.’

‘But that’s not fair. I’m not a child.’

‘Yes you are.’

Izzy went puce. ‘I am not!’

‘Whatever.’

She did actually feel sorry for Izzy. Her sister was past the point where she wanted to play with their little brothers, but she wasn’t mature enough to hang out with Taisie and the Moody twins. She could always tag along after Nick. That would serve him right.