Page 130 of To All the Men I’ve Killed Before

‘It’s Tom Ford.’

‘No, it’s definitely you.’

He sits up and cups my face in his hand. ‘I missed you, Kits. I know I’ve said it a hundred times already, but I really need you to know how terrible I’ve felt about how I left things in Cannes.’

‘I know,’ I say. ‘I missed you too. Unbearably.’

He kisses me again and then lies back, hands behind his head. ‘I could get used to this, you know?’

I stare at him. ‘Really?’

He shrugs. ‘Yeah. I could be a boat person.’

I laugh. ‘Well, I can’t wait to get back to London.’

‘I’m glad you said that. I was worried I really would have to be a boat person.’ He wraps his arms around me and I let myself sink into them.

70

Agnes’s parents’ yacht, Catalina Channel, Offshore from Newport Beach

I’m so wrapped up in the delicious bliss of just lying in the arms of the man I love that I stop paying attention to anything else. When I finally glance up, I notice that Agnes and Antoinette have materialised and are sharing a lounger on the top deck, they’re both asleep.

Charlie is gently snoring next to me.

I look around but can’t see Lauren anywhere.

I haven’t seen her since she said she needed a moment to herself.

A jolt of concern flashes through me.

I stand up and wrap a sarong around my waist. There’s a breeze coming off the sea now that makes me shiver. Goosebumps prickle on my arms.

I find Lauren staring over the side of the boat, into the dark, swirling water.

She’s holding her lighter, flicking it on and off as she stares at the waves.

I cough to alert her to my presence.

She spins around and stares at me in surprise. ‘Kitty! I thought you were—’

‘Asleep?’ I say, moving closer to her. ‘Like the others?’

She nods and smiles at me. ‘It’s been an exhausting few days.’

‘It has,’ I say, joining her and looking into those black, black waters. ‘It really has.’

She peers at my face, her eyes searching it for something. ‘Aren’t you tired?’

I shake my head. ‘Too hyped up over finally getting rid of those bodies,’ I say. ‘That and the fact I didn’t drink any of your drugged lemonade.’

Lauren stares at me.

There’s silence for a moment or two before she regains her composure.

Another smile, saccharine sweet.

A little shake of her head.