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‘Adam.’
‘The dog, I mean.’
‘Gatsby.’
Juno raised her eyebrows. ‘That’s quite a name to live up to.’ The second lot of toast popped up and Juno began buttering it.
‘There’s something else I want to talk to you about.’ Nikki still wasn’t sure how Juno was going to react to her news. Tamara had phoned her the day before to tell her Zak was on board with doing a duet.
Juno turned around, taut with suspicion. ‘What?’
‘You know the anniversary event?’
‘Don’t they want me anymore?’
‘Yes! A hundred per cent. But better than that.’ Nikki hoped Juno would think it was better. ‘Zak Glazier approached them about doing something to help get publicity. So the committee came up with the idea of you both doing a duet.’
Juno didn’t answer at first.
‘Me and Zak Glazier?’ she said at last.
‘Wouldn’t that be amazing?’
‘There’s no way I can do that. I mean – Zak Glazier? There’ll be hundreds of screaming fans. They won’t want me there. I’ll probably get booed off.’ She shook her head. ‘I’d rather do something on my own.’
Nikki could see Juno was panicking about being out of her comfort zone. It was how she lived her life. She kept herself safe and stress-free. It was why she was still at home and hadn’t gone off to uni or gone travelling. Nikki could see a little bit of herself in her niece – after all, she’d never left Speedwell either. Every year that passed made it harder and harder to leave.
‘Juno, I know it’s a scary prospect, but it could be great for you. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to get that kind of exposure.’
‘But I don’t want exposure. I keep telling Mum. I’m quite happy with things as they are. If I wasn’t, I’d have done something about it.’
‘But you’re so talented.’
Juno shrugged. ‘And?’
‘You should do something with it. It’s a waste otherwise.’
‘Why? Not everyone wants fame and fortune. I don’t.’
Did she mean that? Nikki wondered. Or was it lack of confidence holding her back? Fear of the unknown? She sighed.
‘Look. You know we’re trying to raise money for the lifeboat. And Zak’s offer is great publicity for the event. But the committee felt strongly that your voice was more important than his.’
‘Really?’
Nikki knew she was equivocating slightly, but it didn’t matter. ‘Yes. So a duet seemed like the perfect solution. We’ll have your authentic voice, and Zak’s pull. We need you.’ Juno didn’t look at all convinced. ‘At least meet him. He’s asked you to go to his studio to try and pull something together.’
‘His studio?’ Juno looked taken aback. ‘But what if he hates my song-writing? Or my voice? Or me?’
‘You won’t ever know the answer to what if unless you take a risk. That’s how you grow, Juno. That’s how you live your best life. Avoiding what if is the coward’s way.’
Nikki held her breath. Had she been too harsh? Juno didn’t react well to pressure. Juno chewed on the last of her toast, ruminating.
‘Why don’t I take you to his house to meet him?’ Nikki offered. ‘You can have a chat. See what he’s like. See if you trust him. You don’t have to commit to anything. You’ve got nothing to lose.’
Juno nodded, eventually. ‘OK. But if he’s even this much of a dick,’ she held her fingers a centimetre apart. ‘I’m out of there.’
Nikki laughed. ‘I’ll get Tamara to set it up.’
