Who am I kidding. Four hours is alongtime to be stuck together.
Okay, no, it isn’t. It will befine. We can listen to music. And not talk. All good.
‘Wonderful,’ I chirp insincerely. ‘Maybe put your suitcase at the back there.’
I point and then climb up into my seat at the wheel.
Before he gets in, I ask, ‘Been to the loo?’
Callum raises an eyebrow – I’m guessing because he wishes to point out that he’s an adult.
‘I’m sorry,’ I say, ‘but the number of fully grown men who say they don’t need to go and then within half an hour aredesperate.’
He can go in my hotel. (That’s a strong word for where I stayed last night but it does have loos and checkout time was not until eleven.)
His eyebrow is still half-raised. ‘Yeah, no, I’m all good thanks – on the bathroom front.’
I give in. ‘Okay, cool. Soooo… let’s go?’
Callum’s still standing in the road. ‘Your shoes?’ he says.
‘Shoes?’ I look round. Have some of my shoes fallen out of the van?
He’s looking at my feet. ‘Just thought you might have forgotten to put your shoes on.’
‘No?’ I wiggle my feet. ‘I’m wearing shoes.’
‘You’re wearing flip-flops.’
‘Flip-flops are shoes?’
‘Notdrivingshoes, though?’ He’s frowning slightly.
‘I drive in flip-flops all the time.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, really.’ Honestly.
‘Just that I’m pretty sure that it’s illegal to drive in flip-flops?’
‘What? Really? Why?’ I hear my voice go quite high and realise that I’m frowning myself now. This is a ludicrous conversation. I’ve driven hundreds if not thousands of miles in flip-flops without mishap.
‘Because they could get caught on a pedal and cause an accident.’ He’s definitely serious.
I think of a loophole. ‘Is that just a British law, though?’
‘Maybe. It’s sensible, though.’
I stare at him. This is justweird. Callum is lecturing me about being sensible.
For some reason, I continue to engage.
‘The thing is, it is a very hot day.’ Satisfyingly, I see him nod. I deliver my crunch blow. ‘And the van doesn’t have air con and it is not safe to drive when you’re boiling hot, so I’m actually beingsaferwearing flip-flops to drive.’
‘What?’ he asks.
‘Yep,’ I confirm. ‘I am right. And I am not changing my shoes. Are you getting in?’
