Page 195 of Dream On, Liar

“I’m sorry.” She replied, clearly upset for me.

“Why were you trying to reach me?”

She paused. “I want Ollie here when I tell you.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

“Because he should be here when we tell you big stuff.”

“Just tell me.”

She shook her head.

“He’s gone to get me something. He’ll be back soon.”

I sighed.

“So you want me to sit here and wait?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

“I want you to go and take a shower.”

I stared at her.

“Why?”

“Because you’ve been on the road for who knows how long.”

“That is unbelievably rude.”

“Just fulfilling my sisterly duties.”

“I've showered recently.”

“When?”

“This morning.”

“Before you drove down for almost eight or nine hours?” She pointed towards the stairs. “If you freshen up, I might even let you hug me properly. Go.”

I sighed dramatically.

“Fine.”

She smiled.

“That's better.”

I took my bag upstairs.

The shower helped.

Hot water loosened the tension that had settled across my shoulders during the flight, and for a few minutes I could forget the fact that I'd spent the entire journey thinking about a woman I was apparently trying very hard not to think about.