The turn the van took comes up on the left, so I indicate. Good boy. Check my mirrors. Good Boy. See the lights up ahead turning to amber.

Fuck.

I can make it. I can make it.

I put my foot down and spot a little old lady step into the road, oblivious to the Aston speeding toward her. “Fuck!” I slam on the brakes and brace my arms against the wheel, my face screwing up in dread, my eyes partially closing. The sound of my wheels screeching stabs my eardrums, and I eventually close my eyes completely. I wait for it, the sound of her hitting my bonnet. But it doesn’t come.

My car stops.

I gingerly open one eye.

And exhale, seeing the old lady still crossing the road, in a world of her own. She’s got to be deaf. And perhaps a bit blind too. I blow out my cheeks, relaxing my arms and glancing around. The looks of disapproval come at me from all directions. Yeah, yeah. I know. Total twat. I take a moment to breathe, working my heart rate down. I can’t see her again if I’m dead.

Dead.

I flinch.

Slow the fuck down.

The lights turn green, and I pull into the tree-lined side street and come to another stop. “For fuck’s sake.” I crane my neck to see what’s holding up the traffic. The pink van is stationary in the middle of the road. Broken down? I wouldn’t be surprised. I scan the street for somewhere to park. Nowhere. The gods seriously aren’t playing ball today. “Fuck this,” I mutter, pulling over and parking as considerately as I can. My phone rings as I get out. I consider, only for a second, ignoring John. But he’s already fucked off with me. “John,” I say as I start pacing down the street toward the van.

“Where the fuck are you?” he asks.

Trying to get myself killed just so I can find out where the fuck the object of my affection is going. “Shop,” I mutter. “Then home.” To remind the object of my affection how amazing we are together. “Why?”

“Get your arse here and deal with this shit, Jesse. I’ve had it up to my motherfucking eyeballs.”

“She’s back already?” I ask, my eyes unmoving from the van, the scream of car horns hurting my eardrums.

“She never fucking left, so get your shirking motherfucking arse here and sort it out or I’m out of here.”