I turn on my lounger to face him, and he does the same, so I’m seeing him from my own angle – in front of me and lying down as the world swirls ahead.

Her fringe falls into her eyes

and I use my other hand to

brush it away.

His eyes dart to my lips and my stomach flips.

‘Are you packed for your flight tomorrow?’

I drop my hand

like the plane just smashed through the window.

‘Sort of. Not much to pack.’

‘What’s your dad’s place like? Is Jonah excited?’

She doesn’t take her hand out of mine.

‘I’ve not seen it, but

Dad says it’s not far from the beach.

It has a garden, too.

We’ve never had a garden.

Jonah’s a bit gutted about

leaving his friends, but

he’ll be all right once he gets there.’

I clear my throat. ‘How about your friends? Charlie and Fran?’

I nod.

‘Yeah, they’ve been good, actually.

Since they found out about Mam,

they’ve been round a lot,

helping babysit while

I pack.

Makes me wish I’d just

told them ages ago.

I’ll miss them when I go.

Sounds like they’ll be all right, though.

They’re a bit obsessed with your friend Cecelia.’

I keep my fingers skating on his palm.

‘Have you heard from your mum?’

I swallow.

Focus on her hand

in my hand.

‘The social tracked her down.

She’s been just

ten miles away

all this time, as it goes.

Holed up with

some guy.’

His grip gets tighter.

‘We’ve been given a case worker, though –

Alan.

He’s been helping me

work through some stuff.

Like –

I always felt as if what happened was

my fault.

And I still sort of feel that.

But I know more now. That

she’s ill, too – my mam.

Not ill like you’re Ill or anything, but –

she needs help.’

He frowns like he’s trying to force the words into bricks to throw out.

‘Help I couldn’t have given her.’

I rub my face.

I squeeze his hand back.

‘Jonah’s lucky to have you. I wish I had a brother like you looking out for me.’

I think of our kiss and

raise an eyebrow at her.

She splits the air

with a laugh.

‘You know what I mean.’

She smiles at me, wide.

I bring our hands up to my lips.

He kisses each one of my fingers and my body is screaming at me to leap up and over to him.

I swallow. ‘What about –’

‘Want to go in the sea?’

I say through her fingers.

My heart thrums and I turn to look at the pool Cecelia brought, sitting on the floor like a beached whale.

‘Did you bring your swimming trunks?’