‘There’s my Stephen back.’ She reached up and patted my cheek, her grey eyes reflecting the expanse of clear blue sky above us.
HerStephen. That sounded so wonderful but so unobtainable. A gift I’d never really receive; she was just trying to cheer me up.
She linked her arm through mine and led me towards the pedestrian crossing. ‘No. My dad is the opposite of the Mafia. He’s a detective. And if we ask him, really,really, nicely, he might do a little search of the official records for us. But I need you to be on your top charming form. So, what we need is lemon ice.’
I needed it just as much as Stephen did. So much for priding myself on being observant; a regular Sherlock HolmesIwas. That woman at the market had figured it out by looking at the old photo – the one I’d stared at for an hour while I made up the poster. And that hadn’t been the only clue; long lost ex-boyfriend of his mother’s, him insisting on finding the man himself rather than use solicitors, and his low mood seemingly instigated every time we got a step closer.
But it wasn’t being a step closer that had bothered him, it was all the stories. All the casual words thrown around like ‘ladies’ man’ and ‘charmer’. Stephen and his mother had had their hearts broken by this man. He wanted to track him down and I’d been thinking we were just on a jolly mystery hunt that was helping me get inspired for my book.
Oh my God, I was such an asshole.
I took him to the little pizza place that sold ice-creams out of a hatch during the day and bought him an enormous lemon ice cone. It was the least I could do.
He took a lick obediently and his eyes widened. Suddenly he was back in the room with me. It was like magic – that bittersweet kick.
‘What did I tell you?’ I took a lick myself, the cool sourness making my mouth water. Blue and yellow colours danced before my eyes as the world grew sharper.
‘It’s very good actually. Exactly what I needed.’ He took another couple of licks and smiled; his lips invitingly reddened by the cold. ‘So, all this time, you’ve had this card about your dad being a detective tucked in your back pocket?’
‘Yeah, I guess…’ I looked at him from the sides of my eyes as we started walking again, wondering where he was going with this. Was he mad?
‘Why did you want to go traipsing all over the city with me then? When you could just ask your dad?’
‘Well, first off, it isn’t that easy. He doesn’t do this sort of thing lightly. He’s a very good police officer. He cares. He does a good job and doesn’t abuse his power. Before, there wasn’t a good enough reason to ask him.’
‘But now you have my sob story, you can?’
‘Don’t be offended, Stephen. My friend looking for some random guy is not as worthy as my friend looking for his biological father, is it?’
‘I suppose not.’
‘And also. I was enjoying myself.’ I gave him a rueful smile. ‘I wish I’d known you weren’t.’
‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.’
‘Yeah, I bet you are now. You could’ve gotten shot of me straight away.’
He shook his head. ‘Panic attacks on fairground rides aside, I’ve been enjoying myself too.’
His words slipped down, bitter and sweet as the ice-cream. Because now I knew the reason he didn’t get involved with women, of course, I wanted nothing more than to get involved with him. But he’d never want anything serious. He’d been honest with me about that and I didn’t want to settle for someone temporarily. I wanted someone who would be there for me, share my life and support me; otherwise, what was the point?
Chapter Ten
It was exactly the kind of house I’d imagined Noelle growing up in after she spoke to me about all her siblings at the funfair. That didn’t mean I was prepared for the sight of them all together, along with their partners, her parents, and other older people who I assumed were friends or aunts and uncles. Or the level of noise. They called to each other from different locations in the house, doors constantly opened and shut, feet pounded on the stairs, competing music playing in each room and sports on the TV.
And there was laughter. Lots and lots of laughter.
I’d thought Nick and I could be rowdy when we were kids, but it was nothing compared to this lot. Noelle by herself actually seemed quiet in comparison. I could feel her hand tightening on my elbow like she was worried I was going to bolt.
She waved to a couple of people in the living room as we passed through quickly, but once we got to the dining room, there was a yell and she was basically abducted from my side and thrown over the shoulder of a tall, wiry redhead who looked about Nick’s age.
‘Put me down, idiot,’ Noelle complained.
‘No. Mom said to bring you straight to her when you arrived. I’m just following orders.’
‘Idiot,’ she repeated with half a laugh and punched him hard in the kidneys. Wow. Perhaps I needn’t have been so worried at the biker bar the other week with her at my side.
‘Jesus H Christ, Noelle,’ he groaned and dropped her, bending awkwardly at the waist. He eyed her resentfully but then he held up his hand, palm out in invitation. ‘Sweet move though – glad to see you can still look after yourself.’
